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Countries & territories of origin

Moldova

Moldova (MD) is a country-or-territory reference for evidence about an asylum applicant’s origin or return destination, not an accepted-nationality list. INA §208 permits qualifying people physically present in or arriving in the United States to apply, subject to exceptions; nationality alone neither grants nor bars asylum.

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General information, not legal advice. See the notice at the end of this page.

Nationality is not a merits decision

A claim connected to Moldova still requires the applicable refugee definition, a protected-ground nexus, credibility and evidence, and analysis of deadlines and statutory bars. Dual nationality, firm resettlement, transit and procedural posture can change the analysis. This entry does not certify a country's safety, recognition as a sovereign state, or a person's nationality.

Build country-specific evidence

For Moldova, identify the relevant location, period, persecutor and personal circumstances. Use dated government, human-rights and other reliable reports; distinguish national summaries from the applicant's own evidence. No country-specific persecution finding, current travel restriction or TPS designation is certified here.

Asylum is not an overseas visa

Form I-589 is not a general overseas asylum visa application. Refugee admission, asylum, withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protection are different processes. Check the current instructions, case posture and applicable authority with counsel.

People born in Moldova living in the United States

The American Community Survey for 2020–2024 counts 56,608 U.S. residents born in Moldova. The largest numbers live in California (10,600), New York (5,945) and Illinois (5,882). In the 1-year estimates the figure went from 33,659 in 2010 to 44,519 in 2025. Country of birth is not citizenship or nationality; the count includes naturalized U.S. citizens and people of every immigration status.

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Asylum

Affirmative asylum applications (Form I-589) filed with USCIS and defensive asylum claims in immigration court, including claims based on political opinion, religion, nationality and LGBTQ+ identity.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Moldova?

Moldova (MD) is a country-or-territory reference for evidence about an asylum applicant’s origin or return destination, not an accepted-nationality list. INA §208 permits qualifying people physically present in or arriving in the United States to apply, subject to exceptions; nationality alone neither grants nor bars asylum.

What should I check before relying on this information?

The American Community Survey for 2020–2024 counts 56,608 U.S. residents born in Moldova. The largest numbers live in California (10,600), New York (5,945) and Illinois (5,882). In the 1-year estimates the figure went from 33,659 in 2010 to 44,519 in 2025. Country of birth is not citizenship or nationality; the count includes naturalized U.S. citizens and people of every immigration status.

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