This CLE course is intended to provide attorneys with a basic knowledge of the United States asylum process. After taking the course, one should be able to handle a basic asylum application from start to finish. Furthermore, one should be able to decipher between what is a complicated asylum case and what is a simple basic asylum case. We will discuss the nuances of persecution as defined by the INA, by delving into current case law and judicial opinions. As well as learn the steps an attorney should take to prepare his client for the asylum interview. We will briefly discuss which factors are positive and which factors are negative for an adjudicating officer and conclude with a discussion on how to handle a denied application.