Immigration News

Sympathies to Families and Friends of Victims in Berkeley, California

Minister Flanagan expresses sympathy over deaths in California and activates Consular Crisis Centre

The Emerald Isle Immigration Center wishes to express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of all the victims of the tragic accident in Berkeley, California. We understand that some of the students in the NY area may know some of the victims, if you know anyone who feels the need to speak to someone, please contact the Emerald Isle Immigration Center on 718-478-5502 Olive Lyons ext.203 or Caitriona Howley ext. 220

Free U.S. Citizenship Classes

Free Citizenship Classes

Supported by funding through the 2013 USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, EIIC offers a comprehensive education program that helps U.S Citizenship applicants to successfully pass their citizenship test.

Class Objectives

  • Learn About the United States government and History
  • Help students become more proficient in intermediate conversational English in order to prepare them for the Naturalization Interview
  • Provide students with listening and word recognition skills
  • Provide students with intermediate vocabulary and useful sentences
  • Give students the opportunity to practice written and spoken English
  • Learn about the rights and responsibilities of a U.S. citizen

Attendance policy

  • After 6 unexcused classes absences you will be removed from the program.

Free Public Information Seminars on Tax, Immigration and Health Care

 

EIIC Tax Seminar 2015

 

President Obama’s recently announced executive actions on immigration emphasized accountability and the requirement to pay taxes on the part of undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States. Under current tax laws, all individuals residing and working in the United States are generally required to file income taxes. Besides the legal requirement, there are other good reasons to file income tax returns, including eligibility for citizenship and other immigration benefits and potential tax refunds, credits or exemptions. Tax filings may be used as evidence of physical presence in the United States and also demonstrates good moral character and compliance with existing laws.

The filing of taxes is not currently a requirement to apply under President Obama’s deferred action programs for childhood arrivals (DACA) or parents of US citizen or permanent resident children (DAPA). However, it is likely that proof of taxes will be necessary to maintain and renew the work authorization under the deferred action programs. Prior taxes filed can also be used as evidence of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States which is required since January 1, 2010 under the new deferred action programs. Ultimately, tax filing will also most likely also be a requirement towards a path to citizenship under any new immigration legislation.

Most undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States are required to file an income tax return to report their U.S. earnings. For the most recent 2014 tax year, a single individual under 65 with no dependents must generally file a tax return if his or her income was $9,075 or more on their W-2 form(s) as a regular employee. Individuals who are independent contractors, including those who are self-employed and receive a 1099 form or whose employer does not report their income to the IRS, are required to file a tax return if they earned more than $400 last year. Those who do file a tax return may be eligible for a tax refund if taxes have already been deducted from their salary, may be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit or exemptions for dependents.

To file a tax return, individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security number must apply for and use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a nine-digit number issued to people who are not authorized to work in the United States but need to report income. An ITIN is used only for record keeping purposes and for filing taxes. One must complete a W-7 form and file it with their tax return to get an ITIN for the first time. Afterwards, the ITIN may be used to file future returns and also for opening a bank account, taking out a mortgage or for other financial transactions. The IRS recently changed the process and requirements to obtain an ITIN. Applicants must now present original identification documents to apply and the ITIN will expire if not used to file a tax return for five years. More information on the ITIN is available on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Individual-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-(ITIN).

The IRS does not share any information from taxpayers with other government agencies due to privacy provisions in the tax laws. It is also not in the IRS’s tax collection interest to disclose any information to the immigration authorities, since it will discourage those who are undocumented from filing tax returns.

“In preparation for any future legalization program it is in everyone’s best interest to file their taxes and report their income to show how long they have been living here and that they are able to support themselves and their families while paying their fair share,” according to John A. Stahl, Esq., Director of Immigration Legal Services at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

Lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, must also demonstrate that they have complied with the tax laws to apply for US citizenship and to maintain their permanent resident status. To become an American citizen, they will have to show evidence that they have filed taxes during the five years prior to their application for naturalization or proof that they were not required to file a tax return. To qualify for naturalization after only three years as a permanent resident, a citizenship applicants must show that they have been married and living together with their U.S. citizen spouse and have filed their last three years taxes as married. Failure to file a required tax return may be considered an act of bad moral character which is a temporary bar to attaining U.S. citizenship.

