My-Hanh Luu, the Director of Immigration and Refugee Services for Catholic Charities, is reaching out to inform the Catholic community about two key programs that can make a tremendous impact on the lives of immigrants residing in the United States.
U.S. Citizenship
For those who wish to apply for U.S. Citizenship, Catholic Charities does not charge for its services to help complete the 20-page application. Although applicants must pay application filing fees directly to the USCIS, Catholic Charities will complete the application, mailing, and follow up with USCIS free of charge. Additionally, Catholic Charities has a pool of trained volunteers that provide free citizenship classes designed to prepare prospective citizens for the USCIS exam and interview. These classes meet once a week for five weeks at various locations in the Diocese. If a parish is interested in hosting a course, please call Ms. Luu at Catholic Charities’ administrative office at (909) 388-1239.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Catholic Charities also offers free services for immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Qualified immigrants can apply through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and receive a two-year work permit and temporary exemption from deportation. To qualify for DACA, a potential applicant must be able to provide proof of having arrived in the U.S. prior to age 16, continuous presence in the country since June 15, 2007, and be enrolled in school or have a GED or diploma.
Catholic Charities will thoroughly screen each client to ensure anyone completing any application meets all the requirements before submitting. Catholic Charities’ services also include mailing application packets and follow up calls with USCIS representatives until each case is completely resolved.
For a free consultation with Catholic Charities Immigration Services, call (909) 388-1239, ext. 300 to make an appointment. You can also email My-Hanh Luu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for questions or more information.