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The Emerald Isle Immigration Center's highly qualified staff assists clients in many aspects of immigrant life and law. The EIIC prides itself on the extraordinary services it provides.

Emerald Isle’s 2011 Briscoe Awards – March 14th, 2011

18th Annual Robert Briscoe Awards

Download Briscoe Information (.pdf)

Emerald Isle’s 2011 Briscoe Awards

March 14th 2011

21 Club, 21 West 52nd Street

6:00-8:00 pm

This year’s honorees:
New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman
and Marc Abbot, Senior Partner in the law firm of Abbot, Reiss & Allen, P.C.

The Briscoe awards are bestowed each year on members of New York’s Jewish community in appreciation of efforts to better the lives of Irish immigrants. Robert Briscoe was the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland. He was elected to that office in 1956, a time when New York City had not yet seen its first Jewish Mayor.

Undocumented men required to register for Selective Service

ATTENTION, UNDOCUMENTED MALES & IMMIGRANT SERVICING GROUPS!

Selective Service does not collect any information which would indicate whether or not you are undocumented. You want to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other government benefits and programs by registering with Selective Service. Do it today.

If you are a man ages 18 through 25 and living in the U.S., then you must register with Selective Service. It’s the law. According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept late registrations but not after a man has reached age 26. You may be denied benefits or a job if you have not registered. You can register at any U.S. Post Office and do not need a social security number.When you do obtain a social security number, let Selective Service know. Provide a copy of your new social security number card; being sure to include your complete name, date of birth, Selective Service registration number, and current mailing address; and mail to the Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94636, Palatine, IL 60094-4636.

If you have a social security number, you can register online (click here). It’s quick and easy.

See www.sss.gov

Beware of Diversity Visa Lottery Scams

The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. All applicants should be familiar with information about DV scams provided by the Federal Trade Commission. Applicants are encouraged to review the rules and procedures for the DV program so that you know what to expect, when to expect it, and from whom.

Finally, remember that all DV-2012 applicants will not receive a notification letter from the U.S. government but must check their status online. DV Entry Status Check  will only be provided through the Department of State secure online site, http://www.dvlottery.state.gov.

See the official U.S. State Department website for more information

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1749.html

Taxes and Immigration, Public Seminars

The Tax Deadline is APRIL 18, 2011

All immigrants residing and working in the United States are generally required by law to file income taxes every year, which are due around mid-April. Besides the legal requirement, there are other good reasons to file income tax returns, including eligibility for citizenship and other immigration benefits and potential tax refunds, credits or exemptions.

Lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, must demonstrate that they have complied with the tax laws to apply for US citizenship and to maintain their permanent resident status. To become an American citizen, they will have to show evidence that they have filed taxes during the five years prior to their application for naturalization or proof that they were not required to file a tax return. Failure to file a required tax return may be considered an act of bad moral character which is a temporary bar to attaining U.S. citizenship.

Undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States are also required to file an income tax return to report their earnings here. They must apply for and use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security number to file a tax return and report income. An ITIN is a nine-digit number issued to people who are not eligible for a Social Security number. It does not authorize someone to work in the United States. An ITIN is used only for record keeping purposes and for filing taxes. One must complete a W-7 form and file it with their first tax return to get an tax identification number. Afterwards, the ITIN may be used to file future returns and also for opening a bank account, taking out a mortgage or for other financial transactions.

For the 2010 tax year, a single individual under 65 must generally file a tax return if his or her income was above $9,450 as a regular employee. Individuals who are independent contractors, including those who are self-employed or whose employer does not report their income to the IRS, are required to file a tax return if they earned more than $400 last year. Those who do file a tax return may be eligible for a tax refund if taxes have already been deducted from their salary, may be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit or exemptions for dependents.

The IRS does not currently share any information from taxpayers with other government agencies due to privacy provisions in the tax laws. It is also not in the IRS’s tax collection interest to disclose any information to the immigration authorities, since it will discourage those who are undocumented from filing tax returns.

It is in the best interest of undocumented immigrants to file their taxes in anticipation of a legalization program or other immigration reform. Tax filing may be used as evidence of physical presence in the United States and also demonstrates good moral character. Each may be a requirement towards a path to citizenship under new legislation.

NOTE: THE CENTER WILL BE HOSTING FREE PUBLIC INFORMATION SEMINARS AT OUR WOODSIDE AND WOODLAWN OFFICES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9th  AND THURSDAY, MARCH 10th , RESPECTIVELY, FROM 6-8pm.

OUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, IMMIGRATION COUNSELOR AND PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS WILL BE ATTENDING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ON GENERAL IMMIGRATION AND TAXES.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CALL THE WOODLAWN OFFICE AT 718-324-3039 OR THE WOODSIDE OFFICE AT 718-478-5502.

EIIC Public Tax and Immigration Seminars Flyer