MCC Refugee Services provides the following immigration services for refugees and asylees. Click on the link to learn more about each service.
- Family Reunification
- Green Card
- Citizenship
- Other Immigration Services
For all immigration clients, MCC Refugee Services will provide assistance with the initial application and maintain a copy of your application on file. We provide comprehensive services and follow-up until a decision is reached on your case. We have accredited staff on-site to represent clients and can refer to other agencies to represent clients.
Walk-in Hours
Do you have an important immigration question?
You can see a staff person for 10-15 minutes without an appointment during our Walk-in Hours at:
122 Franklin Ave. West, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Every Thursday from 1pm-4pm
Please note that if you come for walk-in hours:
- You may need to wait to see someone as we will see people on a first-come, first-serve basis
- We may need to schedule an additional time to meet with you in order to answer your question
Family Reunification (Sponsorship)/Family Petition
The sponsorship program assists refugees and asylees in resettling certain family members to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. This program will be re-opened by the federal government as of October 15, 2012. MCC will host information sessions each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 to learn more about who is elligible and how to apply. Click here for more information.
Refugee Services offers two options for refugees and asylees:
- I-730 (Visa 92/93) for principal refugees and asylees within 2 years of entry or asylum in the US
- I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (Family Based Petition) for refugees and asylees to petition for family you left behind that wish to immigrate to the United States.
Refugee and asylees should contact Refugee Services to determine their eligibility for these two programs by calling Nina Vang at 612-230-3224 or by coming to Walk-in Hours every Thursday 1pm-4pm.
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Refugee and Asylee Adjustment of Status (Green Card)
Refugees and asylees may file to adjust their status to Permanent Resident, commonly known as applying for their “Green Card” through Immigration Services. There is a minimal fee for Green Card services.
To apply for your Green Card, you must be:
- A refugee who has been in the United States for at least one year OR
- An asylee who has been granted asylum for at least one year
Benefits of obtaining Permanent Residency:
- Necessary step towards United States citizenship
- Easier travel outside the United States
- More options for sponsoring family members
Refugee and asylees should contact Refugee Services to determine their eligibility for this program by calling Élan Karpinski at 612-230-3275 or by coming to Walk-in Hours every Thursday 1pm-4pm.
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Citizenship
Refugees and asylees who have been Permanent Residents for five years can apply for Naturalization through Refugee Services. There is a minimal fee for services.
Benefits of Citizenship:
- The right to vote
- More access to employment opportunities
- Faster options to sponsor family members
- The freedom to travel with a U.S. passport.
Refugee and asylees should contact Refugee Services to determine their eligibility for this program by calling Élan Karpinski at 612-230-3275 or by coming to Walk-in Hours every Thursday 1pm-4pm.
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Other Immigration Services
Refugee Services also assists refugees and asylees with other immigration needs. These services include:
- I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) for Green Cards that are expired, lost, or stolen
- I-102 Application to Replace I-94 card for I-94 cards that have been lost or stolen
- I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to obtain or renew the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- I-131 Application for Travel Document
- Reentry Permit: Permanent Residents to reenter the US
- Refugee Travel Document: For refugees to travel abroad
- Advance Parole Document: to authorize the temporary parole of a person into the US.
Refugee and asylees should contact Refugee Services to determine their eligibility for all of these programs by calling Nina Vang at 612-230-3224, or by coming to Walk-in Hours every Thursday 1pm-4pm.
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Contact Information
For questions or more information, please contact:
Nina (Mai Neng) Vang
Immigration Services Coordinator
612.230.3224
nina.vang@mnchurches.org
OR
Élan Karpinski
Immigration Services Assistant
612.230.3275
elan.karpinski@mnchurches.org
OR
Come to Walk-in Hours
Every Thursday 1pm-4pm
122 Franklin Avenue West, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55404
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