FALDEF offers FREE Legal Clinic

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) held an event at the Philippine Consulate in New York on Friday June 7^th, 2013. It was a free legal clinic that had a plethora of lawyers with a wide variety of different specializations. The lawyers for the event ranged from various fields including immigration, prosecution, and criminal and even included a judge. The team that was involved in this event was highly prepared to tackle any case presented to them. There were a sense of diversity and well-rounded professionalism in the room.

Not even the heavy summer rain could stop the volunteers from FALDEF, National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region 1 (NaFFAA R1), Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro) , Filipino American Lawyers of NY (FALANY), South Asian Bar Association of NY (SABANY) and the Philippine Consulate General of NY (PCGNY). The men and women, from different stations, became one in hope and aspiration for others.

 As a welcoming to the lawyers and the volunteers, FALDEF President, Attorney JTS Mallonga, gave a few words of appreciation and expectations to get the event started. The way it was organized began at two tables of 3 volunteers each with a general intake form as a preliminary step. After going through the general details of the client’s case, the volunteer would assign a specific lawyer indicated to handle it best. In order to provide the highest quality legal assistance possible, more than one lawyer would provide advice and feedback per case.

"This set-up was especially helpful because it made the client’s profile stronger. Most of the client’s at this free legal assistance clinic come for purposes of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), even though it is open to all kinds of legal cases.  Ultimately if we help at least one client, our efforts were put to great use. We will continue helping the Filipino- American community, but we welcome all people in need of legal assistance!" one of the FALDEF legal assistants said.

"FALDEF has given me a chance to fulfill my dreams and goals that I would have otherwise missed. I know that they have given it their all on helping me win my case and without them I wouldn't be here today. They have brought the "New York" way to Texas and helped me stay with my family and friends. They have given me the opportunity to care for my younger brother and be a father figure for him, see him grow, and help my family." said John Quidilla, a client of FALDEF who received his DACA work permit on May 2013.

FALDEF offers FREE Legal Clinic every week. To make an appointment please call (212) 221-1888 or email us at legalaid@faldef.org

This article is a collaboration of FALDEF's legal assistants and interns.


        

PATH for DREAMs Event: FREE DACA legal clinic in New York - June 7, 2013

 

 

There are tens and thousands of potential Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiaries in New York and New Jersey and various community leaders and organizations have no shortage of enthusiasm and dedication when it comes to helping the undocumented youths of the community.

In August 2012, PATH for DREAMs (Providing Access to Hope) was implemented by National Federation for Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc. (FALDEF) and the Philippine Consulate General of New York (PCGNY) on August 2012. Since it’s launching, various Asian American communities have joined in hosting DACA processing centers that guarantee access to confidential, trustworthy, knowledgeable, reliable and economical resources.

 

However, new data released by USCIS revealed that the number of applicants is decreasing. Due to lack of information, confidence in the process and insufficient funds to seek legal assistance, many potential DACA applicants don't come forward to apply.  Potential DACA applicants are also hesitant to come forward, waiting for the passing of the new immigration reform. PCGNY, NAFFAA, Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro), FALDEF, and South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) come together to answer questions and help process applications, free of charge.

As immigration reform is being debated in Congress, PCGNY, NAFFAA, UniPro, FALDEF and SABANY recommend that DACA-eligible people to apply, and secure temporary work permit authorization.

 

One of the successful beneficiaries of PATH for Dreams program who wished to remain anonymous, said, "The PATH for DREAMS program helped me in my application process. FALDEF was definitely a great choice in helping me fill out my application forms for DACA. I'm very blessed to have found an organization that not only provides pro bono services to assist me in my situation but also a place where the officers are very understanding, helpful, friendly, and supportive. Thank you for the great services that you consistently and graciously provide for the people in need. I would recommend your services to anyone who needs it."

"Getting my application approved is a great relief, not just for me but for my family. I can now go to school and get a job." said another client who received her work permit. " I hope the politicians pass Amnesty or some comprehensive immigration reform but for now, this is opening new opportunities."

