U Visa Assistance with Catholic Charities of Central Texas

Students will work with immigrant survivors of crime to complete applications for legal status in the United States by submitting applications for U Visas. This project will require students to work directly with clients and their families to document the crimes they have suffered. This will require writing declarations, obtaining evidence, and obtaining documentation of positive factors in the clients' lives in the United States. In addition, students will write a brief letter explaining the legal arguments for clients' eligibility for the U Visa. By the end of the project, students will compile and submit a completed application for U Visa status to US Citizenship and Immigration Services on behalf of their clients.

Organization

Catholic Charities of Central Texas

Since 2002, Immigration Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities of Central Texas has provided affordable legal consultations, representation, and assistance in Central Texas to low-income immigrants of all cultural and religious backgrounds. Our experienced staff guides clients through the complex immigration process in order to obtain immigration benefits for qualified individuals, to reunite families and to promote awareness of current immigration topics.

Project Details

Project Start Date
September 2014
Approximate hours of work requested
30-40 hours total over the course of fall semester
Training
A one-hour training will be held Thursday, September 25, 11:50am-12:50pm in WWJC Conference Room (CCJ 1.324)
Skills used
Legal research/writing; document preparation/review; client interviewing
Project location
Catholic Charities office (1625 Rutherford Lane, Austin, Texas 78754); limited work from home possible for some project tasks
Address
1625 Rutherford Lane, Austin TX
Number of student volunteers requested
7
Class year preference
1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
Required skills
Language: Spanish helpful but not necessary
To Apply
Submit email stating interest to Sarah Sedgwick at ssedgwick@law.utexas.edu