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Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Immigration Legal Assistance Program

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Worcester, MA
Immigration Legal Assistance Program

ILAP provides low-cost and pro bono legal representation to low-income noncitizens in Massachusetts.

igration applications/petitions;
• Assistance to apply for citizenship, including continuing mentorship and interview preparation;
• Assistance with family reunification;
• Referrals to pro-bono and low-cost immigration attorneys;
• Referrals to social services providers as appropriate.

04/12/2023

Ascentria’s Immigration Legal Assistance Program and other community partners will be offering free immigration legal help at the Worcester Public Library today! Call 508-799-1655 x3 to schedule an appointment.

Unable to make it? Worcester community partners will be offering this free legal resource once a month until August! The next session will be on May 10 from 4 to 7 pm. We hope to see you there.

09/30/2022

How do you know if you qualify for this assistance?
Read the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General’s webpage Applying for Victims of Violent Crime Assistance at: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/applying-for-victims-of-violent-crime-assistance

Additionally, contact the Attorney General’s Victim Compensation and Assistance Division at 617-727-2200 x2160. They will provide you with current information. Remember to ask about your rights, next steps to follow; and a timeline to receive the aid you need.

How Do You Apply?
Complete the “Application for Crime Victim Compensation” and return it to the Victim Compensation and Assistance Division for verification. The application can be found at:https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/04/02/application%20for%20web%20040119.pdf
If you are unable to access the application, please let us know. We will be happy to provide you with a copy.

We will happily assist you with filling out all necessary paperwork.
¿Cómo puedo saber si califico para esta ayuda?
Lea la información proporcionada en la página de web por la Oficina General de la Procuraduría de Justicia de Massachusetts. La página es https://www.mass.gov/service-details/applying-for-victims-of-violent-crime-assistance. La página de web aparece en Ingles, pero arriba en la mano derecha hay un botón que dice Language (lenguaje) donde puede cambiar la lengua a español.

También llame a la Oficina General de la Procuraduría de Justicia de Massachusetts al 617-727-2200 ext. 2160 para que le den más información acerca del programa, de sus derechos, las citas y el tiempo de espera para recibir ayuda. Al mismo tiempo, pida el contacto más reciente de la persona que trabaja en ayudar a las personas de su condado.

¿Cómo Aplico?
La aplicación la puede encontrar en la siguiente página de web.https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/12/05/application-spanish-100218.pdf si no le es posible obtener la aplicación, por favor déjenos saber y nosotros le daremos una copia.

Si Uds. Tiene algún problema con la aplicación déjenos saber. Nosotros haremos lo posible en ayudarlo.

04/27/2022

Starting the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen? We’re here to help you accomplish that goal! Here’s what you’ll need to start:
• Your Permanent Resident Card - or Green Card
• Your passport or birth certificate
• Employment records for the past five years
• Social security number
• $ 725 money order or check payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" or proof of public benefits (for example MassHealth, SNAP, WIC, SSI, TANF) if applying for fee reduction or waiver

Depending on your circumstances, additional documentation may be required, such as a marriage certificate.

Our low-to-no-fee program makes legal representation (and in this case citizenship!) accessible for everyone, despite your financial situation. For more information, please contact us!

Phone: 774.243.3045 Email: [email protected]

03/17/2022

Starting the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen? We’re here to help you accomplish that goal!

Naturalization is the process by which a lawful permanent resident applies for and is granted U.S. citizenship.

U.S. citizenship is a legal status that offers many benefits and responsibilities, including:
>The ability to vote in U.S. federal elections,
>Serve on a jury,
>Travel with a U.S. passport, and
>Bring family members to the United States.

Importantly, once obtained, U.S. citizenship cannot be abandoned or lost by spending extended periods of time outside of the United States (as is the case with permanent residence).

If you have questions about the naturalization process, we encourage you to contact our office at Ascentria’s Immigration Legal Assistance Program at 774-273-3045 or [email protected]

03/09/2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently rolled back a Trump-era rule that prevented LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers from reuniting with their partners in the U.S.

The original rule limited the scope of “valid marriages” to include only those formally recognized in the country where the marriage took place; many of these countries prohibit same-sex marriage, making it impossible for couples to obtain proof of marriage.

USCIS now recognizes the pre-Trump interpretation of this rule: there are many contexts for marriage and committed lifelong relationships may not be formalized for a variety of reasons, including that the marriage may be considered illegal in that country.

The U.S. should be a safe haven for all; we are happy to see this policy changed!

Read more about this here: https://immigrationimpact.com/2022/03/02/uscis-lgbtq-asylum-refugee-couples/?emci=720b4edd-099c-ec11-a22a-281878b85110&emdi=d6ffe496-609d-ec11-a22a-281878b85110&ceid=8885584 #.Yid0GejMKUk

03/04/2022

Ukraine is designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - effective on March 3, 2022, and will remain in effect for 18 months! This new designation of TPS for Ukraine enables Ukrainian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ukraine) currently residing in the United States to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.

Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 1, 2022 will not be eligible for TPS.

Learn more about this announcement here: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/03/03/secretary-mayorkas-designates-ukraine-temporary-protected-status-18-months?fbclid=IwAR3Iz_v0zEWHmClIg0Yc8ksykfO-IRZs8aXLr8LDjapmskDFzPhhrRPxD_4

03/02/2022

Many of you watching events unfold in may be wondering what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, and the 30,000+ Ukrainians who are unable to return home because of the conflict.

You can help Ukrainians today by calling on Congress to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and Special Student Relief (SSR) for Ukrainians living here in the U.S. who do not have permanent immigration status. TPS, DED, and SSR are short-term immigration relief programs that are designed to safeguard people from deportation and other penalties, and allow them to continue learning, working, and living safely in the United States while armed conflict continues in their home country.

Let Congress know you support these life-saving safeguards, and that they should too, by contacting your Senators and Representatives today: https://bit.ly/35IoKbM
Learn more about TPS, DED, and SSR here: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/temporary-protected-status-overview
We are awaiting additional information from our national partners regarding Ukrainian refugee resettlement and will share information here as it becomes available.

02/18/2022

Congressman Jim McGovern visited Ascentria to acknowledge and congratulate the Ascentria team on a recent Department of Justice grant to help combat human trafficking in central and western Massachusetts. We thank Congressman McGovern for his support of many of Ascentria’s programs as well as his active and ongoing support of legislation to fight human trafficking!

09/23/2021

In August, Haiti was rocked by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, injuring and displacing thousands. It also rendered pre-existing conflicts and conditions in the country worse and led many to seek refuge in the U.S.

Ascentria stands with Haitians affected by the August earthquake. The Immigration Legal Assistance Program is standing by to assist Haitian nationals with applying for Temporary Protected Status, asylum, and humanitarian parole.

To learn more about how we can assist you or someone you know, please contact [email protected] or call 774.243.3045

09/01/2021

Congratulations to the nine people who received their green cards last week! Five Immigration Legal Assistance Program team members (4 pictured) attended multiple hearings at the Boston Immigration Court to assist these clients in obtaining permanent residence.

For assistance with your own immigration status, please contact [email protected]

08/19/2021

Ascentria is working with our national partners to aid in the resettlement of Afghans who are being evacuated to the U.S.
If you have family in Afghanistan and need assistance with contacting Congressional offices or applications with humanitarian parole please contact the Immigration Legal Assistance Program at 774.243.3045

08/02/2021

The battle for DACA continues as a federal judge in Texas struck down the program earlier this month. The judge ruled that DACA is illegal and halted USCIS application approvals for people who recently submitted their initial applications. At this time, DACA protections for the 616,000 current recipients are still in place and renewals will continue.

The judge’s ruling still needs to go through the appeals process and could be overturned; however, this decision reinforces the need for more permanent protections for DACA recipients. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk of severe disruption if permanent measures are not passed.

“The federal court ruling again disrupts the lives of immigrant youth whose home is here in Massachusetts and throughout the U.S. This decision sets back our communities,” said Samantha Howland, the program manager for Ascentria’s Immigration Legal Assistance Program.

“Americans have long shown overwhelming support for protecting Dreamers. DACA recipients make our community and our nation better and stronger.

This ruling is again a reminder of the urgent need for Congress to act and pass bipartisan legislation to provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship in order to provide relief and stability to immigrant youth, protect them from deportation and secure them a future as Americans.”

For help with your immigration status, more information, or to learn how you can help support DACA recipients, please contact us at [email protected].

Address

11 Shattuck Street
Worcester, MA
01605

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+17742433100

Website

https://www.ascentria.org/about/contact-us

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Our Story

The Immigration Legal Assistance Program ("ILAP") of Ascentria Care Alliance provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants state-wide. The legal services include: • Legal representation for asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and/or victims of violent crime, domestic violence, or human trafficking; • Legal consultations in complicated immigration cases; • Assistance to complete immigration applications/petitions; • Assistance to apply for citizenship, including continuing mentorship and interview preparation; • Assistance with family reunification; • Referrals to pro-bono and low-cost immigration attorneys; • Referrals to social services providers as appropriate.

The Ascentria Immigration Legal Assistance Program also assists individuals to complete immigration forms such as:

• Citizenship applications, including mentorship and preparation for the naturalization interview • Green card applications • Relative petitions • Change of address applications • Replacement green card applications • Replacement of I-94 applications • Employment authorization applications • Refugee travel document applications • Other immigration forms and petitions

All applications are completed and/or reviewed by a lawyer or BIA Accredited Representative prior to mailing. There is a nominal fee for our services. Payment plans are available and no one is turned away for lack of funds.