Immigration Lawyers in Buffalo

[fsn_row][fsn_column width=”12″][fsn_text]

Experienced immigration lawyers help immigrants and family members in numerous way including the following:

  • Green Card Application
  • H1B status
  • Asylum
  • Immigrant Visa
  • Marriage Visa
  • Fiance visa, I-129F, K1 Visa requirements
  • Deportation (“Removal”) Defense
  • Green Card renewal
  • U.S. citizenship
  • Assistance with Embassy
  • Assistance with the National Visa Center (“NVC”)
  • Representation at USCIS and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (“ICE”)
  • TN Visa, E2 visa, L1 visa
  • National Interest Waiver Green Card
  • EB5 Investor Green Card
  • I-601A Waiver
  • Hardship Waiver
  • J1 Waiver
  • DACA
  • TPS
  • R1 Visa
  •  VAWA
  •  U Visa
  • Cancellation of Removal
  • Request for Evidence
  • Notice of Intent to Deny
  • Change of Status
  • F1 status
  • Motion to Reopen
  • Board of Immigration Appeals

Top ten immigration lawyers in Buffalo NY

Buffalo is home to some really good, experienced immigration lawyers and border attorneys. Because of the law schools in the area, proximity to Canada, and rich immigration history, several prominent Buffalo immigration law firms are ready to help new clients:

According to Justia, some of the notable immigration lawyers and firms for Buffalo immigration law issues are:

Call Richard today at 1-216-696-6170 to arrange a consultation.

The Herman Legal Group is the “Law Firm for Immigrants.” Founded by nationally-known immigration lawyer Richard Herman in 1995, the Herman Legal Group provides skilled and cost-effective immigration counsel to businesses, families, and individuals.

Our lawyers including Richard Herman, Charmaine Rozario, Vania Stefanova, Luis Villarroel, Kamal Dari, and Of-Counsel lawyers Dinh Tran, Gil Manzano, and Ronen Kurzfled.

We speak over 12 languages. We are experienced in all aspects of immigration law, including employment immigration, investor immigration, family immigration, and deportation defense. When you need someone strong and compassionate in your corner, contact us.

The Herman Legal Group was awarded the designation of “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report in the field of immigration law for 2016, 2017, and 2018.

We also have immigration offices in Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Detroit/Dearborn, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Erie, Charlotte, Coral Gables/Miami, McKinney/Plano/Dallas, and Toronto.

We handle the full range of legal immigration services.

Other immigration lawyers on Justia’s recommended list include:

Nina Frances Juncewicz

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Attorney with 23 years experience
50 Fountain Plaza
Suite 1400
Buffalo, NY 14222

Matthew Borowski Esq

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Attorney with 6 years experience
4343 Union Rd
Buffalo, NY 14225
Immigration, Appeals and Criminal
Drexel University

Siana McLean

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Lawyer with 8 years experience
415 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14201

Nevin Frederic Murchie

Williamsville, NY Immigration Law Attorney
8555 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221

Andrew Slepian

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Lawyer with 11 years experience
14 Lafayette Square
Suite 1800
Buffalo, NY 14203

Matthew Lindsay Kolken

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Attorney with 22 years experience
135 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14202

Annick T Koloko Esq

69 Delaware Avenue
608
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mr. Alejandro Gutierrez Esq.

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Lawyer with 18 years experience
745 Englewood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14223

Robert Ross Fogg Esq.

Buffalo, NY Immigration Law Lawyer with 18 years experience
69 Delaware Avenue
Suite 600
Buffalo, NY 14202-3812

Contact an experienced immigration lawyer to learn more about Buffalo, New York as a destination for immigrants, and to discuss any legal immigration questions or issues.

 

At Herman Legal Group, Your Future Matters Most

 

Call now to Request your Consultation
24/7 Evening and Weekends

[/fsn_text][/fsn_column][/fsn_row]

Local Ethnic Media in Buffalo

According to High Brown Magazine, many immigrants in the 21st century “come as refugees from countries as far apart as Bhutan, Burma and Iraq, as well as Somalia, Eritrea, Liberia and Cuba.” According to the Buffalo-based Journey’s End Refugee Services, there were some 1,600 refugees resettled in Buffalo in 2012, with another 2,000 expected in 2013.

Hispanic resources in Buffalo

“The fastest-growing demographic, however, hails from Latin America. According to the latest U.S. census data, between 2000 and 2010, the Latino population in Buffalo increased by almost 25 percent. Six percent of city residents today speak Spanish, and at least five news outlets in Buffalo cater to this diverse community.”

