Translate
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.

DREAM Summer 2012 Application available

Note: Applications are due March 30, 2012!

Dear Members and Friends,

While we are building exciting momentum for the passage of New York State DREAM legislation, I want to let you know about another fantastic way to support DREAM youth.

When the DREAM Summer was launched for the first time last year, this national scholarship and fellowship program brought together over 100 DREAMers nationwide for scholarships and pretty amazing fellowship opportunities. Over 100 or so fellows were selected from a pool of over 1,000 applicants and they were connected to various community organizing and service initiatives, giving them valuable opportunities that many DREAMers have not had access to.

The host organizations got the benefit of having a talented DREAMer for 10 solid weeks. The NYIC hosted a DREAMer and it was so, so wonderful. It does take a bit of investment from the host organization, but it’s really, really worth it.  Please click HERE for more information – both for DREAMers who are interested in applying, and host organizations who are interested in sponsoring. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition

P.S – Applications are due March 30, 2012!

Petitioning Cuomo, at City Hall, to get involved in the Dream Act in Albany

Petitioning Cuomo, at City Hall, to get involved in the Dream Act in Albany

Capital New York.

BY ELIZABETH GONZALEZ 1:06 pm Mar. 21, 2012

Against a backdrop of more than 50 students holding banners and chanting “si se puede” on the steps of City Hall at high noon on Tuesday, council members and immigration advocates took turns demanding passage of the so-called New York State Dream Act, a proposal on which Governor Andrew Cuomo has yet to take a position.

The legislation would give undocumented young immigrants access to tuition aid, and Cuomo’s support is crucial if the bill is to get through Albany. But the governor has kept his distance so far, possibly out of concern that support for it could adversely affect a bid for president in 2016.

Participants in the event included Council speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmen Ydanis Rodriguez and Daniel Dromm. Most of them appealed to the governor directly, urging him to include the act in the state budget.

“It makes economic sense,” Councilwoman Gale Brewer. “It makes student sense. It makes all kinds of sense.”

“Governor Cuomo, we were so proud of you with what you did with gay marriage last year,” said Jose Calderon, of the Hispanic Federation. “Do the same thing you did for the gay community, for the immigrant community.”

An hour after the rally, a portion of the same crowd filed into a committee room at 250 Broadway, where a joint hearing of the Council’s committees on immigration and higher education pursued the subject further, calling for a “New York Dream Fund” to accompany the act.

“New York has always been a leader in immigration law,” said Quinn. “We must continue to be.”

While Dream acts have been passed in California and Texas, and a fund created in Illinois, New York State’s immigration population arguably stands to benefit the most from passage of such a bill.

Of the nearly 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants in the United States, 400,000 of them could benefit from a New York Dream Act, according to Emerald Isle Immigration Center, an organization that advocates for the legislation.

According to the EIIC, workers in New York with a bachelor’s degree earn a median income of $25,000 more than those with only a high school diploma.

(See EIIC written testimony in support of NY DREAM Act and Fund)

Ydanis Rodriguez, chair of the Council’s higher education committee, said it’s vital to provide tuition help to give the immigrant population a chance to enter the middle class.

Katherine Tabares, who spoke at the rally and at the committee hearing, called the legislation “investment in intellectual capital.”

“The money you spend now will be returned,” she said.

Tabares, 16, emigrated from Colombia two years ago and is now a senior and president of her class at International High School at La Guardia Community College, with a 3.9 grade-point average and hopes of a career in environmental engineering.

“With the G.P.A. that you have, there shouldn’t be any obstacle,” said chairman Ydanis Rodriguez, standing up and addressing Tabares along with three other students who testified.

“You will graduate from college,” Rodriguez said, pointing at the students. “You are a role model.”

EIIC written testimony in support of NY DREAM Act and Fund

Free Public Immigration/Tax Seminars March 15, 2012

April 17, 2012 Tax Deadline

THE EIIC WILL BE HOSTING FREE PUBLIC INFORMATION SEMINARS AT OUR WOODSIDE AND WOODLAWN OFFICES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14th  AND THURSDAY, MARCH 15th , RESPECTIVELY, FROM 6-8pm.

OUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, IMMIGRATION COUNSELOR AND PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS WILL BE ATTENDING TO PROVIDE UPDATES AND 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.

Download as PDF: Public Information Seminar Queens 2012

Download as PDF: Public Information Seminar Bronx 2012

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.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a legal resident who makes a false statement on a tax return could not only face tax charges but also automatic deportation. The Court found that a criminal tax violation involving fraud or deceit against the government for more than $10,000 is considered an “aggravated felony” under immigration law. An “aggravated felony” under immigration law  makes a legal permanent resident deportable. This ruling sends a warning to legal immigrants, especially small business owners. For instance, legal immigrants could be deported for failing to report foreign bank accounts as required by the IRS.

Undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States are also required to file an income tax return to report their US earnings. 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 individual 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 2011 tax year, a single individual under 65 must generally file a tax return if his or her income was above $9,500 as a regular employee with no dependents. 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.

March 11, Humanity’s Opposites – Beginning with Ireland, Aesthetic Realism Theatre Special Event

Humanity’s Opposites—Beginning with Ireland
An Aesthetic Realism Theatre Company production
of Eli Siegel’s great 1971 lecture on Sean O’Casey’s

Sunday, March 11, at 2:30 PM
Aesthetic Realism Foundation,
141 Greene Street
New York, NY 10012

For reservation call: (212) 777-4490 – Contribution $15

What is the meaning for our lives to be found in the literature, culture, and history of Ireland ? This stirring presentation will feature part of a lecture by the American critic and poet Eli Siegel of Sean O’Casey’s drama “Juno and the Paycock,” with scenes from the play. There will also be much-beloved Irish songs sung and commented on, such as “Molly Malone” and “Wearin’ o’ the Green.” And more, including “Good Will: The Greatest Practicality,” by Ellen Reiss, showing how the need for good will has been urgent throughout Irish history.

•

with scenes from the play

And–Irish Songs—with comment

And–”Good Will: The Greatest Practicality” by Ellen Reiss

 


 

‘Opportunity Ireland’ New Euro $10 Million Fund to attract entrepreneurs to Ireland

Enterprise Ireland has released this briefing document on Ireland’s 10 Million euro fund for International Start-ups.  Enterprise Ireland is the state agency responsible for supporting the development of manufacturing and internationally traded services companies. They provide funding and support for companies – from entrepreneurs with plans for a high potential start-up through to large companies expanding their activities, improving efficiency and growing export sales.