 

According to ImmigrationPolicy.org, out of 1.4 Million DACA eligible immigrants, 8% are Asians and over 100,00 reside in New York and New Jersey.

 

We are asking the community for help in making announcements of this free service.  If you can help spread the word, please contact us at legalaid@faldef.org.

 

Who: PCGNY, NaFFAA, UniPro, FALDEF, and SABANY

 

What:  FREE DACA application legal clinic. Education Workshops.

 

Why: To assist in the processing of the DACA applications and provide the immigrant community guidance on what deferred action is.

 

When: Friday, June 7, 2013 6:00pm - 8:30pm

 

Where: Philippine Center,  Kalayaan Hall 556 5th Ave. New York, NY 10036

 Click HERE to download/print the flyer and HERE to download/print the DACA document checklist.

 

State of Undocumented Immigrant Rights and Resources in NYC

 

UniPro, Philippine Consulate of NY, NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs : One NYC One Nation, FALDEF, & NaFFAA are co-sponsoring an event to raise community awareness of the rights and resources for undocumented immigrant resources on Thursday, April 18th at 6pm in the Kalayaan Hall Annex, Philippine Consulate NYC.

 

 Goals of the Event:

  - To educate our public in a manner that is understandable, consistent and relatable

 - To create joint program(s) initiative(s) for 2013 which will, by having these organizations together, create efficiencies in delivering services to the community; in particular Know Your Rights/DACA/Immigration.

The Philippine Consulate wishes to enhance cooperation with the community on immigration reform and on assisting deserving Filipinos who need the correct information on specific legislation and pro bono legal services.

 

 Speakers and Panelist:

 Opening Speaker: Consulate General Mario De Leon Jr.

 

 Esteemed Panelist:

 o Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Special Assistant to Commissioner Fatima Shama Maria Lee
 

 o Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Program Sarah Flatto

 o FALDEF Director Attorney Patricia Astorga

 o NaFFAA Region 1 Executive Director Steven Raga

 

The panel will be moderated by UniPro's Director of Public Policy and Foreign Relations Program, Ivan Gonzales

 Closing Remarks: FALDEF President Attorney J.T. Mallonga


For more information, please visit the Facebook Event Page

 "Tayo Ay May Mga Karapatan | We Have Rights" , a documentary film by Diane Paragas about FALDEF's cases : deportation and immigration.

EVENT: Nov. 15, 2012 DACA Clinic : FALDEF in cooperation with NYIC

DACA Clinic sponsored by the New York Immigration Coalition and Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc.

When: Thursday, November 15, 2012
           3PM - 8PM

Where: Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP
            450 Lexington Ave
            New York, NY 10017

EVENT: October 20, 2012 at Temple University

Saturday, October 20 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM

sponsored by Temple University Asian Student Association

·        FREE Assistance to Eligible DREAMers under the  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)* 15-30 year old young undocumented

 ·        Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) for Filipinos

EVENT DETAILS:

WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

WHERE: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Main Campus, Mitten Hall

             1801 North Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19121

       

REGISTER ONLINE:www.tinyurl.com/pathfordreams

Please bring: 

Government issued ID with photo, I-94, Passport, School or employment records

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

*PATH for DREAMs Program (Providing Access To Hope)

Undocumented Pinoys in US worry about work, deportation

(As reported in Filipino Reporter)

When John Quidilla, an undocumented Filipino, applied for President Barack Obama’s deferred action program that would allow over 800,000 undocumented young immigrants to remain in the United States and obtain work permit, the 24-year-old former New Yorker and now Texas resident began having some misgivings about the whole process.

What if Barack Obama is not re-elected in November and the new president decides to revoke the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),” as Mr. Obama’s program is known.

“Mitt Romney is opposed to any policy that would allow the undocumented, including those who came here as children, to become legal residents unless they serve in the military,” Quidilla told the Filipino Reporter in a phone interview.

“If Romney wins and repeals DACA, then all of our efforts to fix our lives will go to waste, along with our hopes and dreams.”

