Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) needs your help to secure protection for immigrant survivors of domestic violence via a U Visa Workshop Saturday, March 31, 2012!
The U Visa provides protection against deportation and access to immigration benefits for victims of certain crimes – including domestic violence – if they demonstrate cooperation with law enforcement and meet other legal requirements. NIJC seeks to serve immigrant survivors of domestic violence by conducting a two-day U visa preparation workshop in partnership with area law students and recent law graduates. Under attorney supervision, volunteers will work with clients to prepare U visa applications.
Volunteers must:
• Be fluent in Spanish
• Commit to the Saturday workshop plus one follow-up visit to NIJC’s office
• Understand they may work with clients who have experienced trauma
No previous experience required.Please contact Nick Wallace at nwallace@heartlandalliance.org or at 312.660.1326 to confirm your participation.
Volunteers are encouraged to RSVP early as space is limited.
All volunteers must confirm participation by Friday, March 9, 2012
Workshop Agenda
I. Saturday, March 31, 2012, at NIJC’s office (208 S. LaSalle, Suite 1818, Chicago)
A. 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. : U visa Training – Led by NIJC attorneys, volunteers will receive an overview of the U visa eligibility and application requirements.
B. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. : U visa Workshop – Volunteers will interview clients and family members, complete affidavits, and prepare U visa applications. (Lunch will be provided.)
II. Monday, April 2, 2012 or Thursday, April 5, 2012– Volunteers will return to NIJC’s offices for 2-4 hours to complete application preparation and submit the final application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
