Immigration Legal Services


Immigrant Family Support Volunteer

Are you someone who’s caring, has great listening skills and feels called to welcome and help immigrants and refugees? Then this is an excellent opportunity for you! As an Immigrant Family Support Volunteer, you will compassionately listen to immigrants and assist them in completing and processing their Inadmissibility Grounds Waivers.  

 

We welcome volunteers who can commit for at least a year and make their schedules according to their availability. We strongly believe refugees and immigrants are our brothers and sisters and deserve our support. 

 

Immigration Legal Services (ILS) focuses on the provision of direct legal immigration services to foreign‐born individuals and their families. ILS has represented individuals from all around the world needing legal assistance with an immigration matter. No prior legal experience is needed for this role.

 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

Volunteer duties and responsibilities vary to suit the volunteers' capabilities and to meet a variety of needs in the program, may include:

  • Assist individuals and families who are clients of ILS to assemble information and materials for Inadmissibility Grounds Waivers applications for staff review
  • Actively and compassionately listen to clients 
  • Provide spiritual support to clients completing the application process
  • Communicate with and accept guidance from ILS leadership 
  • Follow a standard process for completing work 

 

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics: 

  • Comfortable working with individuals who have experienced trauma 
  • Fully embrace Catholic Charities Culture of Caring
  • Warm, friendly, and compassionate  
  • Great note taker 
  • Ability to understand the perspective of who you are writing for and who the reader will be  
  • Strong team player with the ability to work cooperatively with others 
  • Detail oriented  
  • Linguistically skilled 

 

Qualifications: 

  • Very strong writing and listening skills 
  • No legal experience needed 
  • Volunteers must be 18 years or older  
  • Retirees welcomed 
  • Spanish speaker preferred  
  • Must have computer and word processing proficiency  
  • Ability to use video conferencing tools (Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime, etc.) 

 

Volunteer Benefits: 

  • An opportunity to improve the lives of deserving immigrants 
  • Gain knowledge of immigration issues 
  • Involvement in a network of professionals committed to serving those in need

 

Support: 

  • Spanish interpreter support if needed 
  • On-site supervision and support 

 

Time Commitment: 

  • 4-8 hours a week 
  • 1-year minimum commitment preferred 

 

Location:  Remote 

 

Next Steps: 

  • Fill out an application 
  • Matching Expectations conversation with Catholic Charities staff  
  • Attend virtual Volunteer Orientation and complete screenings 
  • Begin volunteering!