N.Y. –based Guyanese welcome new Queens’ immigration office

– optimistic that waiting times will be significantly reduced

By North American Correspondent

A new federal office recently opened in Queens to handle all immigration related matters is being welcomed by the large Guyanese and other immigrant groups in New York. The new two-floor office is located at 27-35 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City, not far from communities where large numbers of Guyanese are settled, such as in Astoria, Woodside, and Elmhurst, etc. Queens is the largest borough of New York and is believed to have the largest number of Guyanese outside of Guyana.

Residents of Queens and other boroughs applying for residency, citizenship, adjustment of status or visa extension or any other immigration matter can now do so right in Queens.

Guyanese immigration lawyers and community activists say the office will benefit the community with expedited services thereby reducing the amount of time people have to wait to process sponsoring applications and submitting verification documents. Prior to that office being opened, persons had to travel to the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in lower Manhattan to deal with immigration related issues.

Dennis Bunce, field office director of US CIS (formerly INS), said the government wants to establish offices where the people who need those services most are based.

According to the 2010 US Census, nearly half of the borough of Queens are foreign born, with the largest number of people emigrating from China, followed by Guyana and Ecuador.

Officials say Immigration Service Officers will be able to conduct 120 naturalisation interviews every day at the new Queens center.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Javier Valdes said there is a negative stereotype about immigration offices because many confuse USCIS with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which detains and deports illegal immigrants. Valdes said that partnering with community organisations could make residents less hesitant to seek assistance.

Guyanese advocacy groups are urging community based organisations to spread the word about the naturalisation services offered at the new office. Irwine Clare, managing director of Caribbean Immigrant Services, said he is pleased the borough finally has an immigration office to recognise the diverse population. “It will make the whole process of those who seek immigration and benefits a whole lot easier, especially for those in Southeast Queens”.

Officials say the INS center is expected to serve 300 to 500 people daily and will open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.