Servicios Migratorios en Español
The CWS Harrisonburg Immigration and Refugee Program received recognition from the Board of Immigration Appeals in January 2006, and since then our staff have Department of Justice Accreditation to practice immigration law. Our legal service staff has provided legal immigration services to over 1200 clients. We offer citizenship, green card, work authorization, family reunification and other legal immigrant applications. Please call Lucia Canizares at 540.705.0353 or email to lcanizares@cwsglobal.org for an appointment.
No one will be denied service based on financial circumstances.
If coming to the office for the first time, please print, fill out, and bring in an Immigration Services Intake Form. In English General Immigration Intake Form and en Español La Forma de Ingreso para Servicios de Inmagracion. Follow the linked texts for English or Spanish pdf versions of the form.
Resources
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Am I eligible for citizenship?
Each case is different. To apply to be a citizen you must meet the following criteria: be at least 18 years or older, have a green card for five years OR three years if married and living with a U.S. citizen, be physically present in the United States for half of the last five years, learn basic English and U.S. History*, and demonstrate good moral character. Due to the difference in cases and the many steps involved in this process, we encourage you to contact our Immigration Counselor, Lucia Canizares at 540.705.0353 or email to lcanizares@cwsglobal.org for an appointment.
*There may be exemptions for the citizenship test depending on personal circumstances, see question “Can I take my citizenship test in my first language?” for more information.
2. Can I bring family to the United States?
Yes. Again, it depends on the case. Citizens can claim siblings, parents, spouse, and children. Permanent residents (green card holder) may only claim spouse and any unmarried children. This will involve the form I-130 (Family Based Petition), which can be viewed on the USCIS website and is a service CWS provides.
Refugees and asylees may bring their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21, which involves the I-730 form.
3. Can I adjust my legal status in the United States?
Yes. This is another service CWS provides and involves the I-485, which can be viewed on the USCIS website.
4. Can I take my citizenship test in my first language?
Depending on the case, yes. If you are a permanent resident (green card holder) who is 50 years old and have been lawfully residing in the United States for 20 years at the time of filing for naturalization OR 55 years old and lawfully residing in the United States for 15 years at the time of filing for naturalization, you will be permitted to take the citizenship test in your first language.
If you are 65 years or older, and have been lawfully residing in the United States for 20 years at the time of filing for naturalization, then you may take a simplified version of the test in your native language.
If you or someone you know is planning on taking the citizenship test and has mental health or memory loss problems, due to age or other reasons, you may submit the N-648 (Medical Waiver) to be exempted from the citizenship test. This can be found in the USCIS website and is a service CWS provides.
Please do not hesitate to call our office with any further questions. Call Lucia Canizares at 540.705.0353 or email to lcanizares@cwsglobal.org.
Need help in another language?
We speak English, ask for anybody on the CWS staff at 540.705.0353.
Nosotros hablamos Español, pregunta por Lucia o Jim 540.705.0353.
Nous parlons Français, demandez a Lucia, David, ou Sarah 540.705.0353.
Mnasema Kiswahili, ukitaka David 540.705.1273.
Говорите по-русски, звоните Надежде 540.217.4602.
نحن لدينا موظفين يتحدثون باللغة العربية والكردية ويمكنكم ان تسالوا ارسلان سيان على هاتفنا ٧٩٤٢-٤٣٣-٥٤٠
540-246-0843
ትግርኛ ንዛረቢና፣ ን ፍረይ ጠየቑ 504.689.0202
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