40-hour Immigration Law Training Schedule BIA Recognition and ...

The New York Immigration Coalition
in collaboration with
The New York City Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs, and
The National Partnership for New Americans
40-hour Immigration Law Training Schedule
To Prepare for
BIA Recognition and Accreditation
Monday, April 30 th through Friday, May 4, 2012
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 26, 2012
All trainings will be held at The New York Immigration Coalition, 137-139 West 25 th Street, 12 th Floor, New York, NY
10001 (between 6 th & 7 th Avenues)
Please arrive 20 minutes before your session begins.
Attendance at trainings is limited to staff of nonprofit agencies seeking Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) agency recognition and BIA staff accreditation as well as
to current BIA accredited representatives seeking to renew accreditation.
Survey of Immigration Law and Family-Based Immigration Law
Date: Monday, April 30, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This training will provide an overview of basic concepts in immigration law. Topics to be covered are family-based and employmentbased
immigration and the diversity visa lottery program with a focus on family-based immigration, including immediate relatives of
U.S. citizens, the family preference categories, and how to read the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. This training will be
conducted by Thomas J. Shea, Esq. of the New York Immigration Coalition. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Adjustment of Status, Citizenship & Naturalization
Date: Monday, April 30, 2012 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.
This training will provide an overview of the basic eligibility requirements for adjustment of status in the United States with a focus
on family-based immigration. The training will cover the requirements under INA §§245(a), (c), and (i) as well as provide a general
description of the process. This training will also cover the basic eligibility requirements to naturalize in the United States as well as
the statutory requirements for a child to acquire U.S. citizenship when born outside the United States or to derive U.S. citizenship at
some point after birth outside the United States. This training will be conducted by Thomas J. Shea, Esq. of the New York
Immigration Coalition. There is no CLE credit for this training.
How to Prepare and Submit a Fee Waiver Request to the USCIS (FREE training)
Date: Monday, April 30, 2012 Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
With the drastic increase in fees for immigration applications and petitions on July 30, 2007 and then an additional fee increase that
became effective November 23, 2010, more practitioners seek to submit to the USCIS requests for a fee waiver for clients who are
unable to pay the fees. This training will cover the fee waiver guidance and the Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, as well as
provide practical tips for preparing and submitting a fee waiver request. This training will be conducted by Kamal Essaheb, Esq.,
Staff Attorney with CUNY Citizenship Now!. There is no CLE credit for this training.
1 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12

Waivers and Exceptions to Select Grounds of Inadmissibility and Deportability
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This seminar will provide a basic overview of certain grounds of inadmissibility and deportability as well as waivers and exceptions
that overcome removability because of health concerns, criminal convictions, smuggling in persons, misrepresentation, unlawful
presence, prior removal, false claims to citizenship, lack of proper travel documents and/or visas and document fraud. This training
will be conducted by Thomas J. Shea, Esq., of the NYIC staff. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Preparing the Form I-601, Application for Waivers & Grounds of Inadmissibility
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
This seminar will walk through the Form I-601, Application for Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility as well as discuss gathering
and preparing appropriate documentation to support the application. This training will be conducted by M. Audrey Carr, Esq.,
Director of Immigrant Services, Legal Services NYC. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This training will cover the petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status and the application for adjustment of status. We will
review documents needed from family court to complete the SIJ petition and discuss adjustment eligibility requirements particular to
SIJ applicants, including the exemptions from inadmissibility that apply to SIJ applicants as well as common inadmissibility issues not
covered by these exemptions, age-out issues, and continuity of family court jurisdiction. We also will briefly cover the application for
work authorization and practical issues when dealing with foster-care caseworkers, Administration for Children’s Services, and
family-court law guardians. This training will be conducted by Maureen Schad, Esq. of The Door – A Center for Alternatives, Inc.
There is no CLE credit for this training.
Practice Before the Immigration Court
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This training will give practitioners an overview of litigated immigration proceedings, including the forms of relief available,
evidentiary and court procedures, appearance in hearings and issuance of charging documents, strategies for evidence and forensic
expert submission, and skills and techniques for direct examination, objection, and cross-examination defense. The training will be
conducted by C. Mario Russell, senior attorney at Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York, and adjunct professor and supervisor
of the Refugee and Immigrant Rights Clinic at the St. John's University School of Law. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Asylum, Withholding of Removal and Protection Against Torture Relief
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This training will cover grounds for claiming asylum and related relief. It will include discussion of persecution and well-founded
fear of persecution, withholding of removal and CAT relief, the definition of torture, the bars to asylum, and evidentiary issues. It will
discuss expedited removal and credible fear interviews relevant to asylum seekers in detention. It will also provide practical tips on
putting together an asylum application and representing an asylum seeker before the asylum office and the immigration court. The
training will be conducted by Archana Pyati, Esq., Staff Attorney with Sanctuary for Families and Prof. Dan Smulian, Esq., of the
Safe Harbor Project at Brooklyn Law School. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Prosecutorial Discretion (FREE Training)
Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
This training provides an overview of the various memoranda from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE)
providing guidance on ICE’s authority to exercise prosecutorial discretion. The training will be conducted by Thomas J. Shea, Esq. of
the NYIC. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Representing Clients During Interviews Before the USCIS
Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This training is intended for people who have a basic understanding of the substantive law concerning adjustment of status, asylum,
naturalization, and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This training will provide practical pointers on preparing clients for
and representing them during select types of interviews before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), such
as adjustment interviews, asylum interviews, interviews for adjustment of status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),
Stokes interviews, and naturalization exams. The training will provide guidance from immigration practitioners with experience
representing clients in these types of interviews. This training will be conducted by Abigail Cushing, Esq. of Catholic Charities
2 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12

Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York, Aleksander Milch, Esq. of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and
Carmen Maria Rey, Esq. of In Motion, Inc. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Dispositions
Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This training will review the various immigration law issues faced by non-citizens who have been convicted or accused of criminal
conduct. The training will primarily cover the following: a) good moral character bars and deportation risks for non-citizens with
criminal records who are pursuing naturalization; and b) bars and waivers for non-citizens with criminal records who are applying for
adjustment of status. It will also touch briefly on criminal bars to asylum, relief from removal, detention issues and intake strategies.
This training will be conducted by Marianne Yang, Esq., Project Director and Pro Bono Coordinator, Brooklyn Defender Services.
There is no CLE credit for this training.
Immigration Remedies for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence: Battered Spouse Waivers & VAWA Self-Petitions
Date: Friday, May 4, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This training will familiarize the advocate with federal immigration laws that allow battered immigrant spouses and children to
become lawful permanent residents without having to depend on abusive spouses or parents for sponsorship. We will cover the selfpetitioning
process under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), as well as how to remove conditions on conditional residency
through battered spouse and child waivers. The training will be conducted by Julie E. Dinnerstein, Esq., of Sanctuary for Families.
There is no CLE credit for this training.
Immigration Remedies for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence: U Status
Date: Friday, May 4, 2012 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
This training will survey options for immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes. This session will concentrate on an in
depth analysis of U nonimmigrant status. Information on recently issued regulations will be discussed. The training will be conducted
by Julie E. Dinnerstein, Esq. of Sanctuary for Families. There is no CLE credit for this training.
Immigration Remedies for Immigrant Victims of Human Trafficking: T Status
Date: Friday, May 4, 2012 Time: 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
This training will cover how immigrant victims of domestic violence, who are not married to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent
residents, can apply for T nonimmigrant status for victims of human trafficking. The training will be conducted by Lori L. Cohen,
Esq. of Sanctuary for Families. There is no CLE credit for this training.
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3 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12

This training is for non-attorneys seeking BIA agency recognition and/or BIA accreditation
This 40-hour training is geared to non-attorneys who work with nonprofit organizations and who intend to apply for BIA agency
recognition and/or BIA staff accreditation. This training is also open to staff of nonprofit organizations that are currently recognized
by the BIA and who are seeking to renew their BIA accreditation.
This training is not open to for-profit entities such as notarios, travel agencies, tax preparers, etc.
If your nonprofit agency is not recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and does not have an
immigration attorney on staff to supervise the provision of immigration legal services, the head of your organization must sign with
this registration form the written attestation (see below the registration form), stating that (i) s/he understands what constitutes the
practice of law (as defined below), and (ii) that your organization does not and will not engage in the
unauthorized practice of law. Until such attestation is filed with the NYIC, the organization cannot
participate in BIA 40-hour Immigration Law training offered through the NYIC Immigrant Concerns Training Institute (ICIT).
Going forward, the attestation will serve as notice to the head of your organization that s/he and the staff of the organization are
prohibited from using the ICTI to support the unauthorized practice of law.
PLEASE PRINT:
BIA 40-Hour Immigration Law Training
April 30, 2012 through May 4, 2012
TRAINING REGISTRATION FORM
Name of registrant:_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Nonprofit Organization:_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address:
Tel: Fax: Email:
All registrations will be confirmed by E-mail. If you do not receive an E-mail confirmation, then you are not
registered for the training. To confirm your registration, please E-mail jvidal@thenyic.org. All training materials
will be emailed to registrants before the training. Materials will not be provided at the training.
I am seeking BIA recognition and/or accreditation and need a certificate of attendance.
I am maintaining or renewing by BIA accredited representative status and need a certificate of attendance.
I will require wheelchair access.
If you will attend the entire 40-hour CLE program from the opening session on Monday, April 30 th through Friday, May 4 th , then you
need only check the top box; otherwise please check the box for each session that you will attend.
Check the session(s) you will be attending:
I will attend the entire week of training Monday, April 30 th through
Friday, May 4 th , 2012
Survey of Immigration Law and Family-based Immigration Law Monday, April 30, 2012
Adjustment of Status, Citizenship & Naturalization
Monday, April 30, 2012
How to Prepare and Submit a Fee Waiver Request (Free Training) Monday, April 30, 2012
Waivers & Exceptions to Select Grounds of Inadmissibility
Preparing the Form I-601, Application for Waivers & Grounds
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Practice Before the Immigration Court
Asylum, Withholding of Removal and Protection Against Torture
Prosecutorial Discretion (Free Training)
Representing Clients During Interviews Before the USCIS
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Dispositions
Battered Spouse Waivers & VAWA Self-petitions
U-Visas
T-Visas
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
8:30 am- 5:30 pm
each day
8:30 am -12:30 pm
1:30 pm-4:20pm
4:30pm-5:30pm
8:30am-12:30pm
1:30pm-3:20pm
3:30pm-5:30pm
8:30am-12:30pm
1:30pm-5:30pm
8:30am-9:20am
9:30am-12:30pm
1:30pm-5:30pm
8:30am-12:30pm
1:30pm-3:20pm
3:30pm-5:30pm
4 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12

