OUR SERVICES
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
The ANSOB Center has been a trusted provider of immigration legal services for more than fifteen years. We provide free legal consultation, immigration application assistance and representation before USCIS. Our goal is to help community members become legal permanent residents and U.S. Citizens, and to help them reunify with family members. Agency staff members also assist with applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In the past year and a half, the program has provided services to more than 750 individuals. The program employs experienced immigration attorneys, BIA Accredited Representatives, and support staff.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
The ANSOB Center provides English language instruction at both the beginner and intermediate levels. Classes are taught by experienced instructors and offered during evening hours so that clients may make use of this service both prior to, and subsequent to, obtaining employment. These classes are a valuable resource for community members seeking employment and those preparing for the citizenship exam.
CITIZENSHIP CLASSES
The ANSOB Center offers free citizenship classes to assist community members on their path to obtaining U.S. citizenship. Classes meet one day per week for a total of twelve weeks and each class cycle provides forty-two hours of instruction to students. The class material covers U.S. History and Government, subjects our clients must master in order to pass the naturalization exam. Our instructors also provide practice and guidance to help students with the English language and interview portions of the exam. Daytime classes meet at the Queens Library, while evening classes are held at our site.
JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
The ANSOB Center offers comprehensive job placement assistance to newly arrived refugees and those who have been granted asylum. The program offers individualized vocational assessment and counseling as well as job readiness training. Staff members work with clients to create resumes, complete application forms, and develop effective interviewing skills. Clients are then referred to employers with whom the Center has already developed long standing relationships. These employers are able to offer our clients full time work with competitive wages and benefits.
BILINGUAL CASE MANAGEMENT
Through on-site assistance and external referrals, our bilingual case managers are able to link clients with mainstream resources including free tax preparation and banking services, public and private health insurance, youth and senior services, and more. Our staff members speak English, Arabic, French, Spanish and Romanian. They provide interpretation and translation and assist clients in completing all the paperwork necessary to access services.
EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING
Staff members provide educational counseling services for clients wishing to complete their education and/or upgrade their vocational skills. Services include translating foreign educational documents, selecting appropriate educational institutions, and assisting clients with the paperwork necessary for school admission. The Center has helped refugees and immigrants gain entry into the New York City University system (CUNY) as well as other prestigious colleges. Staff members also assist clients to enroll in GED preparation classes and vocational training programs.