top of page
bluebooks.jpg

Resources for Immigrants

Empowering you with important information.

Image by Giammarco

How To... 

Providing relevant and important resources and tools to better inform our clients is another way we provide excellence services and empower our clients. 

 

Knowing "How To..." check your case status online with USCIS, apply for a social security card, obtain documents from other U.S. federal agencies, exercise certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution, or avoid scams, are important information to know while living and working in the United States.

​

Our goal is to ensure you are well informed and prepared, with the right information, to do the things that are important to your everyday life in the United States.  

You are encouraged to change your address with USCIS within 10 days of moving, especially if you have a pending petition, application, or request with USCIS. 

 

You change your address with USCIS by filing Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card, online. Filing Form AR-11 online updates your address on all your pending petitions, applications, or requests with USCIS. 

​

Also, timely updating your address with USCIS prevents possible delays in receiving correspondence regarding your case from USCIS.

​

Note that changing your address with U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change your address with USCIS. These are two separate U.S. agencies. USPS will not forward USCIS mails to your new address.

You can easily track the status of your immigration petition, application, or request online via USCIS.

 

To check your case status, you will need to enter your case Receipt Number located on the Form I-797C, Notice of Action, letter you received from USCIS.  

You can check the case processing time online via USCIS to know how long it takes to process your petition, application, or benefit requests and when you can contact USCIS with questions about your case.

​

USCIS completes a monthly updates of case processing times with the latest available data.

As an immigrant you are guaranteed certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. You have the right to remain silent and ask for your lawyer if you are detained by law enforcement. You cannot be forced to speak or incriminate yourself by answering questions. Know phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. 

 

You have a right to refuse search of your person, belongings, and home. But in some instances, if the police stop you, they can pat you down to check for weapons for safety purpose.

 

If you are a noncitizen and have been charged with a crime, consult an immigration attorney before accepting any plea agreement. Know your rights to best protect yourself under the law. 

Screen Shot 2022-09-18 at 2.25_edited.jpg

Apply for your Social Security Number (SSN)/card at the Social Security Administration online.

 

Your SSN is very important for living and working in the United States. Your SSN is the identification number you will use for your employment and apply for credit, a loan, open a bank account, etc, in the U.S.

 

Once you have applied for a SSN, a card will be issued to you with your name and a unique nine digit number.

 

It is very important you keep your card in a safe place to protect your SSN. 

Screen Shot 2022-10-01 at 8.46.59 PM.png

Request your most recent tax transcript from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

 

Your tax transcript is used as financial evidence of your past earned income for purpose of an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), or other relevant financial purpose.

Be informed and avoid immigration scams. There are many immigration scams and scammers on the internet. Know to better protect yourself. Do not be a victim of immigration fraud. 

 

You want to make sure you are getting your immigration information from USCIS.gov and/or a licensed immigration attorney, or authorized representative, before you agree to commit payment or send your valuable documents.

​

Avoid suspicious emails and immediately report fraud. Forward suspicious emails to the USCIS Webmaster email box.

bottom of page