IrishCentral Irish Immigration - b5cc3275d518416eacb61d676e8d84d1

Government minister calls for investigation after Irish immigration group turn young woman into officials (IrishCentral)

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:30:57 PDT

By: DEBBIE MCGOLDRICK

Irish Minister of State Dinny McGinley will urgently ask Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore for a comprehensive explanation of the actions of the Irish International Immigration Center (IIIC) in Boston, after it was revealed that they turned in an Irish student visa holder to U.S. authorities who were unaware of an alleged violation of her visa.

$200,000 raised for Irish fight for immigration reform at Annie Moore Awards in New York (IrishCentral)

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:21:10 PDT

By: JAMES O'SHEA

A major push from the Irish American community for comprehensive immigration reform was announced at the New York Athletic club on Thursday night when $200,000 was raised for the fight for reform.

Young Irish woman turned in to U.S. authorities by Irish immigrant support group - Boston-based Irish International Immigrant Center does the unspeakable (IrishCentral)

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:19:00 PDT

IIIC informs on Irish intern in New YorkA Boston-based, Irish government funded immigrant’s rights organization has turned a young Irish girl in to US authorities because she worked in a bar in contradiction of her visa termsThe Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) received $253,000 in Irish government funding to help immigrants in 2011 READ MORE

Irish International Immigrant Center Citizenship Class (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:49:14 PDT

According to recent census estimates, more than half of nearly one million immigrants in Massachusetts are US citizens; 22,812 became citizens in 2011 alone And nationwide, forty-five percent of immigrants are US citizens If you are among those eligible but are apprehensive about the process, let the expert staff of the IIIC help! Our experienced instructors work to prepare students for the 100 question exam and the application interview while taking the time to discuss civic engagement with the class and encourage students to take an active role in their communities US Citizenship has many benefits including no restrictions on travel outside the United States, the right to vote, the chance to sponsor family members to come to the U READ MORE

Film Screening on Northern Ireland, May 23rd (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:49:13 PDT

Please join us at the Irish International Immigrant Center as we screen the new Irish film 'UP Standing: Stories of Courage from Northern Ireland' This feature had its premiere two weeks ago in Belfast and the IIIC has been selected to host the next broadcastIn 'UP Standing,' ten diverse accounts of people are exposed as they stood up to violence, discrimination and prejudice in Northern Ireland The event will take place at the IIIC office at 100 Franklin Street, Lower Level 1, Boston 02110 on Thursday, May 23rd at 6pm READ MORE

Wider Horizons Profile: Gemma Harte (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:49:13 PDT

Gemma Harte“Beyonce hasn’t got a patch on them,” says Gemma, reflecting on the singers she heard during a trip to Morningstar Baptist Church in Mattapan “It was brilliant, so exciting for a service” The Dubliner was here in Boston on the Springboard Wider Horizons programThe Wider Horizons Program brings young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 to Boston and places them in six week community service internships READ MORE

Congratulations Spring 2013 Home Health Aide Graduates, Teachers and Musicians (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:49:12 PDT

We had a wonderful Graduation Party on Tuesday at our Quincy venue, Hancock Park, in Quincy Center This was our 15th Course to graduate with over 460 home health aides being trained since 2009 and over 83% of these all getting work as a result!We had a wonderful evening celebrating, presenting certificates, eating delicious food while enjoying great music of some Irish classic ballads and rousing crowd pleasers played by Maureen McNally and Max Courtney Check out our party pictures on our Facebook page!We are so grateful for all the continued support from the office of the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland!Many thanks to all of our students for your hard work, humor, great food and generous donations! Good luck in the job hunt and keep an eye out for our employment updates via our HHA Facebook page and Employer and Education Open day eventOur wonderful teachers Maureen, Bridget and Norah (helped by Judy!), thank you all so much, again, for your continued hard work and dedication each and every week on each and every course! A special thanks to Richard Welch and Richard Coughlin and their team at Hancock Park for being our wonderful hosts for the last two courses! We are always made to feel very much at home!It was a night of goodbyes as it was the last course Ann Marie Cugno and Kielan O'Boyle would be working directly on for Wellness and Education Services READ MORE

Immigration News from the Irish Pastoral Centre (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:49:10 PDT

Selective Service Registration – Are you under 26?At a recent clinic, an applicant for US citizenship admitted he had not registered with Selective Service and this brought up naturalization eligibility issuesSelective Service Registration is the government’s way of keeping a database of young men who may be called on in case of draft or a national emergency You are required to register with Selective Service if you are between the age of 18 and 26 Young men convicted of failure to register may be fined up to $25,000 imprisoned for up to five years, or both READ MORE

Green card application advice (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:34:07 PDT

Q: I’m undocumented and have been married to a US citizen for some time We haven’t gotten around to filing for my green card based on my marriage In the meantime, we’ve had two children born in the US Does this affect my immigration status?A: While your children are US citizens themselves simply by virtue of their birth in the US, this has no automatic effect on your immigration status as the parent READ MORE

Immigration reform bill passes a huge hurdle with Irish E3 visas intact - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:17:52 PDT

By: NIALL O'DOWD

The comprehensive immigration reform bill passed a huge hurdle on Tuesday night with the Senate Judiciary Committee voting 13-5 for passage out of the committee and on to the senate floor.

