Immigrating to a new country can be a scary and intimidating process. However, there are ways to reduce the challenges and make it feel more like a series of effortless steps. The first step is to do the research for months or years ahead of it. New immigrants should become familiar with some of the information they need to live as U.S. resident by visiting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
The information for new immigrants will continue to become more important moving forward, especially as cities around the United States welcome Afghan refugees. By understanding how to help those who immigrate to the United States can not help make the transition smoother, but it can also help reduce feelings of being overwhelmed in a new place.
Organize Everything
Legal immigration comes with a pile of documents to fill out. Each document has fees and a deadline to meet when filing. Typical documents are related to an individual’s permanent residency, reentry permit, passport, visa, and employment authorization. It is helpful to keep these documents in a folder and organized by order of importance.
Join Support Groups
Immigrants’ support groups often consist of new and old immigrants who are willing to share advice on starting a new life in the U.S. Every immigrant has an interesting yet different story to tell about his or her family, origins, struggles, ambitions, and successes. A support group offers emotional support for those who are experiencing ups and downs in their journey.
Support Organizations
There are numerous local and national organizations that support immigrants as they make the step-by-step transition. These groups cover issues that vary widely from providing affordable legal services to protecting civil rights. Immigrants are encouraged to donate money to or volunteer at the same organization that helped them get a new start. Without donations, many organizations would not operate and be able to help people who have been deported or forced to return to their home countries.
As the United States continues to help incoming immigrants, it is important to understand how current citizens can help make the transition as smooth as possible. With Afghan refugees looking for a safe place to settle down, it is important to understand how others can help. To learn more about how to help those in need, visit the Nationalities Service Center website.