For up-to-date information about the process of seeking asylum, go to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Since opening its doors in the mid-1980s, the Center for Victims of Torture has extended rehabilitative care to tens of thousands of torture survivors around the world, nearly all of whom were refugees or asylum seekers. Over these years, CVT has witnessed extraordinary healing, courage and resilience among clients, as well as confusion and misunderstanding from many in the public about the lives and challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. To help clarify misconceptions and shed light on the realities of the lives of torture survivors, here are eight facts intended to help dispel some of the myths about who refugees and asylum seekers really are.