One of the Spanish speaking news outlets in Buffalo is “La Voz de WNY, a Spanish-language public affairs talk show that airs on Time Warner channel 20.”

Panorama Hispano News

Panorama Hispano News (print and online) is published for readers in Western, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania. The company prints 30,000 hardcopies each month. The website connects with 38,000 readers on a weekly basis.

Hispanic Heritage Council

The Hispanic Heritage Council is “dedicated to preserving the history of Hispanics in Western New York for future generations.” A few Hispanic resources, other than those mentioned, listed on their website include:

  • Buffalo Puerto Rican Press [ Maria Rosa] 716-308-4987
  • IMAGEN NY Magazine
    PO Box 31285, Rochester, NY 14603
    Email: info.imagenny@gmail.com
  • Latin Journal [ Maria Rosa] 716-308-4987
  • La Ultima Hora [ Luis Rodriguez] 716-570-8441
    Published monthly – free
  • La Voz Rochester Community Newspaper
    282 Hollenbeck, Rochester, NY
    585-301-4199
  • WBBF 1120AM – Spanish Radio [ Un Encuentro Con Dios] 716-432-6962
  • WJJL-1440AM – Spanish Radio [ Radio Luz] & [ Impacto Musical Latino] 716-674-9555

Special television programming highlights Buffalo’s Hispanic Community:

  • WIVB Channel 4 airs “Hispanic Voices” on the fourth Sunday of each month at 5:30 a.m. with host, Gilbert Hernandez.
  • Public Access Channel 20 airs “La Voz de WNY” on Mondays 2:00-2:30 pm, and Tuesdays 1:30-2:00p with host, Maria Rivera.

Other ethnic media resources in Buffalo

Additional ethnic media resources include:

  • Newspapers
    Am-Pol Eagle (a Polish-American weekly)
    Buffalo Irish Times (an Irish-American bimonthly)
    The German Citizen (a German-American bimonthly)
    The Challenger is an African-American newspaper that services Buffalo and other Western New York locations
  • Television
  • Radio. According to Wikipedia, the following radio stations are identified as ethnic and may be reachable from Buffalo
    o WQPJ-LP 94.3 FM Port Jervis Ethnic
    o WQPU-LP 93.7 FM Westbrookville Ethnic
    o WRKL 910 AM New City Ethnic
    o WVIP 93.5 FM New Rochelle Ethnic
  • A few cultural resources
    Chabad House is a home-away-from-home for thousands of Jewish Students at the UB. Chabad anticipates and serves the needs of students on a social, educational, and spiritual level. At Chabad, all students are welcome, regardless of background, affiliation, and level of observance.
    WIVB reported in 2017 that the first Asian supermarket in the Buffalo area officially opened.
    The International Institute of Buffalo has stories on immigrant women in Buffalo

People who reside in Buffalo can often pick up media outlets in Toronto, Canada.

Contact an experienced immigration lawyer in Buffalo, NY to learn more about the destination for immigrants and to discuss any legal immigration questions or issues in Buffalo.

Buffalo Health Care Support for Immigrant Community

Immigrants and refugee populations need all the support they can get before transitioning into a new life in Buffalo, NY.

In the list below, we highlight what kind of assistance you can access – available for all community members and their children.

Health Care Assistance

Here are the following assistance services you can ask for:

Mental Health Care

Immigration can cause anxiety and general discomfort, especially if there are various languages and language barriers at play.

You can also look into counseling for couples, individuals, and children.

Children’s Clinics

Primary medical care for clients’ children are a must, especially for whole families moving together.

Chemical Dependency

The instability of housing, employment, and citizenship may affect a person’s mental health care enough to the point of substance abuse risk. Intense trauma can be addressed by a mental health care program focused on chemical dependency.

Hospitals Around Buffalo, NY

Looking for referrals for the best community health care possible around New York? See our list below for a comprehensive guide. You can book medical appointments at:

Other Community Partners and Additional Services

Workforce

Learning trades and training programs are available for immigrants who seek to access and join the workforce after seeking asylum. The path to employment is made easier with the assisting program, too!

Education and School-Based Services

Educational services offer programs that create opportunities for clients. Engaging resources are there to integrate refugees into their diverse cultures.

Simply fill out forms for school-based services as well – from social work services to health care counseling.

Family and Parent Resources

Parents of child refugees especially struggle during the immigration process. Parental practices, childcare, and other programs are the focus of this resource.

Basic Needs, Care Coordination, and Domestic Violence Resources

Rapid rehousing, education, food, and pantry services are also offered.

Survivors, meanwhile, can access confidential services regarding domestic violence and human trafficking. This assistance includes counseling, as well as empowerment programs for men and women.

