Asylum, Refugee, and Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ)
Emergency Preparedness: Family Financial Plan
Financial planning for families in emergencies/deportation situations. Document authored by Ventures, which aims to partner with rural Latino working-class families in California’s central Coast
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
A Refugees Guide by USCIS
A refugee is someone of special humanitarian concern and who demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.
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.
Find an Immigration Lawyer
Protect yourself and your family. Get immigration advice from a licensed professional.
Green Card for an Asylee
You are not required to apply for a green card; however, it may be in your best interest to do so.
Green Card for a Refugee
If you were admitted as a refugee, you are required by law to apply for a Green Card (permanent residence) in the United States 1 year after being admitted as a refugee.
Guardianships for immigrant youth
A guardianship of the person can be set up for immigrant youth under 21 years old if they need state court findings for a special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) application. If they already have a guardianship, it can be extended. The youth, if at least 18, must consent to the guardianship.
Guidance for SIJS State Court Predicate Orders in California
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. This document is from April 2024. Confirm with an attorney before relying on this information. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Know Your Rights: Guide for Immigrant Communities in 2025
In the face of legal threats, countless people are learning their rights and helping their families and neighbors do the same. Preparing yourself with trusted, vetted information is one of the best ways to protect yourself and advocate for your community. The guides linked in this document have important know-your-rights information for immigrants in the U.S.
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.
Policy Manual for Special Immigrant Juveniles
A comprehensive document about laws regarding Special Immigrant Juveniles. Note that this is an advanced overview of the SIJS law that may be more suitable for advocates and attorneys. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ) also known as the juvenile visa allows certain young immigrants in vulnerable situations to qualify for a Green Card.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Predicate Order Resource Center
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ)
The purpose of the SIJ program is to help foreign children in the United States who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. If you are in the United States and need the protection of a juvenile court because you have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, you may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. If SIJ classification is granted, you may qualify for lawful permanent residency (also known as getting a Green Card).
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Primer
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Temporary Protected Status
USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries who are already in the United States due temporary conditions such as: ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war), an environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic.
The 21st Birthday Eligibility Cutoff for SIJS
Under current USCIS regulations, any person under 21 years of age who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements may be granted SIJS. Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
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).
Federal Court Scams - Watch Out!
This resource describes common scams to watch out for. Malicious phone calls and emails targeting people and others who interact with the federal courts, instructing them to take action, may lead to people being scammed out of money or personal information.
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.
Immigration LawHelp: Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You
This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.
Immigration Legal Service Providers
List of immigration LS in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties.
Work Authorization and Verification for Refugees and Aslyee
To legally hire any employee in the United States, an employer must be able to verify that the applicant is eligible to work in the United States. You must prove that you are eligible to work. Employers are required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to record verification that you showed the employer documents that prove you are authorized to work in the United States.
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).
A Refugees Guide by USCIS
A refugee is someone of special humanitarian concern and who demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
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 Immigration Case Status Service Online
Use your application receipt number to check your case status online.
Emergency Preparedness: Family Financial Plan
Financial planning for families in emergencies/deportation situations. Document authored by Ventures, which aims to partner with rural Latino working-class families in California’s central Coast
Federal Court Scams - Watch Out!
This resource describes common scams to watch out for. Malicious phone calls and emails targeting people and others who interact with the federal courts, instructing them to take action, may lead to people being scammed out of money or personal information.
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 an Immigration Lawyer
Protect yourself and your family. Get immigration advice from a licensed professional.
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 for an Asylee
You are not required to apply for a green card; however, it may be in your best interest to do so.
Green Card for a Refugee
If you were admitted as a refugee, you are required by law to apply for a Green Card (permanent residence) in the United States 1 year after being admitted as a refugee.
Guardianships for immigrant youth
A guardianship of the person can be set up for immigrant youth under 21 years old if they need state court findings for a special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) application. If they already have a guardianship, it can be extended. The youth, if at least 18, must consent to the guardianship.
Guidance for SIJS State Court Predicate Orders in California
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. This document is from April 2024. Confirm with an attorney before relying on this information. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Immigration LawHelp: Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You
This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.
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.
Policy Manual for Special Immigrant Juveniles
A comprehensive document about laws regarding Special Immigrant Juveniles. Note that this is an advanced overview of the SIJS law that may be more suitable for advocates and attorneys. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ) also known as the juvenile visa allows certain young immigrants in vulnerable situations to qualify for a Green Card.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Predicate Order Resource Center
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ)
The purpose of the SIJ program is to help foreign children in the United States who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. If you are in the United States and need the protection of a juvenile court because you have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, you may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. If SIJ classification is granted, you may qualify for lawful permanent residency (also known as getting a Green Card).
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Primer
Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
Sus Derechos
Provides immigrant communities in the tri-county region of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz with reliable and up-to-date information about their rights in this country. Resources include connections to legal assistance, practical guides, and answers to common questions to help you and your families navigate everything from education and work to accessing essential services.
Temporary Protected Status
USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries who are already in the United States due temporary conditions such as: ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war), an environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Fact Sheet
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a government protection granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their country from adequately handling the return.
The 21st Birthday Eligibility Cutoff for SIJS
Under current USCIS regulations, any person under 21 years of age who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements may be granted SIJS. Note that this is for advocates and is an advanced overview of the SIJS law. You can find more information on this page: https://www.lawhelpca.org/resource/guardianships-for-immigrant-youth.
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.
Victims of Human Trafficking: T Nonimmigrant Status
The T Nonimmigrant Status (T visa) is a set aside for those who are or have been victims of human trafficking, protects victims of human trafficking and allows victims to remain in the United States to assist in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking.
Work Authorization and Verification for Refugees and Aslyee
To legally hire any employee in the United States, an employer must be able to verify that the applicant is eligible to work in the United States. You must prove that you are eligible to work. Employers are required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to record verification that you showed the employer documents that prove you are authorized to work in the United States.