In order to
benefit you must have been born in a country
that qualifies or “participate” under one that
does. You must have finished 12 years of
elementary, middle and high school education, or
completed its equivalent. You must have worked
for a period of at least two years of the
previous five, in a position that requires two
years of experience or training and also send an
electronic picture. There is no need to send any
evidence when filing the form; you will have to
provide evidence only if you are selected.
The government will receive your application via
internet starting October 4th, and until
December 3rd, 2006. People born in the following
countries do not qualify: Brazil, Canada, China,
Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
England, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico,
Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia,
South Korea, and Vietnam.
There are two exceptions to qualify if you are a
citizen of the disqualified countries; you can
qualify under your parent’s or spouse’s country.
Once selected, you must show that your spouse
was born in a qualifying country and that he or
she will enter the United States with you as a
resident; or that both of your parents were born
and lived in a qualifying country when you were
born.
Being deported for applying is a myth! Even
though nobody can guarantee you that this won’t
happen, take note that the Citizenship and
Immigration Services has not deported illegal
immigrants for having an adjustment to legal
permanent residency case.
Millions of people started their cases before
April 30, 2001, under Section 245(i) or after,
and most remain undocumented, without an
employment authorization card and have not been
deported. As conclusion, don’t fear and
participate!
Remember that there’s always much more to
analyze before formulating a legal strategy.
INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANTS FOUNDATION
33 years, Guiding, Legalizing, and Educating
Immigrants since 1973
O.N.G. UNITED
NATIONS E.C.O.S.O.C.
IMMIGRANTS
BUILDING:
7 W. 44th St.,
New York,
N.Y.
10036
(212) 302-2222 – email:
www.InmigrantsFoundacion.com
*Edward Juarez Studied
sociology, International laws, and specialized
in immigration. In 1973, established the
International Immigrants Foundation, a
non-profit institution created to educate, help,
and defend immigrants. In 1984, he established
the American Multicultural Coalition and the
International Cultures Celebration, conferences
in the United Nations, and the Parade and
Festival to promote intercultural relations.
With the goal of emphasizing the contributions
of immigrants,
Juarez established the “Immigrants
Building”
in 2003, located at
7 West 44th Street
in
Manhattan,
NYC, where the Foundation continues developing
programs that improve the quality of life for
immigrants. Currently, he is am active writer,
speaker, immigration columnist in El Diario la
Prensa, and host of The Immigrants Voice radio
and television programs.
