Immigration Services
Immigration Fraud
Immigrant Workers’ Rights
Consumer Tips
Health Access
Immigration Services
Immigration Relief Eligibility Screenings
Do you want to know if you’re eligible for any current immigration relief programs? Are you looking for lawful immigration status in the United States? AJSOCAL provides free immigration relief eligibility screenings to determine if you have a pathway to permanent residency or lawful presence. The Immigration Services Program at AJSOCAL offers in-person or virtual consultations by appointment only.
Clients are screened for eligibility for current immigration programs such as family-based immigration, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), T-Visa, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U-Visa, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). After the screening, clients are advised if they are eligible for any immigration relief and if AJSOCAL may be able to provide them with immigration assistance. If individuals are not eligible for services, referrals can be provided. Individuals are not an AJSOCAL client until an attorney has accepted their case and agreed to represent them.
To schedule an appointment for a free immigration screening, please contact us at immrelief@ajsocal.org or call our toll-free in-language helplines:
English/Other: 888-349-9695
普通话／广东话 (Chinese): 800-520-2356
한국어(Korean): 800-867-3640
Tagalog (Filipino): 855-300-2552
ภาษาไทย (Thai): 880-914-9583
हिन्दी (Hindi) : 85-.971-2552
ខ្មែរ (Khmer): 800-867-3126
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese): 714-477-2958
Family-Based Immigration
Do you need assistance with an immigration matter regarding family-based immigration? AJSOCAL offers immigration consultations for certain forms of family-based petitions. Services include, but are not limited to, Adjustment of Status (I-485), Petition for Alien Relative (I-130), Affidavit of Support (I-864), immigration relief for a widow(er) of a U.S. citizen (I-360), Application for Travel Document (I-131), and Application for Employment Authorization (I-765).
- Do you want to petition a spouse or relative from another country to come live in the United States?
- Is your visa petition current and are you ready to apply for a green card?
- Are you a non-permanent resident (not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident) who needs to request to travel outside the United States?
- Do you need to remove the conditions of your residency in the United States?
- Do you need assistance to complete an affidavit of support?
After a consultation, AJSOCAL attorneys will advise whether they are able to assist in filing a family-based petition. Individuals are not an AJSOCAL client until an attorney has accepted their case and agreed to represent them.
DACA Renewal Information
Deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) currently protects undocumented immigrants who came to the United States under 16 years of age. A DACA application can temporarily defer deportation, provide a social security number, and grant employment authorization in two-year increments.
If you or a loved one would like to apply for DACA or renew your DACA status, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California can help.
First-Time DACA Immigration Program Applicants
For DACA eligibility, you must meet a list of criteria, including:
- Being under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
- Being a continuous resident of the United States since June 15, 2007
- Being currently enrolled in school, having graduated from school, possessing a GED, or being an honorably discharged United States veteran
- Having no criminal record that might mark you as a threat to national security or public safety
Our attorneys help you prepare the paperwork and point you in the right direction if you need assistance with the application fees. A path to permanent citizenship is not presently possible with DACA. Dreamers will have to await the outcomes of the legal battles that continue to progress in the United States before tasting any lasting security regarding their status.
The DACA Renewal Application Process
If you would like to renew DACA, you must:
- Reside in the United States continuously
- Not leave the United States on or after August 15, 2012, without advance parole
- Have no significant criminal record
The 188,420 California DACA recipients bring an influx of 2.1 billion dollars in federal tax payments to the economy. With this dataset, it is no surprise that California supported maintaining the program during the previous administration’s efforts to end DACA. Citizenship is the ultimate goal, but Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA can help you remain working legally in the United States until changes in DACA immigration law might occur.
Call Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA at (213) 977-7500 for DACA renewal information today.
Download Brochure: English, 中文 (Chinese), 한국어 (Korean), ภาษาไทย (Thai)
Removal Defense
Do you have an upcoming hearing before an Immigration Judge, an ICE check-in, or have you already been ordered removed by an Immigration Judge? Are you currently being detained by ICE? Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California offers free removal defense services to individuals in removal proceedings. Services include, but are not limited to, removal defense consultations to screen for available forms of relief, pro se assistance and direct representation before the Immigration Court. If individuals are not eligible for services, referrals can be provided. Individuals are not an AJSOCAL client until an attorney has accepted their case and agreed to represent them.
Consultations
Consultations include a brief case review and legal advice. During consultations, clients are informed about the required USCIS application forms, filing fees (USCIS), approximate processing period for USCIS forms, and whether he or she is eligible for the immigration relief program requested.
Common services requested are (but not limited to):
- I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- I-131, Application for Travel Document (Advance Parole & Reentry Permit)
- I-485, Application to Adjust Status
- I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence (Joint Petition & Waiver of the Joint Filing Requirement)
- I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Card
- I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section Under Section 213A of the Act
- Inadmissibility/Deportability (based on criminal and unlawful presence grounds)
- “Aging Out” children
- Beneficiary’s “opt-out option”
- Child Citizenship Act
Resources/Useful Links
Immigration Fraud
WHAT IS IMMIGRATION FRAUD?
Individuals who represent themselves as qualified to offer legal advice or services concerning immigration or other matters of law, who have no such qualification, routinely victimize members of immigrant communities. Such representations can include false statements that:
- The individual is an attorney;
- The individual is authorized to represent immigrants before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) or before immigration courts;
- The individual is qualified to assist in preparing legal paperwork such as immigration forms; or
- The individual is a legal assistant.
