Immigration and Citizenship

  Related links
NYC311 Home Report Problems Look Up Service Requests Browse Topics

You can get free, confidential immigration and citizenship services and help with:

  • Application forms, including fee information
  • Delayed immigration cases
  • Legal issues
  • English or citizenship classes and counseling
  • Detainee locations
  • Deportation 
  • Green cards and visas
  • Asylum
  • Temporary Protective Status (TPS)
  • Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP)
  • Other immigration status information or benefits

You can also receive referrals to community-based organizations.

Assistance is available in multiple languages. You will be helped regardless of your immigration status.

Online

Learn more about immigration and citizenship services.

Learn more about the New Americans Hotline.

By Phone

  • Agency: Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
  • Division: New Americans Hotline
  • Phone Number: (800) 566-7636
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 8 PM
  • You'll hear an automated message that will ask for your language. During business hours, you'll then be connected to an agent.

The Road Forward

You can download "The Road Forward" which explains New York City’s response to the asylum seeker crisis and its causes.

Download "The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address NYC's Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis."

Asylum seekers who have just arrived in New York City can get free and confidential help. This help is available at the Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement paperwork showing that you entered the U.S. Southwest Border on or after January 1, 2022,
  • Currently live in New York City,
  • Make an appointment with the Center.

Learn more on the Asylum Seeker Resources page.

You can use the Department of Homeland Security website to find a family member who is in immigration detention. Enter your family member's information on the Online Detainee Locator System.

If you need help with a deportation case, the New Americans Hotline will refer you to organizations that can provide free and confidential assistance with immigration legal issues.

  • Agency: Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
  • Division: New Americans Hotline
  • Phone Number: (800) 566-7636
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 8 PM
  • You'll hear an automated message that will ask for your language. During business hours, you'll then be connected to an agent.

City's Restrictions on Immigration (ICE) Detainers

On November 14, 2014, Mayor de Blasio signed two laws to restrict the circumstances in which New York City will honor immigration detainers, and to remove federal immigration enforcement from City facilities. These laws went into effect on December 14, 2014.

Immigration, or "ICE," detainers are requests from federal immigration enforcement officials. These requests ask local police and jails to keep individuals in custody beyond the time when they would otherwise be released, so that federal immigration officials can take custody.

As a result of the two laws signed by Mayor de Blasio, the City only complies with these requests when they are supported by a judicial warrant and when the individual has either been convicted of a serious or violent felony or is a possible match on a terrorist watch list.

In addition, as of February 13, 2015, immigration enforcement authorities no longer maintain an office at Department of Correction facilities at Rikers Island.

These laws are intended to foster trust between immigrant communities and police. They prevent individuals who are not public safety threats from being transferred into the federal immigration enforcement system.

If you have questions about an individual legal situation, you should speak to an attorney. The New Americans Hotline can help you find free or low-cost legal assistance.

ActionNYC connects New Yorkers to free, safe immigration legal help. 

You will be given an appointment to a trusted community organization that can provide free and confidential screenings to learn your immigration legal options and application assistance with:

  • Adjustment of status
  • Answers to immigration related questions
  • Connections to immigration legal help
  • DACA 
  • Family petitions
  • Green card renewals
  • Information on immigration policy
  • Other immigration cases
  • Public charge information
  • Referrals to other legal and non-legal services
  • TPS

There are ActionNYC sites in all five boroughs. Appointments are required. Your appointment will be in your language.

Get ActionNYC information and learn how to make an appointment.

  • Agency: Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
  • Division: ActionNYC Hotline
  • Phone Number: (800) 354-0365
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
  • You'll hear an automated message that will ask for your language. During business hours, you'll then be connected to an agent.

The City offers free services to immigrants through community-based organizations.  

You can get: 

  • Citizenship application assistance 
  • English as a second language classes 
  • Civics and citizenship classes
  • Counseling

Online

Get assistance from a community-based organization.

By Phone

  • Agency: Department of Youth and Community Development
  • Division: Community Connect
  • Phone Number: (800) 246-4646
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • If the call fails to connect, you can call again later or email communityconnect@dycd.nyc.gov.

