http://www.irishcentral.com/topics/irish+international+immigrant+center IrishCentral irish international immigrant center en-us http://www.irishcentral.com/story/news/periscope/young-irish-woman-turned-in-to-us-authorities-by-irish-immigrant-support-group---boston-based-irish-international-immigrant-center-does-the-unspeakable--208627761.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/news/periscope/young-irish-woman-turned-in-to-us-authorities-by-irish-immigrant-support-group---boston-based-irish-international-immigrant-center-does-the-unspeakable--208627761.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center-citizenship-class-208570401.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center-citizenship-class-208570401.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/film-screening-on-northern-ireland-may-23rd-208570391.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/film-screening-on-northern-ireland-may-23rd-208570391.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/wider-horizons-profile-gemma-harte-208570371.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/wider-horizons-profile-gemma-harte-208570371.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/congratulations-spring-2013-home-health-aide-graduates-teachers-and-musicians-208570361.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/congratulations-spring-2013-home-health-aide-graduates-teachers-and-musicians-208570361.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/green-card-application-advice-208567521.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/green-card-application-advice-208567521.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/immigration-processing-times-207637471.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/immigration-processing-times-207637471.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/massachusetts-stands-strong-for-immigration-reform-207636051.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/massachusetts-stands-strong-for-immigration-reform-207636051.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/a-wonderful-afternoon-at-the-19th-annual-black-and-green-event-207636041.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/a-wonderful-afternoon-at-the-19th-annual-black-and-green-event-207636041.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/iiic-welcomes-sarah-chapple-sokol-as-their-new-education-coordinator-206493021.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/iiic-welcomes-sarah-chapple-sokol-as-their-new-education-coordinator-206493021.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/clanrye-wider-horizons-celebrates-their-graduation-206493011.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/clanrye-wider-horizons-celebrates-their-graduation-206493011.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/wider-horizons-profile-tara-hillman-205496021.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/wider-horizons-profile-tara-hillman-205496021.html Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:03:23 PDT Tara Hillman “I ordered a large, and it came back three sizes bigger than I thought it would!” Tara Hillman excitedly jokes, as she tells me about her recent discovery of popular sugary drinks, Slushies The Slushie is just one of many new discoveries for the West Belfast native, who is working in Boston for six weeks as a part of the Springboard Wider Horizons programThe Wider Horizons Program brings young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 to Boston and places them in community service internships The program fosters mutual understanding and reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/hope-and-healing-celebration-for-families-in-south-boston-205493261.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/hope-and-healing-celebration-for-families-in-south-boston-205493261.html 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 ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/come-celebrate-with-sr-lena-deevy-and-the-irish-international-immigrant-center-204372851.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/come-celebrate-with-sr-lena-deevy-and-the-irish-international-immigrant-center-204372851.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:48:22 PDT
As Sister Lena Deevy steps down after 24 years of leadership of the IIIC, the Irish International Immigrant Center invites all friends, former staff and volunteers to celebrate the invaluable contribution that she has made to the immigrant community in the Greater Boston areaOn the evening of Friday, May 3rd, a party will be held at Florian Hall in Dorchester to mark the occasion of Sr Lena’s transition Since the Center’s inception in 1989, she has worked tirelessly to better the lives of immigrants from Ireland and from across the world READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center-welcomes-media-trainees-on-marathon-monday-204372841.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center-welcomes-media-trainees-on-marathon-monday-204372841.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:48:21 PDT Last week, on Marathon Monday, the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) welcomed the Tyrone-Donegal Partnership (TDP) Wider Horizons group of twenty young men and women in the midst of the chaos of last week’s bomb explosions The group arrived in our downtown Boston Center an hour before the incident IIIC and TDP staff and local host families provided a warm, home-away-from-home welcomeThese passionate young people will be working in non-profit volunteer internships for the next six weeks, spanning all of the Greater Boston area READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/immigration-scam-advice-204372831.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/immigration-scam-advice-204372831.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:48:21 PDT
Q: I hear that there are a number of scams being practiced on immigrants in the US How can they protect themselves?A: There are indeed many immigration scams, with new ones appearing all the time The latest one to come to our attention involves a telephone call to an immigrant from someone claiming to be from US Citizenship and Immigration Services The caller claims that there is some discrepancy in the agency’s information on the immigrant, and that there is a penalty that must be paid to clear it up READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center---keep-your-address-current-with-us-immigration-authorities-203312251.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/irish-international-immigrant-center---keep-your-address-current-with-us-immigration-authorities-203312251.html Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:03:14 PDT
Q: I recently filed an application to adjust my immigration status to legal permanent residence, based on my marriage to a US citizen We have not yet heard from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about an interview with them to decide my case Meanwhile my wife and I are planning to move soon to a new apartment We will be filing a change of address notice with the US Postal Service so our mail will be forwarded to the new address READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/19th-annual-black--green-event-202424071.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/19th-annual-black--green-event-202424071.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:48:21 PDT
The nineteenth annual Black and Green community building event on Sunday, May 5th, 2013 is co-organized by the Irish International Immigrant Center and the Montserrat Aspirers as a unique afternoon bringing together Boston’s diverse communities for an afternoon of making new friends, discussion, entertainment and sharing a meal It will take place from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the Montserrat Aspirers Hall, 364 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124The program will feature music and presentations centering on the theme Immigration: Our Shared History, Stories and Future READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/presentation-on-current-realities-in-northern-ireland-202424051.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/presentation-on-current-realities-in-northern-ireland-202424051.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:48:20 PDT This Thursday, the IIIC is pleased to host Angila Chada, BA, Dip, MSc, Executive Director of Springboard Opportunities Limited, for a presentation and discussion on the current situation in Northern IrelandChada’s work over the years has focused on working with communities in an effort to raise awareness, build peace, and promote diversity In a demonstration of her commitment to charitable giving, she established the Raj Darshna Foundation in 2012, which aims to help local young people and the elderly Chada has been at Springboard since its inception in 1992 READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/goodbye-to-the-paper-i-94-form-202424041.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/irish-community-connections/goodbye-to-the-paper-i-94-form-202424041.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:48:19 PDT
Q: I heard that the government is changing the I-94 form requirement for travelers to the US What’s happening with this form? How will I be able to prove that I entered the US legally in the future?A: Starting on April 30th of this year, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will no longer require travelers to US ports of entry by air or sea, with the exception of certain refugees, asylees, and parolees, to fill out the paper I-94 arrival/departure form Instead, CBP will maintain an electronic record based on the information collected by the air or sea carrier prior to departure The paper I-94 form will continue to be used at land border crossings for the time being READ MORE ]]>