Quidilla is not alone, according to a Wall Street Journal article last Monday, the flow of applications for DACA has been slowed by concerns about what they must disclose and uncertainty about who will be the next president.

Immigration attorneys say the outcome of the election is a source of concern because Romney has taken a tough stance on illegal immigration.

During the first three weeks when DACA began accepting application starting Aug. 15, nearly 40,000 individuals applied, according to records.

The level of activity so far is a fraction of the potential number of eligible immigrants.

Quidilla submitted his application Aug. 29, with the help of New York-based lawyer J.T. Mallonga, who is assisting Quidilla on behalf of the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF).

“There was some kind of relief when my application was filed, gumaan nang konti ang pakiramdam ko,” he told the Reporter.

“But then I also got worried kasi there’s really no assurance...hindi sigurado kung ano ang mangyayari. Kung mapapabuti ba o mapapasama.”

Born in Saudi Arabia, Quidilla was 12 when he came to the U.S. in 1999.

He finished high school here and earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in arts and technology last May at the University of Texas in Dallas.

With Mr. Obama’s latest directive, Quidilla disclosed he intends to pursue his education with a master’s degree in arts and technology this fall.

“There is no guarantee that I can find a job right away so I’d rather go back to school and be productive,” he said.

Quidilla and the entire family came to the U.S. legally through his father, Nelson, an exceptional engineer who held H-1B visa.

But his immigration nightmare began when his father succumbed to an illness in 2008 before the young Quidilla could become a legal resident, rendering his father’s approved permanent residency application voided.

With his father’s death, the family endured financial hardships, lost their home to foreclosure, and were forced to take odd jobs for friends and their church.

While the rest of the family eventually adjusted their status in different circumstances, Quidilla was the only one left without legal status.

On Nov. 2, 2011, he got picked up at his home and briefly detained and has since been placed in deportation proceedings.

Mr. Obama’s DACA program is Quidilla’s last hope to remain in the U.S.

Up to 1.7 million immigrants — 30 years old and younger who have lived continuously in the U.S. for five years — could benefit from the deferred program, according to Migration Policy Institute.

About 1.2 million are eligible to apply immediately, with another 500,000 reaching the minimum eligibility age of 15 in a few years, the non-partisan institute estimates.

The largest number of potential applicants — 460,000 — is in California, Florida, New York and Texas also have many undocumented youth.

Under DACA, successful applicants will not be deported and will receive a Social Security number and work permit.

They must reapply every two years to remain in the U.S. and work legally.

“A lot of people are waiting to see what happens Nov. 6 before deciding whether to take the plunge,” Maurice Goldman, an immigration attorney in Tucson, Arizona, toldThe Journal.

Goldman said he has filed only 20 applications, or only about a third of the prospective applicants who have come to his office seeking consultations.

Mr. Obama announced the immigration policy shift, a significant exercise of executive authority, after failing to convince Congress to pass an overhaul of the immigration system.

His administration has deported record numbers of illegal immigrants.

The government has said application information will not be shared with immigration enforcement.

But “many people aren’t applying because they fear their families could be at risk of being deported,” said Tabbata Castillo, a 26-year-old undocumented Venezuelan in Nashville who has helped run information sessions for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Related article: GMA News

1st DACA Clinic: Camaraderie, trust and fear

(as published by Cristina Dc Pastor in The FilAm on-line magazine. Photo by Hector Longrono)

It was a gathering of lawyers, volunteers and DREAMers accompanied by their parents or guardians. The Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center became the venue for the August 24 initial consultation between lawyers and DREAM Act students seeking to legalize their status — a venue which, according to consulate officials, provided a haven of “safety and confidentiality.”

An hour before the immigration clinic devoted to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was to begin, many DREAMers had filled the hall. About 20 applicants, accompanied by their siblings or parents had forged a camaraderie — their status bringing them together in a state of hopefulness and anxiety.

