New Hope Immigration Legal Services

We are happy to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved New Hope FMC as a site for a low-cost immigration clinic. Likewise, Rev. Patricia Welch has been designated as an accredited immigration legal representative for New Hope Immigration Legal Services. We are grateful to God!

For Specific Information select a category below.

General Information follows.

EMAIL US AT immigration@newhopefree.org or text (585)-760-4328 to make an appointment during our clinic appointment hours.

Affordable Services provided by New Hope ILS

• Adjustment of Status: Green Card Application

• Green Card Renewal and Replacement

• Work Authorization

• DACA, Initial Application and Renewal (with Work Authorization)

• Family Visas, concurrent filing for family members in the U.S. or consular processing for family members abroad (petitions, visa application OR application to adjust status in the U.S., affidavit of financial support, application for travel and work authorization if family member is in the U.S.; or guidance for consular processing if family member is abroad and work with the National Visa Center)

• Naturalization and Naturalization Preparation resources

• Certificate of Citizenship (Derivation of U.S. citizenship for foreign-born children of naturalized immigrants)

• Removal of Conditions of Residence for Spouse of USC who has condition of permanent residence

• U.S. Passports

• Visitor Visas to Homeland for Foreign Travel

• Travel Documents (Refugee Travel Document, Advance Parole for LPR applicants and TPS recipients)

• Temporary Protected Status (with Work Authorization)

INTAKE APPOINTMENTS AND GENERAL CONSULTATIONS

Intake appointments with an ILS Clinic staff member and general consultations with the Legal Representative have a $5 fee..

To make an appointmentfor a phone call, text us at (585)-760-4328 or email us at immigration@newhopefree.org and let us know how we can help you.

The intake appointment will take approximately 45 minutes. During intake we ask how we can help you, we will photocopy your documents and record all of your information needed for your applications to USCIS (Immigration). Depending on the availability of our Legal Representative, following intake you may have a consultation with the Legal Rep. If not, we will make you an appointment with her as soon as possible following intake.

Bring all of the following documents that you have to your intake appointment:

• All travel documents (Foreign passport, Refugee Travel Document, I-94, Visa, Refugee Letter)

• Birth and marriage certificates

• Green Card (I-551)

• Certificate of Naturalization

• Employment authorization card

• I-797C letters from USCIS

• Documentation from criminal court, if any

• US Passport

There are low fees for the legal services provided by New Hope Immigration Legal Services. If needed, a payment plan may be considered. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

To see if you qualify for a USCIS Fee Waiver so that you don’t have to pay USCIS for your applications:
Bring the current IRS Federal Tax Returns and W-2s for all people in your home that are employed. If no taxes have been filed, bring 4 payroll documents of all employed adults. Also bring the birth certificates of all children or the Refugee Letter from the Department of State.

Please take the time to fill out an Intake Form before your appointment. At you appointment we will help you complete it.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

For a low-cost immigration clinic to exist, there is an ongoing need for dedicated volunteers. We are looking for people who would be willing to volunteer for a 2 to 3-hour block of time once a month. Training in each area will be provided and is required. Select VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES above to view the types of opportunities available and times volunteers are needed.

If you are interested in serving, please click on the link and complete application online.

• Best practice: one volunteer per 2 or 3 attendees.

Client Intake: 2 to 3 hours during Walk-In Hours and on Appointment Days

• Three types of responsibilities

  • Greeter

  • Welcome clients and help them sign in

  • Escort clients to Intake and take documents to office to be copied

• Scanner/Copier

  • Scan and copy documents

• Intake

  • Ask client questions and fill in the intake form with data

  • Make sure documents were copied and returned

  • Escort clients to Consultation with legal rep

Intake Hours: 2 to 3-hour block within the listed open hours

Tuesdays: 9:45AM to 8:00PM

Wednesdays: 4:00PM to 7:30PM: WALK-IN HOURS

Fridays: 1:45PM to 6:00PM

If you would like to work more than one shift per month, let us know.

Consider volunteering at the same time as a spouse or friend! 

REASONS TO DONATE

It is due to your generous donations that New Hope Immigration Legal Services (ILS) is able to offer much needed low-cost immigration legal services to our Free Methodist and greater Rochester communities.

From Refugee to Legal Permanent Resident
Our already low service fees may be reduced or waived when necessary. For a cost they can afford, refugees are able to apply for their Green Card at the one year of presence mark as required by U.S. Immigration Law.

Becoming U.S. Citizens
We offer legal permanent residents in the community a series of two workshops to explore eligibility for naturalization and to apply for it—at a cost they can afford. When their applications are in and the naturalization interview is scheduled, community members can attend our series of 4 Naturalization Interview Preparation Classes and participate in mock interviews.

Family Unity
Refugees and other immigrants often are separated from their families, having had to leave them behind. New Hope ILS seeks to help families be reunited through providing legal assistance with petitioning for family visas for immediate family members and through filing “to follow” refugee applications. Refugees need a Refugee Travel Document in order to go home to marry within their people group—and then return to the United States. We help their spouse to follow as soon as a visa is available.

Making it Happen
We work with any immigrant in need of low-cost immigration legal services. The greater Rochester area has welcomed 15,000 refugees since the year 2000, yet affordable immigration legal services are very hard to find in Rochester. Our role is to serve in this gap.

Our work is ongoing and annual donations will sustain us. Would you consider giving now and budgeting for an annual gift? 

All donations are tax-deductible and should be made out to New Hope Free Methodist Church (FMC).
Write “Immigration” on the memo line.

          OR you can pay though PayPal: Write Immigration in the special instructions to the seller on the
              confirmation page

Please make checks payable to New Hope FMC and enter Immigration on the memo line

or you can pay though paypal by writing immigration in the special instructions to the seller on the confirmation page

A tax-deductible receipt will be mailed to you.
All funds received will be used to pay the expenses of providing immigration legal services

Thank you for your gift!

click on Contribute.

A tax-deductible receipt will be mailed to you.

Thank you for your gift!