Inquire at the International Institute of Buffalo

We recommend this non-profit organization for Buffalo immigrants.

The International Institute helps immigrants reintegrate into American culture and society. They offer workforce, homeownership, and growth assistance as well.

One of the biggest challenges in immigration is the language barrier. With this, the International Institute helps out as well by providing reliable interpreting services to those who need it.

For more details on how the International Institute can help, you can check out our article here.

We Offer Neighborhood Legal Services

The immigration process is difficult and often isolating. However, you must remember: you are not alone.

The Herman Legal Group is an international institute that can help you with the above immigration services in Western New York.

Book an appointment with one of our agency immigration lawyers today. Let us offer our assistance for resettling you and your family in Buffalo, NY.

Be our client and let our focus be all on you. Visit our site, and we’ll see you soon!

The Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center Houses ICE Detainees

The main jail for ICE detainees in Buffalo is the Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center. This jail is located at: 4250 Federal Drive; Batavia, NY, York

Inquiries about detainees housed in this facility can be made by phoning (585) 344-6500 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Callers should have the detainee’s biographical information available including their full name, aliases, date of birth, and country of origin. Detainees can’t receive incoming calls.

In emergencies, callers who need to get in touch with a detainee should “call (585) 344-6500 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.”

The facility is accessible to people with disabilities, including detainees.

Posting A Delivery Bond

If a person who been taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings, it may be possible to post a delivery bond. The person posting the bond should have a valid government-issued photo ID, passport, military ID, driver’s license, LPR card, or other proof of identity. The person posting the bond “is responsible for ensuring that the alien presents them self before an officer or representative of this agency whenever a request is made.”

Bonds can be posted at an ICE ERO bond acceptance offices, Monday through Friday (excepting public holidays) from 9 am to 3 pm, New York time. ICE ERO bond acceptance offices can be found at this link- here.

The person posting the bond should know the detainee’s last name and alien registration numbers. Payment for the bond should be made by cashier’s check, money order, or certified check unless the bond payment is $10,000 or more (which requires a cashier’s check or a certified check). The Payee is the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Visiting Hours

Friends and families can visit a detainee:

• M-F. 9 am – 11 am. 1pm-3pm. 6pm-8pm.
• Sat and Sun – 9 am -11 am. 1pm-3pm.

Visitors should check in a half-hour early so they can be processed through security. They should have a valid and verifiable government ID. Visits are only for up to one hour. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Attorney Visits

Lawyers for the detainees can visit their clients between 8am and 4pm or by making arrangements through the facility.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time though prior arrangements should be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible. The consular officials should bring appropriate credentials.

Clergy may also visit a detained at any time – providing prior arrangements are made with the Chaplain’s Office.

Visiting Restrictions

The Buffalo Servicing Center will enforce the following visitor restrictions:

• All family or other social visits are Non-contact.
• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
• All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

Visitor Searches

Anyone entering the facility is subject to a:

• Pat-down search of their belongings
• An inspection of their possessions
• A metal search

No weapons of any kind are permitted.

No electronic devices such as cell phones are permitted in the facility’s secure areas.

Incoming mail may be searched. Anyone sending a package to a detainee should contact the deportation officer at the facility beforehand.

Other Nearby Facilities:

• Orange County Correctional Facility
• Albany County Correctional Facility
• Allegany County Jail
• Chautauqua County Jail
• Clinton County Jail
• Wayne County Jail

Contact your experienced immigration lawyer in Buffalo to learn how you can help anyone who is detained at the Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center.

Information on the Local Immigration Court in Buffalo

The Buffalo Immigration Court is under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge. That office is part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) which is part of the US Department of Justice.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are therefore separate from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

A few of these related offices are:

  • USCIS Asylum Office (Newark, NJ)
  • Buffalo USCIS field office
  • Buffalo ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office
  • Buffalo ICE Office of the Chief Counsel

News media and inquiries from Congress can be sent to:

Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs

5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1902

Falls Church, VA 22041

703-305-0289 (phone)

703-605-0365 (fax)

PAO.EOIR@usdoj.gov

Location of the Buffalo Immigration Court

The court is located at:
Buffalo Immigration Court
130 Delaware Avenue, Suite 300
Buffalo, NY 14202

There are window filing hours as follows:
8am-12pm and 12:30 pm to 3pm

The office hours are:
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday-Thursday)
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Friday

Phone number. The Immigration Court can be reached at 716.551.3442. The Court doesn’t accept faxes or electronic submissions – unless the Court or the Immigration Judge requests the faxes/electronic submissions. If the submission isn’t requested, it will be discarded and won’t be made part of the record.

