Since last year, New York City has welcomed tens of thousands of migrants, many of whom want to file asylum applications – a critical step on the path to work authorization and to building a life in the US. To help asylum seekers to file for asylum, the New York City Mayor’s Office established the Asylum Application Help Center in late June 2023.
Interested asylum seekers schedule one-on-one appointments at the Asylum Application Help Center, where volunteer application assistants help asylum seekers to complete an asylum application. Experienced immigration lawyers are on site to supervise application assistants, as are interpreters to help with translation.
This fall, NYU is leading a consortium of local colleges and universities that will send volunteers to the center, where they will help asylum seekers fill out asylum applications. The center is seeking highly motivated, empathetic volunteer application assistants to work one-on-one with asylum seekers. (Please note that application assistants are NOT providing legal services – the help center is a pro se, “know your rights” clinic.) Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
Dates of Service
- Saturday, November 4, 2023
- Saturday, November 18, 2023
- Saturday, December 2, 2023
Requirements
Open to JDs and LLMs. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer application assistant at the Asylum Application Help Center, you will need to:
- Complete the online application form here;
- View a mandatory two-hour training video;
- Read the Asylum Application Help Center’s guidebook (application assistants will also receive training at the Asylum Application Help Center); and
- Undergo a criminal background check (at NYU’s expense), required by the City