Legal Services

Ahri’s Legal Services believes in ensuring access to justice for our community.
We provide in-language direct legal services and community education to low-income, monolingual community members and their families.
We focus on assisting survivors of domestic violence, at-risk youth, low-income, and undocumented individuals in the Southern California. Currently, our scope of work is largely immigration focused, but we are exploring the addition of employment law to our direct services. 

Please contact us at legalservices@ah-ri.org or +1 (323) 565-1101 for questions about our services!

Service Areas

 

Naturalization

Naturalization is the process for lawful permanent residents (LPR) to become U.S. citizens. Ahri for Justice assists eligible LPRs through the naturalization process. Our staff makes sure community members are eligible to apply and assist them through every step of the application. We also review applications and answer specific questions applicants have through our consultation services.

DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is program that was created in 2012 to protect young undocumented immigrants. DACA provides protection from deportation and work authorization cards which allows them to legally work in the U.S. Currently, USCIS is only accepting renewal applications and our staff can help you with the application process. Please check out our self-filing guide which shows step by step how to fill out your own application:

Green Card Renewal

Permanent Resident Cards (also known as “Green Cards”) need to be renewed every 10 years and our staff can
assist you with it. We also help Conditional Permanent
Residents whose Green Cards expire in 2 years.
Conditional Permanent Residents must submit their application before the expiration date.

 
 

Consultation & Screening

Removal Proceeding

 
 
 
 

Other Immigrant Relief

There are several pathways to obtaining a “Green Card” besides having a family member with status (not all of them are listed here). Please contact our office for a screening and check if you are eligible to apply for other forms of immigration relief. Among these other forms of relief, our office assist individuals with the following:

 
 

Family-Based Petition

Marriage-Based Petitions: Your spouse can petition for you to receive a “Green Card” if you have married a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident (“Green Card” holder).

Other Family-Based Petitions: U.S. Citizens can file petitions for their spouses, children, parents, and siblings. Permanent Residents can file petitions for only their spouses and unmarried children.

Military Parole in Place

If you entered the United States without inspection, you may qualify for Military PIP to be able to adjust your status in the U.S. Spouses, widows or widowers, parents, or children of a Veteran or a current member of the U.S. armed forces (Active or Reserve) may qualify for Military PIP.

U-VISA

It is a non-immigrant visa for victims of certain crimes who are willing to aid government officials in the investigation.
U-Visa holders have a pathway to obtaining a Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”).

 

Special Immigrant Juveniles

It is a program to assist children that have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents.
SIJs allows these children to adjust their status to permanent residents (“Green Card” holder).

Violence Against
Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that aims to protect domestic violence survivors. Those who qualify are individuals who suffered abuse from:

  • A U.S. Citizen spouse or former spouse

  • A U.S. Citizen parent, son, or daughter

  • A Permanent Resident (“Green Card” holder) spouse

  • A Permanent Resident (“Green Card” holder) parent

 

Community Education

 

Public Charge

Public charge is a test to determine if someone applying for permanent residence (a “green card”), or for a visa to enter the United States, seems likely to depend on public benefits in the future. If the U.S. government concludes that the applicant is likely to become a public charge, the government can deny their green card or visa application.

Know Your Rights

Everyone has rights regardless of immigration status. The “Know Your Rights” is a guide that lists all of your rights and how to respond when stopped by an immigration officer, ICE, or Border Patrol.

AB540/CA Dream Act

Undocumented students living in California may qualify for in-state tuition for colleges within that state if they meet the following AB540 requirements.

 

Access to Higher Education
for Undocumented Students

Students who meet the AB540 requirements can also apply for financial aid for colleges within California. Please call our office to find out more about these requirements.

Resources for Undocumented
Immigrant Families

Undocumented individuals living in California can apply for Driver Licenses through a program called “AB60.” Other resources are available for undocumented immigrant families as well.