What may lead to an individual being granted asylum under INA § 208?

An individual may be granted asylum under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) § 208 if they demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on specific protected grounds, such as race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The concept of a well-founded fear encompasses both the subjective belief of the individual that they will face persecution, as well as an objective basis for that fear, meaning that there is substantial evidence to support the claim.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of a person's situation, do not meet the specific criteria for asylum. Factors such as age, financial status, nationality alone, and employment status do not inherently qualify an individual for asylum protection unless they can directly connect those factors to a threat of persecution as outlined in the statute. The essence of asylum is about the risk of persecution rather than general hardships or statuses.