Educators for Fair
Consideration (E4FC)
Educator Conference:
By: Francisco Gonzalez & Krsna Avila
Legal Services Mission
¡  To educate immigrant students of their legal
options and rights and provide support for
immigrant students who wish to pursue a legal
education
Disclaimer
¡  To answer questions regarding specific cases, we
ask that clients submit an online intake form
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Challenges to Seeking
Legal Help/History
¡  Why did E4FC start this service?
¡  Clients have no money or fear going to an
attorney
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Overview of our Services
¡  Case Analysis Service
¡  Free, online analysis of immigration remedies/
deportation support
¡  Target
¡  Current or past students under the age of 35
¡  We have analyzed over 500 cases!
¡  www.e4fc.org/legalservices.html
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How does it work?
¡  Team
¡  12 pre-law immigrant students, 2 recent law
school graduates, immigration attorneys/experts
¡  Trained in immigration law
¡  Legal Services Supervisor provides ongoing
feedback and training
¡  Service
¡  Provide clients with a list of eligible remedies
¡  Timeframe for response
¡  2 weeks to 2 months
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Overview of some
Immigration Remedies
1.  Family-Based Petitions
2.  Employment-Based Petitions
3.  Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
4.  Non-Immigrant Statuses that can lead to future
Immigration
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Family-Based Petitions
¡ US Citizens
¡  Parent
¡  Spouse
¡  Sibling over the age of 21
¡  Son/daughter over the age of 21
¡ Lawful Permanent Residents
¡  Parent (if individual is unmarried)
¡  Spouse
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Family-Based Petitions
¡  Benefits from a lawful permanent residency
application
¡  Wait depends on:
¡
¡
¡
¡
Age
Marriage status
Relationship to petitioner
Country of origin
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Family-Based Petitions
- Visa Bulletin
All
Chargeabil
CHINAity Areas
Familymainland
Sponsored Except
born
Those
Listed
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
F1
15OCT04
15OCT04
15OCT04
15APR93
15APR97
F2A
22APR09
22APR09
22APR09
22MAR09
22APR09
F2B
08SEP03
08SEP03
08SEP03
01DEC92
01SEP01
F3
01NOV01
01NOV01
01NOV01
22DEC92
15JUL92
F4
15AUG00
15AUG00
15AUG00
08MAY96
08OCT88
Employment-Based Petitions
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¡  Some employment-based petitions available:
¡  1st: Superstars/Priority Workers with extraordinary ability
¡  2nd: Professionals holding Advanced Degrees
¡  3rd: Professionals holding a Baccalaureate
Complications with
Employment-Based Petitions
¡  Labor Certification Requirement
¡  Not taking someone else’s job
¡  Will not effect wages/working conditions of others
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Complications with Various
Petitions
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¡  Unlawful Status:
¡  Assumed the individual trying to immigrate is outside the
country
¡  If unlawfully present in the country
¡  May face difficulties obtaining their lawful status
¡  Criminal Background:
¡  May also have a hard time obtaining their lawful status
VAWA
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¡  Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
¡  Domestic violence from family member:
¡  Batterer has to be either a USC or LPR
¡  Victim who was battered or witnessed battering has to be:
¡  Spouse
¡  Child under 21
¡  Parent of adult
¡  Perpetrator does not have to know about the filing
Non-Immigrant Visas
leading to Lawful Residency
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¡  U-Visa
¡  Suffer substantial physical or mental abuse
¡  Must have reported the crime
¡  Perpetrator does not need to know about the filing
¡  Can obtain lawful permanent residency status after 4 years
¡  In the meanwhile
¡  Is granted an employment authorization
Non-Immigrant Visas
leading to Lawful Residency
¡  H-1(B) Visa
¡  Have a job that requires at least a Baccalaureate
¡  Degree & job match in specialty occupation
¡  Need to find a sympathetic/patient employer
¡  Have to leave country to process visa & apply for waiver
¡  Currently working with attorney to explore this option
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Removal (Deportation Proceedings)
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¡  Provide analysis of forms of removal relief
¡  If students do not have an attorney, we actively look for
free representation
¡  Collaboration with Dreamactivist and United We Dream
Forms of Removal Relief
¡  Cancellation of Removal
¡  U-Visa, Family-Based Visa, etc.
¡  Prosecutorial Discretion
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Useful Information/
Frequently Asked Questions
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¡  Marriage Fraud
¡  It is believed that your marriage was entered solely for
immigration purposes
¡  The process is very strict (interview process is intense)
¡  This could cause a permanent bar from any future
immigration benefits
¡  Using Fake Documents
¡  It is important to never claim US Citizenship (i.e. voting, using a
fake US birth certificate, financial aid, etc.)
¡  This could cause a permanent bar from any future
immigration benefits
Useful Information/
Frequently Asked Questions
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¡  Traveling Abroad
¡  ICE has check-points in all international entry points, seaports
and airports
¡  No undocumented foreign national should travel
internationally because that would be a one-way trip
¡  Traveling Domestically
¡  Valid forms of ID s include foreign passports passport
¡  There is always a chance that ICE officers may be at
domestic-airports (rare)
¡  There have been many students who have successfully
traveled
Useful Information/
Frequently Asked Questions
¡ Getting a background check (i.e. live scan)
¡ Working without authorization
¡  Even if individual works without proper documentation,
important to pay taxes
¡ Males should register for selective services
¡  Reporting Crimes
¡  Individuals should not be afraid of reporting a crime
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Obtaining a reliable
attorney
¡  How to obtain an attorney
¡  Make sure the attorney is actually an attorney
¡  Difference between non-profit clinics and private attorneys
¡  If in removal proceedings, make sure that the immigration
attorney will go beyond the normal forms of relief
¡  Ask about success stories
¡  Remember that this is your case!
¡  Go to justice.gov for a list of free/low-cost attorneys
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Know your Rights
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¡ If stopped by immigration authorities:
¡  Do NOT sign anything
¡  Do NOT answer any questions until an attorney has been contacted
¡ If immigration authorities come to your house:
¡  Do NOT open the door or show them any documentation, unless a
warrant is presented
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Q&A
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Contact Information
www.e4fc.org/legalservices.html
E-mail: legalservices@e4fc.org