Legal Immigration Services The Institute helps families that have been separated by the migration experience to reunify through family visa petitions, helps legal residents gain citizenship, assists undocumented battered immigrant women and children gain legal status, helps with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and provides advice and counsel on immigration legal matters.
Petitioning for Family Members
Whether you are a permanent resident or US citizen, you are eligible to petition for certain family members abroad, or is some cases who are in the US. These family members include spouses, children, parents and siblings, depending on your status. The family reunification process can be complex and costly – that is why our experienced staff is here to guide you through the process at a low cost.
Private Consultations & Counseling
Unsure of your legal options? For a nominal fee, you may meet with an immigration specialist for advice, counseling, or information on an application. Our staff will keep all of your information confidential and give you the straight facts about your options, as the law allows.
Letters of Invitation
IIC is here to help you invite friends and family to visit the United States. While the visiting individual must apply for their visa at the respective embassy in their home country, IIC can help you draft a letter of invitation and Affidavit of Support to enhance the application. We also give advice on how to increase one’s chances of being granted a visa.
Citizenship Preparation
IIC provides a comprehensive program to prepare and help eligible permanent residents apply for US citizenship. After determining statutory eligibility, IIC will help you prepare the
US naturalization application and give information on the legal procedure and interview process. In addition, IIC will prepare the applicant for the English and civics test – by both one-on-one counseling and group classes held each Saturday.
Fiancé Visas & Adjustment Packages
If you are engaged to be married, you may be eligible to apply for a fiancé visa so that he or she may enter the country legally for the purpose of marriage. IIC is here to help with this process, as well as the adjustment of status process required after the marriage ceremony in order to acquire employment authorization and permanent residence.
Temporary Protective Status (TPS)
Renew your application, or get information on this program, which provides temporary residence to qualified individuals from select countries facing temporary disaster, including Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
Asylum and Court Representation
Whether you are facing deportation, an asylum appeal, or are scheduled to appear before the immigration court and lack proper representation, IIC may be able to help you. We have a network of pro bono attorneys who, at times, may be available to represent you free of cost. In other cases, IIC legal staff may be able to represent you in court for a nominal fee.
Victims of Crime & Domestic Violence
The Institute assists immigrant women, children and men who are victims of crime, including survivors of domestic violence with their immigration issues. It assists immigrant women with VAWA petitions, U-visa applications, and limited gender asylum and VAWA cancellation of removal cases in order to help battered women regularize their immigration status. In addition, the Institute can assist victims of human trafficking obtain t-visas or adjustment of status.