E-mail the completed registration form to Jonathan Vidal at Jvidal@thenyic.org by close
of business on Monday, April 23 rd .
All registrations will be confirmed by E-mail. If you have any questions about your
registration or you have not received a registration confirmation, then please call or E-mail
Jonathan Vidal at (212) 627-2227 ext. 227 or at jvidal@thenyic.org.
BIA Accredited Representatives & Attorneys of NYIC member agencies**: # of trainings @ $20 per training = $
Entire week @ $240/person @ people per training = $
(**The agency must be current in NYIC membership dues to receive the membership rate; otherwise it must pay the nonmember rate.)
Staff of 501(c) NYIC member agencies** # of trainings @ $25 per training = $
Entire week @ $300/person @ people per training = $
(**The agency must be current in NYIC membership dues to receive the membership rate; otherwise it must pay the nonmember rate. There is a fee cap of $100 when
four or more staff register under this category.)
Employees of BIA Recognized Agencies and Attorney-supervised 501(c) nonprofit organizations (Not members of the NYIC):
# of trainings @ $65 per training = $
Entire week @ $780/person @ people per training = $
NOTE: if your nonprofit organization applies for and becomes an NYIC member organization, then you
can get a discounted rate of $500 per person for the entire week of the training. In addition, after this
training, your organization will be a member of the NYIC through December 2012 and your staff will be
eligible for NYIC member training discounts during that time.
Submitted application for NYIC membership: ___ Yes ____ No
Discounted rate: Entire week @ $500/person @ ____ people per training = $______
Government employees: # of trainings @ $125 per training = $___
Entire week @ $1,000/person @ people per training = $
BRIA grantees:
NPNA members:
Free
Free
Organizations that are not recognized by the BIA and that do not have an
immigration attorney supervising their work must have the head of their
organization sign the attestation on the next page and include it with their
registration form
5 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12

We encourage agencies that wish to provide immigration legal services to first become authorized to provide
such services, by retaining an immigration attorney or by obtaining BIA recognition.
Instructions: For organizations that are not already recognized by the BIA and do not have an
immigration attorney on staff to supervise the provision of immigration legal services, the head of the
organization agency (e.g., executive director) must review and sign the attestation below. The signed
attestation must be included with the registration form in order for your staff to participate in the
trainings.
I have reviewed the definition of “practice of law” below, and I understand what
constitutes the practice of law for immigration purposes. I hereby attest that the
staff of my organization do not practice law and will not practice law, unless and
until the organization is authorized to do so. My staff are attending the BIA 40-hour
Immigration Law training in order for our agency to apply for BIA agency
recognition and staff accreditation.
Name of person signing attestation: ______________________________________
Title: _______________________________________
Organization’s name: _________________________________
Organization’s street address: ___________________________
City, state, zip code: _____________________________
Telephone number: _________________________ Email: _________________________
“Practice of Law” Defined: The “practice of law” includes but is not limited to (i) applying the law to the
particular facts of an individual’s case, (ii) advising a person which immigration form the person should
complete and/or file with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Executive Office for Immigration
Review, U.S. Department of Labor, or the U.S. Department of State (hereinafter, “the immigration
authorities”), (iii) advising a person how to complete and/or file a form with the immigration authorities, (iv)
calling or writing the immigration authorities on behalf of an individual to find out the
status of the individual’s case, or to otherwise make an inquiry about the individual’s case on behalf of that
individual, (v)representing an individual or individuals during a hearing, interview, or meeting with the
immigration authorities, (vi)appearing in any case, either in person or through the preparation or filing of any
brief or other document, paper, application, or petition on behalf of another person or client, before or with the
immigration authorities, (vii) studying the facts of a case and the applicable laws, coupled with the giving of
advice and auxiliary activities, including the incidental preparation of papers, and/or (viii) the preparation
and/or sending of correspondence to the immigration authorities on behalf of an individual.
________________________________
Signature Date
_____________
Date
6 40-hour BIA training: 04/30/12 to 05/04/12