"We Speak NYC"

"We Speak NYC" is a show for people learning English. You can watch this show on Channels 25 and 74. You can find schedule information online. Learn more at We Speak NYC.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients should speak with an attorney to see whether they should re-register for TPS.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urges current TPS recipients to renew as soon as possible to avoid a lapse in status.

Do not trust any business or individual that promises a Green Card or U.S. Citizenship. Only lawyers or those who have gotten permission from the U.S. Department of Justice can give legal advice or tell you whether you can apply for a renewal.

If you have questions about your individual situation, you should see a trusted immigration attorney. TPS recipients should make an appointment with a legal service provider to talk through their options.

Learn more and get updates about Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

You can make an appointment with ActionNYC for free and safe immigration legal services.

  • Agency: Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
  • Division: ActionNYC Hotline
  • Phone Number: (800) 354-0365
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
  • You'll hear an automated message that will ask for your language. During business hours, you'll then be connected to an agent.

Application Forms and Guides

You can get immigration and citizenship application forms and guidelines by phone or online. 

Internet access is available at local Libraries.

Online

Get information about immigration application forms and fees.

By Phone

You can request immigration or citizenship application forms through an automated telephone system.  You must provide a mailing address in order for the requested form to be mailed.

  • Agency: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Forms Request Line
  • Division: USCIS National Customer Service Center
  • Phone Number: (800) 375-5283
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 8 PM

Where to Send your Application

You can get the most current information about where to file immigration or citizenship applications by calling the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) National Customer Service Center or by going to USCIS.gov. TTY assistance is available for the deaf and hard of hearing by calling (800) 767-1833.

  • Agency: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Forms Request Line
  • Division: USCIS National Customer Service Center
  • Phone Number: (800) 375-5283
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 8 PM

Immigration Application Delayed

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) provides assistance when there is a long delay after you have submitted an application for citizenship, naturalization, a green card, or other immigration status or benefit.

If the delay is less than 6 months:

Call the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) National Customer Service Center.

  • Agency: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Forms Request Line
  • Division: USCIS National Customer Service Center
  • Phone Number: (800) 375-5283
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 8 PM

If the delay is over 6 months:

MOIA can contact USCIS for you.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

The CUNY Citizenship Now Project provides free, high quality, and confidential citizenship and immigration law services to help immigrants on their path to U.S. citizenship. 

You can get immigration assistance at CUNY Immigration Centers located at various CUNY campuses throughout New York City. Immigration attorneys and paralegals offer confidential one-on-one consultations to assess your eligibility for legal benefits and can advise you on the most viable options available. You can also get citizenship and family immigration application assistance. 

Learn more about the CUNY Citizenship Now Project.

Learn how to become a volunteer.

The CUNY Citizenship Now Project also provides free English and civics classes to Lawful Permanent Residents.

CUNY Immigration Centers

CUNY Immigration Centers are available in all five boroughs. Before you go to a Center for assistance, please call for an appointment.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

English and Civics Classes

To be admitted into the class, you must present proof of Lawful Permanent Residence by showing the following:

  • Green Card
  • Passport with valid I-551 stamp

You can get more information online or by phone.

Online

Get information about free English and Civics classes.

By Phone

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

Immigration Legal Assistance

Individual U.S Citizens seeking to depart Ukraine can call these Department of State numbers:

  • In the U.S you can call (833) 741-2777
  • Outside the U.S you can call (606) 260-4379

If you are seeking assistance for US Citizen and Lawful Permanent Resident family members you may complete an intake form for assistance requests. 

The USAID portal has useful up-to-date information on the current situation and relief organizations.

Free and safe immigration legal help is also available. If you or your loved ones have immigration concerns, you can call the ActionNYC hotline.

  • ActionNYC
    Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM
    (800) 354-0365

City Services

Many City services are available regardless of your immigration status.

If you're feeling anxious, stressed or depressed help is also available. You can talk to an NYC 988 counselor who can provide you with confidential support.

If you have questions about how to access City services, help in your language is available. You can call the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) hotline.

  • Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
    Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM
    (212) 788-7654

You can also email askmoia@cityhall.nyc.gov.

Consulate Information

  • Consulate General of Ukraine in New York
    240 East 49th Street,
    New York, NY 10017
    (212) 371-6965

Follow NYC311

Download the NYC311 Mobile App

About NYC311 Send Feedback NYC311 Privacy Policy