What's the problem?
Misrepresentations as to an individual’s qualification to offer legal advice can have severe implications for immigrants. In many cases the work performed by such individuals can result in:
- Fail to perform contracted work;
- Collect payments and disappear;
- File meritless applications, placing the applicant at risk of removal;
- Incorrectly fill out applications or incomplete forms, causing applicants to lose their immigration benefits or barring them from obtaining future relief;
- Overcharging their clients for work they are not authorized to perform.
As a result of the advice or actions of such individuals, an immigrant can miss opportunities to obtain legal residency, can be unnecessarily deported, or can be subject to civil and/or criminal liability for the filing of false claims. In addition, immigrants often spend hundreds or thousands of dollars in payment for what they believe are the services of a licensed attorney.
Common immigration scams
Individuals engaging in immigration fraud may do or tell you things like:
- They can get you a work permit quickly;
- You are eligible for a green card because you have lived in the U.S. for 10 years or more;
- Use fake government websites that look like U.S. government sites but are not;
- Making promises or guarantees for a green card or work permit if you pay;
- Charge you to pay for blank immigration forms;
- Requesting payments by phone or email by impersonating they are USCIS or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ex: Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards as payment for immigration fees)
- Tell you that you are eligible to asylum or other immigration benefits when you don’t qualify (ex: you don’t fear returning to your home country but the attorney files a false asylum claim on your behalf)
More information about common immigration scams can be found here.
Always Protect Yourself
- If the news sounds “too good to be true”, be on alert. For example, if other attorneys have said you don’t qualify for a green card but this one says it will be no problem if you can pay a certain fee.
- Ask for an explanation of the process, your eligibility, and documents.
- Review all immigration forms the immigration lawyer is submitting on your behalf before you sign.
- Request a written contract signed and dated by an immigration lawyer.
- Request a receipt showing the date, the amount you paid, and the service you paid for.
- Request the lawyer’s business card and website.
- Ask that the lawyer explain documents and legal procedures to you.
- Keep your original documents and only give copies to your lawyer.
- Keep copies of any contracts, forms filed on your behalf, receipts, and any other documents.
- You will get a receipt from U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when you turn in your paperwork. Keep it in safe place.
- It proves that USCIS received your application or petition.
- You will need the receipt to check on the status of your application.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- Never pay for blank government forms.
- Government forms are FREE and can be accessed by anyone on the internet.
- You may only have to pay when you submit the completed forms to the government.
- Never sign a blank form, or document that has false information in it.
- Never sign a document that you don’t understand. Make sure you ask the attorney to explain any documents, legal procedures, and the basis of your eligibility to you.
FIND A REPUTABLE LAWYER
ONLY licensed lawyers may provide immigration advice and services on your case.
For help with your immigration case, please go to this link for reputable free or low-cost immigration service providers.
- Check online if your lawyer is licensed to practice law
- For a California attorney*:
- Ask for their bar number (a six-digit number).
- Check the bar number on the California State Bar website to see if your lawyer has ever been disciplined or suspended. (ex: California State Bar Attorney Search
* If your lawyer is licensed in another state, request their bar number and the state they are licensed in to verify they can practice law.
REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Report the incident to your local police department and get an official police report of the incident that acts as proof of what happened to you.
- File a report online or call the LAPD non-emergency line
- Phone: 213-928-8223
L.A. COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Report the incident to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Notario Fraud Unit so they can press criminal charges against the Notario
- Phone: 213-257- 2450
CONSUMER PROTECTION UNIT:
Report the incident to a Consumer Protection Unit, who protects consumers and prevents businesses from engaging in fraudulent activities or illegal business practices.
- The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs
- Phone: 213-974-1452
** If you live outside of Los Angeles County, please refer to your local agencies.
If you have any doubts about whether someone claiming to be from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) believe they are an imposter, you should contact USCIS customer service at 800-375-5283.
Immigrant Workers’ Rights
Labor rights in the U.S.
- Be paid the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked
- Be paid on time
- Be treated without discrimination or harassment
- A healthy and safe environment
- Question your employer’s pay or workplace practices and participate in labor investigations
- File a claim without retaliation
Some noncitizen workers whose employers are subject to active labor investigations may be able to request a work permit and temporary protection from deportation.
Some common industries where forced labor can occur
Signs that your rights may be violated
- Being paid too little, paid late, or only paid in cash
- Working extremely long days; no breaks or days off
- Not having protective clothing
- An offer for work sounds too good to be true
- Secrets about the work or the place you are going to
- Restrictions on communication with others and movement beyond work
- Threat or use of verbal/physical violence, blackmail, or coercion
- Work conditions are unsafe or hazardous
- Not being insured against accidents
- Having no control over your own money
- Your identification or travel documents are confiscated
- Living on the job site or having poor lodging (no food or water, no beds, no electricity)
- Being forced to work in order to pay off a never-ending debt
VICTIMS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR
If you have experienced or are experiencing one or more of the above,
you MAY be eligible for:
- Back Pay
Money owed by the employer for unpaid or underpaid work by the employee - Immigration Protections
Free legal help is available to immigrant victims, including victims of crime, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Workers covered by certain labor investigations may also qualify for protections. - Public Benefits
Cash aid, food assistance, free health coverage, and more
