Address: 2055 Sunnydale Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134
Time: 7pm - 10pm
For more information please contact: (650)862-0441 or (415) 841-1086
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Immigration Workshop and Consultations in San Francisco on October 29, 2015
Address: 2055 Sunnydale Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134
Time: 7pm - 10pm
For more information please contact: (650)862-0441 or (415) 841-1086
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
New Immigrant and Naturalization Information Sessions held by USCIS throughout California!
Upcoming information sessions held by
USCIS -- valuable information, check it out to see if there is one happening
near you!!
Saturday 9/5
9am-11am
Naturalization 101
Folsom Public Library
411 Stafford Street
Folsom, CA 95630
Folsom Public Library
411 Stafford Street
Folsom, CA 95630
Monday, 9/14
1pm-5pm
Naturalization 101
Bakersfield Adult School
501 S. Mt. Vernon Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Tuesday, 9/15
6pm-8pm
Naturalization 101
UFW Foundation
220 18th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Wednesday, 9/16
6pm-8pm
Naturalization 101
Bakersfield Adult School
501 S. Mt. Vernon Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Friday, 10/2
6:30pm-8:30pm
General Info Session
Holy Rosary Parish Hall, 315 Walnut Street
Woodland, CA 95695
Saturday, 10/3
2pm-4pm
New Immigrant Orientation
S. Natomas Library
2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento, CA 95833
Thursday, 10/8
6pm-8pm
Naturalization 101
Margaret Troke Library
502 W. Benjamin Holt Dr
Stockton, CA 95202
Saturday, 10/10
11am-1pm
Naturalization 101
Sacramento Library
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Saturday, 10/17
10:30am-12:30pm
Naturalization 101
Fairfield Civic Ctr Library
1150 Kentucky Street
Fairfield, CA 94533
Saturday, 10/24
10:30am-12:30pm
Naturalization 101
Tracy Public Library
20 East Eaton Avenue
Tracy, CA 95376
Wednesday, 10/28
6pm-7:30pm
Naturalization 101
Patterson Public Library
46 N. Salado Ave.
Patterson, CA 95363
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Executive Action: what we HOPED would be immigration reform
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions aimed at helping the millions of undocumented people living in the United States. The initiatives included:
(1) Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA): this would allow the parents of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) to obtain employment authorization for three years. In order to obtain such authorization, they would have to prove that they have lived in the US since January 1, 2010 and pass required background checks.
(2) Expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): this would allow those who arrived in the US before turning 16, graduated from high school here in the US (or obtained a GED or are currently enrolled in high school or a GED program), have lived continuously in the US since January 1, 2010 and passed required background checks, to obtain work authorization for three years. This would greatly expand the current DACA program because it has no age limit (currently, you have to been born after June 15, 1981) and would require proof of your presence in the US from 2010 until the present whereas currently, you have to show presence in the US from 2007 to the present).
(3) Expansion of the use of unlawful presence waivers to include the spouses and children of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents. This would apply to people who need to consular process and who have to file a waiver for how long they have been in the US without permission. Currently, only spouses and minor children of US Citizens and LPRs can file a waiver. This would extend that eligibility to adult children.
The initiative also included cracking down on illegal immigration at the border and prioritizing the deportation of felons.
Unfortunately, the implementation of the executive actions was halted by a court case filed by 26 states against the administration, arguing that the President overstepped his executive authority. The District Court Judge on the case ordered an injunction blocking the programs from taking effect while the court considers the lawsuit. The Department of Justice then filed an emergency request to allow the programs to proceed, however, that request was denied and the programs remain "in limbo."
At this point, everything is on hold until the court case is decided. There are a myriad of opinions out there about how long this will take and whether or not the programs will ever take effect. The only guarantee at this point is that there is nothing new to report. I have spoken to so many people who are very confused about what is going on -- and rightfully so. My only advice at this point is to stay informed. People have been taken advantage of by people who supposedly know about "new" immigration programs. As I have said in previous blogs -- ASK questions. Make sure that the person/people you are getting advice from are immigration attorneys or accredited representatives.
As always, immigration law is difficult to navigate and every case is unique. This blog is meant to provide general information, and cannot address every avenue of relief that may be available to you. Additionally, immigration law is always changing and that can change options available to you. You should always consult with an immigration lawyer before filing for anything.
(1) Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA): this would allow the parents of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) to obtain employment authorization for three years. In order to obtain such authorization, they would have to prove that they have lived in the US since January 1, 2010 and pass required background checks.
(2) Expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): this would allow those who arrived in the US before turning 16, graduated from high school here in the US (or obtained a GED or are currently enrolled in high school or a GED program), have lived continuously in the US since January 1, 2010 and passed required background checks, to obtain work authorization for three years. This would greatly expand the current DACA program because it has no age limit (currently, you have to been born after June 15, 1981) and would require proof of your presence in the US from 2010 until the present whereas currently, you have to show presence in the US from 2007 to the present).
(3) Expansion of the use of unlawful presence waivers to include the spouses and children of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents. This would apply to people who need to consular process and who have to file a waiver for how long they have been in the US without permission. Currently, only spouses and minor children of US Citizens and LPRs can file a waiver. This would extend that eligibility to adult children.
The initiative also included cracking down on illegal immigration at the border and prioritizing the deportation of felons.
