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The New York Resettlement Office is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and has an immigration staff consisting of an attorney and two BIA-accredited representatives. Through our immigration program, we attempt to satisfy all of immigration needs of the refugees we resettle. Refugees have legal immigration status when they first arrive in the United States . However, once here, refugees often confront immigration-related matters and have reason to interact with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). For instance, the Immigration and Nationality Act requires refugees to apply for green cards after they have been in the U.S. for one year. After five years in the U. S. , refugees can apply for U.S. Citizenship. Refugees can also appeal to bring close family members to the U.S. by filing immigration petitions. In all of these cases, the New York Resettlement Office can help.
In addition to refugees, we assist asylees, other immigrants, and U.S. citizens. Among the services we provide, we help eligible individuals apply for green cards or U.S. Citizenship. We aid U.S. citizens or green card holders in filing petitions to bring family members to the United States , and we help individuals apply for travel documents or employment authorization documents (EADs). When necessary, we can provide representation at interviews before U.S. CIS. Currently, we do NOT assist individuals who are seeking asylum in the United States . We also do not provide services or advice to individuals who are out of status.
In order to help defray costs, we charge nominal fees for most services. However, through a grant from the State of New York , we provide free assistance to all New York State residents eligible to apply for U.S. Citizenship. Free services are provided throughout the citizenship application process and include eligibility determination; application completion and submission; follow up work on applications already filed; preparation for the required citizenship interview and the test in U.S. History and Civics; and, when necessary, legal assistance. These services are available to all eligible New York State residents, but the majority of the people we serve are refugees who were resettled through our office.
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