Employment Petitions
Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers
With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants
If you're looking for help with an immigration issue and want to hire an immigration consultant rather than an attorney, it's important to understand what an immigration consultant can and cannot do for you. This resource includes a few tips to avoid fraud.
Deferred Action for Labor Enforement
The page explains what immigrants, especially DACA recipients, need to know about deferred action programs after a U.S. election. It shares updates on how immigration policies could change and what people should do to stay protected. The goal is to help individuals navigate any legal changes and understand their options.
Deferred Action for Noncitizen/Undocumented Workers in Labor Disputes
As of the present time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a process to allow certain immigrant workers to seek temporary legal status and work authorization in the United States. This temporary status, called “Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement” (DALE), is meant to encourage workers to report employers’ unlawful practices without fear of immigration consequences, including deportation.
Document Abuse (Identification Documents at Work): Things You Should Know About Proving Your Work Status to Your Employer
Document abuse occurs when an employer does not permit a worker to use any combination of documents that are legally acceptable but, instead, specifies which documents s/he must use, or requires more documents than are legally required by the Form I-9. Therefore, if an employer refuses to accept legally acceptable documents that appear genuine on their face from a work-authorized immigrant worker, the employer has committed document abuse.
Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers
With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Green Card Through a Job
A job offer, investment, self-petition, and special categories.
I-9 Audits
An immigration I-9 audit is when federal immigration officials review, or “audit,” an employer’s I-9 forms to make sure they are accurate, and that all its employees have work authorization. The audit may be conducted by either Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), a division within ICE. Those agencies can also audit the I-9 materials of persons who are no longer working from the employer.
Legal Resources for Immigrants
If you are seeking legal assistance for citizenship or immigration status, this pamphlet can serve as a starting point to find the legal services you need.
Look Up Information About an Immigration Case With an A-Number
You can find your A-Number and Department of State (DOS) Case ID on your immigrant data summary, USCIS Immigrant Fee handout, or immigrant visa stamp. Your A-Number is identified as the Registration Number on your visa stamp. If your A-Number is fewer than 9 digits, insert a zero after the “A”
Sample Letter: Re-verification of Employment Authorization
You may wish to use the sample letter on the next page if you are a worker in California who completed the I-9 form when you were hired, and your employer has now asked you to provide more or different documents to re-verify your eligibility to work in the United States.
SSA No-Match Letter
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) sends “no-match letters” to businesses when their employees’ names and Social Security numbers (“SSNs”) don’t exactly match those in the SSA’s files, based on information the SSA gets each year from the employer. Importantly, as these letters themselves say, they do NOT indicate anything about an employee’s immigration status or work authorization.
Updating Your Social Security Number With Your Employer
IRS Form W-4 states that you should “consider completing a new Form W-4 each year and when your personal or financial situation changes.” In fact, in California, employees have a protected right to update their personal information.
Workplace Raids - Workers Rights
This fact sheet offers information on workplace raids — including your rights during a raid — plus tips on how to prepare for a raid at your workplace. It also describes how raids are conducted. Remember that everyone has rights during a workplace raid — regardless of their immigration status.
Appeals and Motions: Questions and Answers
You may file an appeal on some unfavorable decisions to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
An Immigration Filing Fee Waiver
Recognizing that some applicants cannot pay the filing fees, USCIS established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types.
Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You
This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.
Find USCIS Field Offices Near You
Field Offices handle scheduled interviews on non-asylum related applications.
An Immigration Filing Fee Waiver
Recognizing that some applicants cannot pay the filing fees, USCIS established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types.
Appeals and Motions: Questions and Answers
You may file an appeal on some unfavorable decisions to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants
If you're looking for help with an immigration issue and want to hire an immigration consultant rather than an attorney, it's important to understand what an immigration consultant can and cannot do for you. This resource includes a few tips to avoid fraud.
Check Your Case Status Service Online
Use your application receipt number to check your case status online.
Deferred Action for Noncitizen/Undocumented Workers in Labor Disputes
As of the present time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a process to allow certain immigrant workers to seek temporary legal status and work authorization in the United States. This temporary status, called “Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement” (DALE), is meant to encourage workers to report employers’ unlawful practices without fear of immigration consequences, including deportation.
Document Abuse (Identification Documents at Work): Things You Should Know About Proving Your Work Status to Your Employer
Document abuse occurs when an employer does not permit a worker to use any combination of documents that are legally acceptable but, instead, specifies which documents s/he must use, or requires more documents than are legally required by the Form I-9. Therefore, if an employer refuses to accept legally acceptable documents that appear genuine on their face from a work-authorized immigrant worker, the employer has committed document abuse.
Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You
This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.
Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers
With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Find USCIS Field Offices Near You
Field Offices handle scheduled interviews on non-asylum related applications.
File Immigration Papers Online
By filing online you can submit and view certain benefit requests, receive electronic notification of decisions, and receive real-time case status updates.
Find What an Immigration Related Word Means Here
You can use this dictionary to quickly look up a definition or explanation for a topic.
Green Card Through a Job
A job offer, investment, self-petition, and special categories.
I-9 Audits
An immigration I-9 audit is when federal immigration officials review, or “audit,” an employer’s I-9 forms to make sure they are accurate, and that all its employees have work authorization. The audit may be conducted by either Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), a division within ICE. Those agencies can also audit the I-9 materials of persons who are no longer working from the employer.
ImmigrationLawHelp.org
ImmigrationLawHelp.org is a searchable online directory of over 1,000 free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers in all 50 states. Users can search ImmigrationLawHelp.org by state, zip code, or detention facility. Users can also refine their search by types and areas of legal assistance provided, populations served, languages spoken, other areas of legal assistance, and non-legal services provided.
Legal Resources for Immigrants
If you are seeking legal assistance for citizenship or immigration status, this pamphlet can serve as a starting point to find the legal services you need.
Look Up Information About an Immigration Case With an A-Number
You can find your A-Number and Department of State (DOS) Case ID on your immigrant data summary, USCIS Immigrant Fee handout, or immigrant visa stamp. Your A-Number is identified as the Registration Number on your visa stamp. If your A-Number is fewer than 9 digits, insert a zero after the “A”
Sample Letter: Re-verification of Employment Authorization
You may wish to use the sample letter on the next page if you are a worker in California who completed the I-9 form when you were hired, and your employer has now asked you to provide more or different documents to re-verify your eligibility to work in the United States.
SSA No-Match Letter
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) sends “no-match letters” to businesses when their employees’ names and Social Security numbers (“SSNs”) don’t exactly match those in the SSA’s files, based on information the SSA gets each year from the employer. Importantly, as these letters themselves say, they do NOT indicate anything about an employee’s immigration status or work authorization.
Tips for Filing Forms with USCIS
Form fees, eligibility requirements, fee waiver eligibility, required documents, and mailing addresses vary depending on the form you are filing and why you are filing.
Updating Your Social Security Number With Your Employer
IRS Form W-4 states that you should “consider completing a new Form W-4 each year and when your personal or financial situation changes.” In fact, in California, employees have a protected right to update their personal information.
Workplace Raids - Workers Rights
This fact sheet offers information on workplace raids — including your rights during a raid — plus tips on how to prepare for a raid at your workplace. It also describes how raids are conducted. Remember that everyone has rights during a workplace raid — regardless of their immigration status.