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Alexandria Springfield Chapter, Project ID + Spread The Vote

Immigration Lawyer to help low-income/homeless clients replace/renew Proof of Legal Presence

Clients lost all their documents, cannot obtain VA ID & SS Card without proof of legal presence

Posted October 14, 2020

Background & Context

Project ID & Spread The Vote helps people get IDs. Every year we get a few of those clients that have lost all their documents and whose only proof of ID was a permanent residence card or an I-94. To help these clients get their state ID and their SS Card replaced we need to get them proof of their legal presence.
DMV will accept the I-797 notice of action as proof of legal presence, however SSA requires other proof before issuing a SS Card.
All our clients are eligible for a USCIS fee waiver since they either receive benefits, are residents at a shelter, have low income or are homeless
We need help making sure the USCIS forms are accurately filled out and to provide the client with advice to get their legal proof of residence as quickly as possible.

Immediate Problem

Clients are not able to get housing, jobs, banking and medical assistance without an ID and SS Card. Both cannot be issued without proof of legal presence. A permanent resident card takes over a year to be replaced. Client cannot wait that long to get his ID and SS Card.
In addition to getting a permanent resident card we would like to get the clients help to apply for their US Citizenship if they qualify

Work & Deliverables

We need someone with Immigration Law experience and knowledge of Immigration Law and USCIS procedures to help our clients. We are not experienced in that area to train anyone. Person needed to review client's USCIS I-90 Permanent Resident Card Application form and the I-912 Fee Waiver Application and supporting documentation to make sure that everything is in order.
Assist client in obtaining the required proof of legal presence to satisfy SSA to issue him a replacement SS Card.
Also would like to provide clients with help to start the process of applying for his US citizenship.

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 1-5 hours
  • Training Provided: No
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: Immigration
  • Mentoring Provided: No
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
Alexandria Springfield Chapter, Project ID + Spread The Vote

Nearly 21 million U.S. citizens and legal residents lack valid state IDs. We help people in need of this vital passkey to access housing, healthcare, jobs, bank accounts and more. We assist clients in obtaining and pay fees to acquire birth certificates, proofs of legal residence, marriage certificates, Social Security card and a myriad of other documents needed to get an ID. Our clients are often elderly, poor, homeless, handicapped or returning citizens, but we serve anyone who contacts us or is referred by our partners, such as homeless and treatment centers, churches, sheriffs offices, local agencies, and various community service non-profits. As part of the process of ordering an ID we make sure to register clients to vote and provide information on when, how and where to vote--some for the very first time.

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