Under the Affordable Care Act, most people in the U.S. are required to have health insurance or pay a penalty beginning in 2014. People do not have to pay the penalty if they qualify for an exemption. Individuals with no immigration status, who cannot get insurance through the Marketplace are exempt from the mandate.

NOTE: THE EMERALD ISLE IMMIGRATION CENTER WILL BE HOSTING FREE PUBLIC INFORMATION SEMINARS AT OUR WOODLAWN AND WOODSIDE OFFICES ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH AND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH, RESPECTIVELY, FROM 6-8pm.

OUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS, IMMIGRATION COUNSELORS, HEALTH CARE NAVIGATORS AND PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS WILL BE ATTENDING TO PROVIDE FREE UPDATES AND INFORMATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ON IMMIGRATION, HEALTH INSURANCE AND TAXES.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CALL THE WOODLAWN OFFICE AT 718-324-3039 OR THE WOODSIDE OFFICE AT 718-478-5502.

 

EIIC PRESS RELEASE: Texas Injunction on President’s Executive Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Emerald Isle Immigration Center’s Executive Director Siobhan Dennehy expressed “disappointment” that late yesterday a federal district court judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction which temporarily blocks the implementation of the President’s executive actions. Specifically, the decision places on hold the expansion of the deferred action for childhood arrivals program (DACA) and the deferred action program for parents of US citizen and permanent resident children (DACA). The Administration is moving quickly to appeal the judge’s decision, but it means that tomorrow’s start date for the expansion of the DACA program will be delayed for at least several weeks. The DAPA program was not scheduled to be open until mid to late May and may be delayed as well.
The ruling does not affect those who qualify under the original DACA program announced in 2012 who are applying to renew their status or filing an initial application. Those who were granted DACA and currently hold work permits are also not affected stated John Stahl Esq, EIIC Immigration Attorney and Director of Legal Services.

“The challenges and threats to immigration reform may continue. But in the meanwhile the successful applicants will be wise to gather documents, not travel and not give up hope” stated Immigration Attorney & EIIC Vice Chair, Frank Schorn.

This unfortunate decision is a temporary setback and will only slow down the implementation of these programs. It should not deter those who qualify under these programs from gathering the necessary documents and information and remain in the United States in anticipation of further more favorable developments in the coming months. Potential applicants should secure reliable advice from qualified immigration counsel and beware of immigration scams.

USCIS Queens office Closed Indefinitely

 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Queens Office will no longer be located at 27-35 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, due to office flooding.  USCIS has relocated all operations to our 26 Federal Plaza office in Manhattan.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where should customers who are generally served by the Queens office go now?

All interviews and Infopass appointments for customers usually served by the Queens office (generally, that would include residents of Queens and some residents of Brooklyn) are now being scheduled for our Manhattan office, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 8-100.

For the time being, all Queens correspondence, including Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for Queens cases, should be mailed to USCIS, 27-35 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

All biometrics (fingerprinting and photos) appointments that would usually be scheduled for the Queens Application Support Center (ASC) are now being scheduled for other local ASCs, as indicated on biometrics appointment notices.

How many employees were relocated to 26 Fed Plaza/elsewhere?

75 USCIS employees and contractors moved to 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan and 4 moved to our Long Island office in Holtsville, Long Island.  Five ASC employees and contractors were relocated to the ASC in Jamaica, Queens.

Will USCIS have naturalization ceremonies in Queens?

All Queens cases are part of the Eastern District Court of New York, so Queens applicants are naturalized at the Eastern District Court in Brooklyn.  On occasion, USCIS and the courts host “special” ceremonies outside the court at important NY venues like the Rufus King House in Queens and we will continue to do so.

Will USCIS still be able to have a presence in the Queens community?

Definitely. USCIS-NY has an outstanding community relations officer who does community outreach (naturalization/ DACA info sessions for example) and she and other USCIS staff will continue to work with our Queens partners such as the Queens Public Library to continue to bring these services to the Queens community.

How many customers was the Queens office seeing per day (FO and ASC)?

The Queens office conducted about 150 interviews, 40 Infopass appointments, and about 250 ASC biometrics (fingerprinting and photos) appointments a day.