Area One was the first point of contact for the applicants and their parents. The families were warmly welcomed by four women – known as ‘titas’ or aunties – who are veterans of the outreach programs of the Filipino American Legal and Education Defense Fund (Faldef) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) whose lawyers volunteered to assist in the consultation process. The applicants’ contact information was logged in, and copies of various forms and check lists were provided. The families were reminded to “ask the volunteers and lawyers of any questions and uncertainties.”

Faldef President J.T. Mallonga opened with a short briefing for the volunteers. He emphasized the importance of double-checking the requirements, explaining the risks of applying, highlighting the necessity of the meticulous process and conveying to the applicant that the assistance being provided is not a guarantee that the application will be approved. He stressed that Faldef would always be available for further assistance.

The volunteers came from all walks of life: Lawyers and paralegals from Manhattan law firms; a principal from a Catholic school; workers in non-for-profit centers in Brooklyn; and a financial professional from Morgan Stanley were just some of them. They came that Friday night, never having been to any such immigration clinic before, yet ready to assist ‘kababayan’ and other nationalities for three hours of consultations.

In all, there were four different nationalities, about nine types of professions, four languages, two dialects and an age range from 23 to 60 years old in the volunteer community. Like a symphony orchestra, all 15 of them came together beautifully as they officially launched the first of many more Path for DREAMs Program events. The program is an initiative of the Philippine Consulate under Consul General Mario de Leon, Faldef and NaFFAA.

In the waiting area, most of the DREAMers shared stories of how their families’ salaries and savings practically all went to lawyers’ fees in the hope they could get a “green card.”

“I’ve been waiting for something like this in a very long time,” a 22-year-old DREAMer confided as he waited for his turn. “I wish there’s an amnesty so that my parents and my younger sister can be legal, too. I already completed two years of college and my family’s been here for over 10 years. I just wanted to be able to work so that my parents can go on vacation – and of course, to be able to come back and stay legally.”

At Area Two, each applicant — together with a parents or sibling — sat down with a volunteer and a lawyer who assisted in going through the eligibility check list. In a few occasions, lawyers in different tables consulted with fellow attorneys in order to provide the utmost legal assistance.

The room was filled with respect, faith, trust, knowledge, confidence and camaraderie of a community coming together to help the young DREAMers. In the safety and confidentiality of the room, the DREAMers shared their fears, heartache and longing. They hoped against hope they would get that “yes” at the end. To some that was the case. For others, it was not such an easy “yes.”

When every question in the application was answered, the applicant returned to Area One to submit the in-take paperwork for file, and was then advised to call the Faldef office before officially submitting the application to United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

The event ended before 8 p.m.

Asked what he thought of the first DACA clinic, Mallonga said, “It’s not what I think that matters, it’s what the volunteers, the DREAMers and their families thought we did – that’s what’s important.”

“Path For DREAMs Program, at least, serves as a safety net to turn to and get further assistance in what’s next for the applicants. They at least now know there is place where money is not the motivation to serve them. They at least now know that they are not alone navigating the shark-infested waters of corrupt, greedy lawyers and a legal system that has chosen to forget their humanity,” said Marie Aunio, Faldef’s special assistant to the president.

“It was a successful outreach. At the exit interview, the mothers were appreciative that their questions and concerns were honestly answered, no empty promises,” said one of the volunteers.

“It is an indelible proof of what we could do as a community. Indeed, together, nothing is beyond our reach. It was indeed an auspicious start and proof that together, we could do it,” came Salud’s comment.

A second Path for DREAMS clinic is scheduled on September 22nd at Jersey City sponsored by the Catholic Action of Mary.

Related Article: GMA NEWS

PCG-NY, Fil-Am associations hold town hall meeting on new US Immigration Policy

Article in Asian Journal

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in cooperation with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Filipino-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), held a Town Hall Meeting on August 21 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.

The meeting was held on the occasion of the 29th death anniversary of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. in commemoration of the Senator's belief in the promise and potential of the youth.

