Church
World Service, the National Council of Churches'
sister agency for humanitarian ministries and
relief, provides essential support for the
immigration ministries of communions, councils
of churches and congregations.
Church World Service positions on the issue
include the
CWS Statement on Comprehensive Immigration
Reform (January 2007); the
Interfaith Statement in Support of Comprehensive
Immigration Reform (January 2007); and
A Theological Statement on Immigration.
A growing number of
CWS affiliates provide immigration legal
services along with refugee resettlement
services. Immigration legal services provided
through our affiliates include:
-
adjustment of
status of asylees and refugees;
-
travel
documents for asylees and refugees;
-
applications
for employment authorization documents;
-
petitions for
family members to join asylees and refugees
in the United States;
-
petitions for
family members of U.S. citizens and lawful
permanent residents;
-
petitions for
fiancés of U.S. citizens;
-
applications
for asylum;
-
self-petitions for battered immigrant
spouses and children based on the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA);
naturalization;
-
diversity
visa lottery applications;
-
replacement
of lost green cards, and;
-
applications
for temporary protected status (TPS).
These services are explained in CWS' Immigration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Several CWS-IRP affiliates offer other services for asylees. Through matching grants, affiliates help asylees with employment services and up to four months of maintenance assistance and cash allowance. Enrolled asylees may also receive assistance with language training, certain health and medical services, counseling, and daycare. To qualify for these services through matching grants, asylees must enroll in the matching grant program within 31 days of being granted asylum. Asylee services through CWS-IRP affiliates vary from state to state. Please contact the affiliate nearest you for more information. Additional information can be found on this list of links.