LSNYC offers several different immigration screening clinics, as described below.
1. Naturalizations screening clinic. (15 to 30 clients.) Help LSNYC screen low-income clients who are interest in becoming U.S. citizens, and identify potential risks to applying.
The clinic is 3 hours, including 45 minutes of training. Volunteers will meet with clients, walk through a series of questions with them, and review documents to determine if they are able to naturalize, and whether there are any risks to doing so at this time.
2. Immigration relief for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. (10 clients.) Help LSNYC screen low-income victims of domestic violence who seek legal status. U Nonimmigrant Status - commonly known as "U-Visas" - are available to victims of serious crimes who have cooperated with law enforcement. VAWA self-petitions are another form of immigration relief for domestic violence victims who are married to US citizens or permanent residents.
This clinic is 4 hours, including 1 hour of training. Volunteers will meet with clients, walk through a series of questions, review documents to determine if they are eligible to apply for a U-visa or VAWA self-petition, and assess any risks to doing so at this time.
The clinic is limited scope and is generally held remotely. For in person clinics private rooms must be available for each client.
3. Asian American Pacific Islander (API) Immigration relief for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. (6 to 10 clients.) Help LSNYC screen low-income API victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes for immigration relief. U Nonimmigrant Status - commonly known as "U-Visas" - are available to victims of serious crimes who have cooperated with law enforcement. T Nonimmigrant Status - commonly known as "T-visas" - are available to victims of labor and sex trafficking. VAWA self-petitions are another form of immigration relief for domestic violence victims who are married to US citizens or permanent residents.
This clinic is 4 hours, including 1 hour of training. Volunteers will meet VAWA self-petition, and assess any risks to doing so at this time.
The clinic is limited scope and is generally held remotely. For in person clinics private rooms must be available for each client.
4. LGBTQ asylum screening clinic. (10 clients.) Help LSNYC screen low-income LGBTQ immigrants who are victims of persecution in their home countries gain legal status in the United States. More than eighty countries have laws that criminalize people who are LGBTQ - with several applying the death penalty. The lucky ones make it to the United States. But without legal status, they face the constant threat of deportation, are unable to work, and cannot access benefits related to housing, healthcare, and disability, among other things. Asylum gives clients an enduring shot at a stable, safe life in the United States.
This clinic is 4 hours, including 1 hour of training. Volunteers will meet with clients, walk through a series of questions, review documents to determine if they are eligible to apply for asylum, and assess any risks to doing so at this time.
The clinic is limited scope and is generally held remotely. For in person clinics private rooms must be available for each client.