Immigration & Legal Services the Central Louisiana Interfaith Immigration Center Was Founded

Immigration & Legal Services

The Central Louisiana Interfaith Immigration Center was founded in 2009 in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith. It is a collaborative effort serving individuals of all races, creeds, ethnic, religious, and geographic backgrounds. Our mission is to welcome immigrants into our communities by providing affordable, high-quality immigration legal services, education and advocacy. The program provides a broad range of immigration counseling and representation to immigrants and their families. Services we offer include:

● Family Visa Petitions ● Adjustment of Status Applications ● Consular Visa Processing ● Representation of Abused Women /Victims of Violent Crimes ● Naturalization/Citizenship Applications ● Applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ● Permanent resident applications for refugees and asylees ● Document renewals and replacements ● Education and Outreach about immigration law

Client Responsibility Our program is designed to advise and guide clients through the immigration process. We consider client participation a critical piece to success. Therefore, we explain to all clients our expectation that they remain truthful in all information disclosed to us throughout the entire process. We can only serve our clients effectively when we have their full and total cooperation. We cannot be held responsible for the outcomes of cases in which facts and information have been misrepresented. We expect clients to remain in close contact with us and to inform us of any relevant changes pertaining to their cases. In the event that we do not have the client's full cooperation, we reserve the right to discontinue work on a given case and to withdraw as the representative in the case.

Services Provided

Family Visa Petitions Our caseworkers provide assistance to those looking to obtain immigrant visas so they may unite with family members already living in the United States. A United States citizen may petition for his or her: spouse, children (including step-children), siblings, and parents. A Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. may petition for his/her: spouse, unmarried sons, and daughters. Waiting times depend on what family relationship the petition is based on and the nationality of the beneficiary.

Adjustment of Status Applications If a person wishing to immigrate to the U.S. is already in the U.S. and has an approved family-based petition for which the priority date is current, he/she may be eligible to apply for adjustment of status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Complete consultations are necessary to assess an individual's eligibility for adjustment of status. Not everyone qualifies for adjustment of status.

Consular Visa Processing Persons outside the United States and certain persons in the United States conclude the processing of their visas at American consulates abroad. Our program staff can help these persons with the final documentation necessary for consular visa appointments.

Representation of Victims of Domestic Violence and Violent Crimes (VAWA, U VISA) Special provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allow abused immigrant women and children to self-petition for permanent residency without relying on the abusers participation in their case. Our program assists such persons in applying for permanent residency under these special provisions.

Naturalization Services Our accredited staff is available to help individuals determine their eligibility for United States citizenship. Basic requirements for U.S. citizenship include: - Lawful permanent residence in the U.S. for at least 5 years (3 years, if married to a U.S. citizen); - Actually reside in the U.S. for at least one-half of the last five years; - Good moral character; - Basic knowledge of U.S. history and civics; - Ability to understand, speak, read and write basic English. Notario Fraud

The word “notario” is the Spanish-language equivalent of notary public. In most Latin American countries a notario is a highly trained legal professional, like an American lawyer. Notarios working in the U.S. sometimes take advantage of those who may not know the distinction. This can also happen with certified document preparers, who sometimes bill themselves as notarios to attract business.

Often using false advertising and fraudulent contracts, notarios represent themselves as qualified individuals to help immigrants obtain lawful status, or perform legal functions such as drafting wills or other legal documents. Unethical notarios are known to scam individuals, charging a lot of money for help that they never actually provide. Often, victims permanently lose opportunities to pursue immigration relief because a notario has damaged their case.

Unscrupulous notarios have become an increasingly serious problem in immigrant communities throughout the United States. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

What is Deferred Action? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals allows certain individuals, who meet specific guidelines, to request consideration of deferred action from USCIS. Individuals who receive deferred action will not be placed into removal proceedings or removed from the United States for a specified period of time unless terminated. If you receive deferred action, you may be eligible for employment authorization.

Individuals who demonstrate that they meet the guidelines below may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and may be eligible for employment authorization.

In Louisiana DACA recipients are eligible to receive a driver’s license. You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you:  Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;  Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;  Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;  Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;  Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;  Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and  Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

QUICK- REFERENCES

The following information will provide some helpful information and frequently asked questions: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Quick Guide Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Am I Eligible? (USCIS Fact-Sheet) How Do I…Request Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals? DOCUMENTS/ FORMS D ACA Online Evidence Guidelines Citizenship Become a citizen! The Central Louisiana Interfaith Immigration Center is offering free to low-cost citizenship services to applicants who qualify for citizenship.

With the recent changes to the N400 form, which is twice as long, we understand that it can be confusing and time-consuming, so we are here to answer questions and guide you on your citizenship path.

If you are a legal permanent resident eligible for American citizenship, there is no better time than now to resolve to become a citizen!  Citizens stand to earn up to 11 percent more in wages over a lifetime, they have access to more and better paying jobs, they travel with a U.S. passport, and they can help their kids under 18 years of age become citizens.  A newly naturalized worker stands to earn more than $2,500 more in his lifetime than one who did not naturalize, with most of that increase coming within a decade after becoming a citizen.  On the whole, naturalized citizens make more — a new citizen sees an average boost in individual earning of 8 to 11 percent. That makes naturalization a golden opportunity for the entire U.S. economy, which could see growth from $21 billion to $45 billion if all eligible immigrants became citizens. For more information, contact the Central Louisiana Interfaith Immigration Center at 318-445-6424 x 211 or [email protected].