Focusing on the just implemented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Employment Authorization Program (DACA) of the Obama Administration, the event provided an opportunity to enlighten the Filipino-American community on the components of the new policy, the requirements for availment of the DACA, and the ways by which Filipino-Americans can assist members of the Filipino-American community who may be covered by the program.

In welcoming guests to the town hall meeting, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario de Leon stated that this initiative is part of the Consulate's mandate to help in providing timely and responsive information to the Filipino community on this historic immigration initiative. He likewise thanked NaFFAA and FALDEF for lending their expertise and time to this initiative.

FALDEF and NaFFA likewise introduced a platform called Providing Access to Hope for Dreamers (PATH) which would enable Filipino-American community members to either endorse potential DACA applicants or volunteer in helping to pre-process or review potential DACA petitions under the guidance of the FALDEF.

The PATH is a project supported by the Consulate as a means to provide a platform or program where Dreamers will be given accurate, sound, timely, and free legal advice on the filing of their DACA petitions with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is also to ensure that Filipino DACA petitioners do not fall prey to unscrupulous immigration facilitators.

Atty. Merit Salud, NaFFAA Chair for Region 1, encouraged the Filipino-American community to take part in the PATH initiative as part of a unique community-based approached to helping young Filipinos who may want to avail of the benefits of DACA.

FALDEF president, Atty. JT Mallonga, likewise explained the finer points of the DACA policy including the qualifications, procedures as well as a cost-benefit analysis for all potential applicants.

An open forum followed the presentations on the PATH and the DACA.

FALDEF and NaFFAA with the support of the Consulate issued a call for Filipino community associations to take part in this ground-breaking initiative and to volunteer their respective facilities as possible DACA processing centers.

The initial DACA-PATH processing intake/clinic of FALDEF and NaFFAA will take place at the Philippine Center on August 24. Other Town Hall Meetings and DACA legal clinics are being planned in other areas with a large concentration of potential DACA applicants.

(www.dfa.gov.ph)

Click HERE to read the similar article from Department of Foreign Affairs.

Thank you to our friends at Asian Journal for helping us spread the word - Providing Access To Hope

PATH for DREAMS Town Hall Discussion (TFC Balitang America)

As reported by TFC Telly Award winning journalist, Don Tagala

Other related articles from the event:
The FilAm: DACA and the Filipino DREAMer by Cristina DC Pastor
GMA News:  PHL execs take-up new Obama immigration policy with Fil-Ams
Asian Journal: PCG-NY, Fil-am associations hold town hall meeting on new US immigration policy
Department of Foreign Affairs

PHL execs take up new Obama immigration policy with Fil-Ams

Article in GMA News, Andrei Medina

Philippine officials in the United States discussed with Filipino-Americans in New York the components and requirements of the new Obama immigration policy that would give young undocumented immigrants a chance to reside legally in the US.

According to a news release of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Fil-Am groups held a Town Hall Meeting on the new immigration policy on August 21, the 29th death anniversary of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, father of the incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

The consulate general, along with with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Filipino-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), held the meeting at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.

 

The issue tackled during the meeting was the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Employment Authorization Program (DACA).

The DACA allows illegal immigrants who came to the US as children to stay legally in the US for two years and secure a working permit.

Although the DACA is estimated to benefit around 800,000 illegal immigrants, it does not provide immunity or amnesty, nor permanent legal status.

 

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website said those who may apply for "deferred action" or given temporary legal status are those who:

• were under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012;

• came to the US before reaching their 16th birthday;

• have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present;  

• were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;

• entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or whose lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;

• are currently studying, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

• were not convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
   

Those who have inquiries are asked to call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or visit www.uscis.gov.

Finding the right path

Meanwhile, the DFA said during the meeting, NaFFAA and FALDEF introduced a new project — Providing Access to Hope (PATH) — that would let members of the Fil-Am community support a potential DACA candidate by:

• Endorsing a candidate
• Helping review potential DACA petitions.

Backed up by the Consulate, PATH aims to provide sound, accurate, timely and free legal advice for Filipinos who would file DACA petitions with the USCIS.

