By Kieran C. O’Sullivan, Immigration Counselor

President announced new policy on student immigrants

Under the new policy, certain undocumented immigrants brought into the US as children can apply for the “deferred action” that for two years, eliminates the threat of deportation without granting citizenship.

The basic requirements:

-Undocumented immigrants must be under 30 years of age

-They must be without a criminal record

-They must have arrived in the US before they turned 16

-They must have lived in the US for at least the last five years

-Applicants must have either obtained a high school diploma or GED, or be serving in the military or honorably discharged.

We advise anyone who think they might be eligible to consult one of our pro bono attorneys at our monthly legal clinic. Those who are residing out of state can email me at the address below.

Check before you leave the US

Too often immigrants are faced with unpredictable and difficult decisions: a phone call from home with bad news from a relative stricken with sudden illness, injured in an accident or the news of the sudden death of a loved one. These can be very difficult times for people living far from home. One of our volunteers recently received such news and we were reminded of how important it is to check in with an immigration attorney prior to departure if you are involved in an active immigration process.

In certain situations, departure from the US can have an adverse affect on a visa petition. We are here to deal with such questions, whether it is clarifying an immigration question, or having Fr. John McCarthy provide comfort to a grieving family by saying a Mass here with them. Our new office is located at 15 Rita Road in Dorchester, to the rear of St. Brendan’s church – telephone number (617) 265-5300.

July legal clinic: Date change to July 10th

Dan Harrington and Chris Lavery are two leading immigration attorneys in Boston. Immigrants can have free one to one consultations with them at our legal clinics. Because of the July 4th holiday, our next legal clinic at the Banshee, 934 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, will be on July 10th instead of the first Tuesday of the month. It begins at 6:30 pm.

Email me your immigration query or a topic you would like us to cover today: Kieran@ipcboston.org

Disclaimer: Please note that the information contained in it is provided to inform generally, and is not intended as a substitute for individual advice. Immigration law is subject to frequent changes and individual circumstances can affect the application of certain legal provisions. For individual legal advice, please contact the Irish Pastoral Centre directly regarding upcoming legal clinics or consultation with an immigration attorney.