Irish immigration watchdog issues guidelines for J-1 students coming to the U.S. (IrishCentral)

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:23:49 PDT

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

As droves of fresh faced Irish students touchdown on U.S. soil eager to experience a slice of American life this summer, the coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (CIIC) has issued a guide for J-1 students.

Two Republican senators fail to strip Irish provision from immigration bill (IrishCentral)

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:16:04 PDT

By: NIALL O'DOWD

Two Republican senators made a major effort to strip 10,500 visas for Irish from the 2013 immigration bill at the Senate Judiciary hearings on Tuesday.

Immigration processing times (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:48:55 PDT

Q: I’m planning to file an application with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjust my status to that of legal permanent resident, based on my marriage to a US citizen I understand that this can take a long time, and I heard that there is a way to pay a special fee to get an application on the fast track Is this true?A: Currently USCIS offers what it calls “premium processing” for a $1225 fee only with regard to certain employment-based visa petitions Other applications, such as those to adjust immigration status based on certain family relationships, are processed on a first-come, first-served basis READ MORE

Irish Pastoral Centre Immigration News (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:48:54 PDT

Clinic updateWe had 15 people present on complex immigration issues at last week’s legal clinic Our thanks to Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington for their expert advice to those present and to our regular volunteers Neil and Sheila Our next clinic is on June 4th at 630pmVisa to come and spend time with ill relativeI had a sad call recently from an Irish person who wanted to come to the US for an extended trip so he could stay with and provide comfort to a close relative who was stricken with cancer READ MORE

Massachusetts Stands Strong for Immigration Reform (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:33:53 PDT

On Friday, May 10, the Irish International Immigrant Center stood alongside leaders of government, business, labor and faith communities to re-affirm the conviction that Congress should pass immigration reform now to strengthen the safety and further the prosperity of all AmericansHeld the day after markup began of the historic, bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the press conference reaffirmed the support of local government, business, labor, and community leaders at a time of public uncertainty in the wake of the tragic and heinous Boston Marathon bombings The press conference stressed the urgency of continuing to move forward with reform, so that families will no longer be needlessly torn apartThe Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative works in partnership with: the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Centro Latino, Irish International Immigrant Center, Jewish Vocational Services, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers and MIRA coalition READ MORE

A Wonderful Afternoon at the 19th Annual Black and Green Event (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:33:53 PDT

From left to right: Vivian Deleon, Father John McCarthy, Councilor Charles Yancey, Janice Galloway, Dr Lorna Rinear, Renata TeodoroOn Sunday, May 5th the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) along with the Montserrat Aspirers, Inc (MAI) celebrated their 19th Annual Black & Green The event was held at its signature location, the Montserrat Aspirers Hall on Washington St, Dorchester READ MORE

Irish passengers permitted to use self-service immigration border control - could the U.S. be next? (IrishCentral)

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:43:15 PDT

By: IRISHCENTRAL STAFF WRITERS

Airline passengers from Ireland and other EU member countries will be permitted to use a self-check immigration in a new trial border control system.

IIIC welcomes Sarah Chapple-Sokol as their new Education Coordinator (IrishCentral)

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:33:37 PDT

Sarah Chapple-SokolSarah Chapple-Sokol, a native of Arlington MA, has recently joined the IIIC as the new Education Coordinator Sarah is a graduate of Colby College, in Maine, where as an undergraduate she studied Anthropology and Music She then continued her education and went onto study a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Relations at Lesley University, Cambridge MAHaving grown up in Arlington, New York and outside Burlington, Vermont, Sarah is a seasoned traveller READ MORE

Clanrye Wider Horizons celebrates their Graduation (IrishCentral)

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:33:36 PDT

It was a full house at the IIIC!The past six weeks have flown by for the first Wider Horizons group from Clanrye to arrive this year, and last night they marked the end of their time in Boston The completion of the overseas phase of their program was celebrated, as always, by a great graduation celebration at the IIIC The night included some great highlights with Chris McKevitt entertaining graduates and their guests with his guitar and singing skills while Jonjo Moore added a terrific reading of a personally composed poem to the evening’s entertainmentWe would like to express a great deal of gratitude to all of the host families for opening up their homes and to all of the employers who gave these young adults the chance to work in their organizations READ MORE

Hope and Healing Celebration for Families in South Boston (IrishCentral)

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:33:24 PDT

I was delighted to be invited to a wonderful evening with South Boston's community leaders and neighbors in the Laboure Center this past Tuesday, April 23rd The topic was "A Celebration of Hope and Healing for families affected by substance abuse" We watched a powerful video and had a wonderful, hopeful discussion about how the vulnerable children and families of South Boston need a voice now more than ever before According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, approximately 1 in 4 children in the US are exposed to family alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence READ MORE