The first DACA-PATH processing to be handled by the NaFFAA and FALDEF will be held on August 24 at the Philippine Center.

Other meetings and events are being planned in areas where there are large concentrations of potential DACA candidates. - VVP, GMA News

Deferred Action Request Forms Available Online

The Department of Homeland Security officially released the forms to request deferred action for childhood arrivals. Applications can be filed as of today, August 15, 2012.

Immigrants who wish to request consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals must submit 3 forms: (These forms can be downloaded online. However, you'll need to have an updated Adobe Reader software which you can download by clicking HERE. )

• USCIS-I-821D, Consideration for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
• USCIS I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
• USCIS Form I-765 Worksheet, Application for Employment Authorization

Do not forget to read the instructions in filling out the forms. Do not rush your application, read and comprehend every  questions to be answered. For instructions on how to file the  forms:

• USCIS I-821D, Instructions for Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
•  USCIS I-765, Instructions for I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

Click HERE to determine where to mail your application (Form I-821D).

If you want to be notified on the status of your application via email or text messages, you can download the application (Form G-1145 , E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance)

As detailed in the instructions, applicants must submit $465 in fees as well as documentation demonstrating that they satisfy the eligibility requirements.

If you have any questions understanding  the instructions and eligibility requirements, the PATH for DREAMS initiative by the Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund (FALDEF) in partnership with National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA) and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General of New York (PCGNY) will assist in processing your applications FREE of CHARGE.  The points of contact for the East Coast are as follows:

• Connecticut: Gino Ang (203)606-5162
• New Jersey: Nimfa D. Tinana (908) 494-4014  
• New York: Merit Salud (973) 680-1533  
• Massachusetts : Frank Celoza (617)755-3948 
• Pennsylvania: Aida Rivera (610)416-0746

If you're in the New York Area on Tuesday, August 21st, you should consider attending the town hall discussion at the Philippine Center - Kalayaan Hall.

Visit our EVENTS page for more information.

Applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals begin August 15, 2012 and Town Hall Discussion on Aug. 20

(photo credit: uscis.gov)

According to  Homeland Security,  as of January 2011, there is an estimated 11.5 Million “unauthorized immigrant” population residing in the US. The top 10 countries include Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, China, Philippines, India, Korea, Ecuador and Vietnam. The top 10 state of residence are California (2.8M),  Texas (1.7M), Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona and Washington. About 6.7 million are under 34 years of age – most of whom where brought by their parents to the US at a very young age.

On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced President Obama’s Executive Order on the Deferred Action for eligible childhood arrivals (also known as DREAMers). If eligible, the person may request deferred action for two years (which is subject to renewal), and would also be eligible for work authorization.

Under this Directive, if you’re an unauthorized immigrant, you may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you:

1)      Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

2)      Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;

3)      Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;

4)      Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;

5)      Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;

6)      Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

7)      Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Beginning August 15, 2012, application forms for consideration of deferred action and employment authorization will be available online through the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov.) The total fees will be $465. All requests received before August 15, 2012, will be rejected.

As millions of “childhood arrivals” wait for the applications to be available online, hundreds of organizations and/or individuals may take advantage of their desperation. It is advisable to be aware of the provisions of the directive. There are various non-profit, pro-bono organizations, such as the National Federation of Filipino Associations (NaFFAA) and the Filipino-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (FALDEF), that are willing to help assist in processing the paperwork  (free of charge).  The best way to get information is to contact your respective Consulate.

As President Obama said in his speech on June 15, 2012,

“Now, let’s be clear – this is not amnesty, this is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It’s not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people.”

ANNOUNCEMENT:

On Tuesday, August 21st , the Philippine Consul General of NY, NaFFAA and FALDEF are sponsoring a Town Hall Discussion at the Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall. There will be a panel of lawyers, headed by FALDEF President, J.T. Mallonga. The event is a joint venture by the Philippine Consul General of NY, NaFFAA and FALDEF.

Be Aware. Be Involved.