Unfortunately, the implementation of the executive actions was halted by a court case filed by 26 states against the administration, arguing that the President overstepped his executive authority. The District Court Judge on the case ordered an injunction blocking the programs from taking effect while the court considers the lawsuit. The Department of Justice then filed an emergency request to allow the programs to proceed, however, that request was denied and the programs remain "in limbo."
At this point, everything is on hold until the court case is decided. There are a myriad of opinions out there about how long this will take and whether or not the programs will ever take effect. The only guarantee at this point is that there is nothing new to report. I have spoken to so many people who are very confused about what is going on -- and rightfully so. My only advice at this point is to stay informed. People have been taken advantage of by people who supposedly know about "new" immigration programs. As I have said in previous blogs -- ASK questions. Make sure that the person/people you are getting advice from are immigration attorneys or accredited representatives.
As always, immigration law is difficult to navigate and every case is unique. This blog is meant to provide general information, and cannot address every avenue of relief that may be available to you. Additionally, immigration law is always changing and that can change options available to you. You should always consult with an immigration lawyer before filing for anything.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Important Immigration Lessons for Pacific Islander Communities
In the past few months, I have hosted several immigration seminars, workshops and informational booths in both California and Utah, targeting the Pacific Islander community. During these public venues, four key things stood out to me as issues that NEED to be addressed in the Polynesian community with regard to immigration.
First, we need to take the stigma out not having immigration status or being considered an "over-stayer." The shame and stigma associated with needing immigration help is preventing people in our communities from seeking out the information they need to actually DO something about it! I have seen this problem first hand at every informational booth we have ever had. To give you an example, at the Samoan Cultural Celebration in Utah last month, we had a good response and many people came up to ask about their "friends" or family. It was RARE, however, for a person to come and ask a question about their own situation. We saw people walk by, glance at our banner, walk by again, walk by a THIRD time -- but never actually approach us. I saw one person go as far as pretending to look at handicrafts at the booth next to ours, while covertly entering our phone number into her cell phone. This is not because she didn't WANT the information, she just didn't want other people SEEING her at the booth. As a community, we need to tell people that this is NOT something to be ashamed of and that getting the right information is KEY to tackling immigration issues.
The problem of shame and stigma goes hand--in-hand with the second issue I have noticed: failure to seek out the RIGHT help. Due to the fact that people are wary to share information regarding their immigration problems, they do not seek out advice from professionals. All to often, people go to someone they have heard about third-hand who "used to work in immigration" or "knows how to do paperwork." Some familiarity with immigration procedures does NOT mean a person is qualified to help or represent you. Unless the person is a licensed attorney or an accredited representative (i.e. someone who has been AUTHORIZED to help with immigration matters by the Board of Immigration Appeals), there is no way to be SURE that they are qualified to provide assistance with immigration matters. Moreover, there is often no way to hold them accountable if they fail to provide the services they promised. It is painful to see, but I have witnessed first hand how people in our own communities, who profess to be "experts" in immigration, take thousands of dollars and important documentation, and do nothing -- or even worse, do HARM. In order to combat this problem, I give the following advice at every workshop or seminar we host: there is a place on almost EVERY immigration form for the person who helped you to put THEIR name, and if they aren't willing to sign it -- they can't be trusted. We need to spread that knowledge and hold the people who are providing a disservice to our communities ACCOUNTABLE.
The third problem I have encountered is that immigration issues are not a priority in the Polynesian community. Immigration issues BECOME a priority when something pressing happens back home in the islands, and we need to travel -- then something has to be done within a few weeks, or even days. On a regular basis I have to tell people that we cannot get them home in time for the funeral/wedding/fa'alavelave, and it is heart-breaking. Think of immigration like the DMV, only the waiting room is your house, the paperwork is in triplicate, and you have to take your fingerprints and get a physical before the clerk will call your number. Again, as a community, we need to stress the importance of putting this FIRST. Not only because of the inconvenience it causes when you want to GO SOMEWHERE, but for so many other reasons that people never even really consider. Take retirement for example, if you have been working in the United States for decades and paying into Social Security, you cannot see a penny of those contributions without lawful immigration status. People also do not consider the fact that immigration laws constantly change and benefits/avenues to getting residency (green card) exist now, that never existed before -- or vice versa -- benefits that USED to exist, are no longer offered. Not to mention the fact that immigration filing fees have increased exponentially over the last few years and things that used to cost $200, now cost $600 or $700. There will always be things that come up that seem more important, especially with fa'alavelave added to the normal daily grind -- but we need to make sure that immigration takes a front seat for our community.
The fourth and final issue is the importance of CITIZENSHIP. Citizenship is a privilege that everyone should take advantage of. I cannot stress this enough. A lot of times, people will remain green card holders or US Nationals for decades, and never even consider taking the next step to Citizenship. Thomas Jefferson said; "The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens, a perfect equality of rights." That perfect equality he talks about -- those rights -- those are reserved for CITIZENS. While green card holders enjoy the privilege of being here, they do not have the same rights as citizens, and that privilege can be taken away at the will of the government. Citizenship comes with the right to vote, and if our community could organize, the way other larger ethnic groups have done, we could have a very powerful voting block. Just look at the last election. Whether you support the current president or not, that election was heavily swayed by the Hispanic vote. If everyone in our community who is eligible for citizenship took the time to BECOME a citizen -- we could have that type of voice in our government.
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