Hempstead, New York – August 22nd, 2013 – The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) will host a free legal and naturalization consultation clinic in Nassau County to advise New Americans on questions regarding immigration law and to help them prepare and review U.S. naturalization applications. The clinic will be held at the Uniondale Public Library at 400 Uniondale Ave, Uniondale, NY 11553 on August 23, 2013 from 10AM to 4PM as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s opportunity agenda for New Americans, which aims to help immigrants fully participate in New York State’s civic and economic life. The ONA Opportunity Center is hosted locally by the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc.
To register for this event, please call 516-292-9710 x233. You will be informed of what documents you need to bring the day of the event.
“Every New American who is eligible and wants to become a naturalized U.S. citizen should be given the opportunity to do so and supported through the process,” said New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales, who oversees the New York State Office for New Americans for Governor Cuomo.
Nearly one million New Yorkers are eligible to naturalize. Naturalization ensures that immigrants have the ability to fully integrate into U.S. society and recent studies have found that naturalization has a tremendous positive economic impact. The Migration Policy Institute recently found that naturalized citizens earn between 50 and 70 percent more than noncitizens and they have higher employment rates and are half as likely to live below the poverty line as noncitizens. Once naturalized, New Americans acquire many more rights, including the ability to protect their children’s right to remain in the U.S. Naturalized citizens also have access to certain jobs and licensed professions which require citizenship.
As part of this clinic, attorneys, who are experts in immigration law, will be available for free legal consultations. The Office for New Americans is partnering with the Immigrant Advocates Network to use the CitizenshipWorks software to complete applications at the clinics and at the ONA Opportunity Centers. CitizenshipWorks is a new technology solution that simplifies the naturalization application process and allows New Americans to simultaneously apply for a naturalization fee waiver.
Governor Cuomo created the New York State Office for New Americans as the first statewide office with a sole focus on harnessing the talents and entrepreneurial spirit of New Americans to reinvigorate the
State’s economy. The Office consists of a network of 27 neighborhood-based Opportunity Centers, which works with community organizations, educational institutions, government agencies and the private sector. The Centers are undertaking a major campaign to:
- Teach English
- Dramatically increase the number of naturalized citizens
- Harness the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants to start businesses
- Tap the underutilized professional skills of New Americans
- Reduce the exploitation of New Americans.
For more information, visit the ONA website at www.newamericans.ny.gov and follow on Twitter at @NYSNewAmericans; Hashtag: #NYSNewAmericans. Information and referrals are also available through the toll- free, multi-lingual New York State New Americans Hotline at: 1-800-566-7636.
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For More Information, PleaseContact:
Laz Benitez/Edison Alban (NYS Office for New Americans) at 212-417-5803
MelRose Corley (ONA Opportunity Center – Nassau Office) at 516-292-9710 x233