There is parking available on the street and at parking lots. There is also public transportation:

  • NFTA Bus – 25 Delaware and 11 Colvin.
  • NFTA Metro Rail – Fountain Plaza or Lafayette Stations.

The Immigration Judges are:

  • Jose A. Sanchez, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge (Acting)
  • Mary C. Baumgarten
  • Steven Connelly
  • Denise Hochul
  • Walter H. Ruehle
  • Court Administrator:
  • Stephanie L. Kerr

The court is open Monday to Friday except for federal holidays. The EOIR, Office of Legal Access Programs, has numerous self-help materials.

What the Executive Office for Immigration Review does?

“The primary mission of the (EOIR) is to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation’s immigration laws. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings.”

“The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) was created on January 9, 1983, through an internal Department of Justice (DOJ) reorganization which combined the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) with the Immigration Judge function previously performed by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (now part of the Department of Homeland Security).”

“Besides establishing EOIR as a separate agency within DOJ, this reorganization made the Immigration Courts independent of INS, the agency charged with enforcement of Federal immigration laws. The Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) was added in 1987.”

The Director of the EOIR is James McHenry who previously “served as a Deputy Associate Attorney General working on a variety of immigration-related litigation matters and overseeing multiple components reporting to the Office of the Associate Attorney General.”

Contact an immigration lawyer in Buffalo, NY to help represent you in any case before the Immigration Court.

Immigration Information and Resources for Buffalo, New York
The Buffalo, New York city center at dusk

Introduction

Buffalo, New York has long been a friendly destination for immigrants and refugees. According to the Partnership for the Public Good, while Buffalo has a low proportion of foreign-born residents compared to other cities, it has a high percentage of refugees.

The city has become one of the top places for refugee settlement in America. “From 2000 to 2010, the Buffalo-Niagara Metro Area saw a 33% rise in the foreign-born population, growing from 4.4% of the total population in 2000 to 6.0% in 2010.

Buffalo is located in Erie County. Nearly 10,000 refugees from war, natural disasters, and from prosecution resettled in Erie County from 2003 to 2014. Currently, the county “receives slightly over one-third of the total refugee flow into the state. Many refugees also settle in Buffalo from other parts of the United States.

Between 2003-2006, Canada (Buffalo is near the Canadian border across from Toronto) and Yemen were the leading countries of origin for foreigners. Between 2007 to 2012, most refugees to Buffalo came from Burma and India.

Between 2000 and 2013, the foreign-born population, ages 18 to 34, in the region grew by 75 percent – even though the national growth rate for that age group was just about 6 percent.

Beautiful african female student with group of international students outdoor in the city in the summer

Immigration and Students

The number of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students in the Buffalo Public School System has “increased from 2,539 in 2004 to 4,307 in 2014 with the number of languages spoken rising from 46 to 63.”

The variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes is another reason Buffalo is an attractive location for immigrants. Teachers and staff work to understand the traumatic experiences their children have gone through.

The top 10 languages spoken in public schools in Buffalo, other than English in 2014, were:

  1. Spanish
  2. Karen
  3. Arabic
  4. Nepali
  5. Burmese
  6. Somali
  7. Bengali
  8. Swahili
  9. French
  10. Other

In prior years, many students spoke Russian, Vietnamese, and Albanian.

Oldtimer Car

The history of immigration in Buffalo

According to Buffalo-Toronto Public Radio – New York, according to data from the US Census, has always been an attractive destination for immigrants. This is in part due to Ellis Island, one of the most heavily used entry points in the US. In the olden days, people who landed at Ellis Island traveled to Buffalo via the Erie Canal. Now they can reach Buffalo through public and private transportation.

Buffalo was originally laid out by the Dutch and was settled by northeastern Americans of English descent. New settlers in Buffalo were Germans, Irish, Poles, Swedes, Italians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, and Armenians.

Newer settlers came from Puerto Rico, Burma, Thailand, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Pakistan. African-Americans reached Buffalo as slaves and as free people. Many African-Americans came to Buffalo from the American South.

Currently, Buffalo “(mostly) recognizes and celebrates the contributions of its various immigrant groups.” May Shogan of the International Institute of Buffalo says, “Grant Street and Hertel Avenue are becoming more vibrant with a refugee and immigrant presence. You can travel the world in your own community. The world is changing.”

“In regard to the most recent refugee crisis in Syria, Shogan notes, ‘International events should be of interest to Americans and others in the world because we are affected by them.

We can’t turn a blind eye to the effects of our policies in other places. Our ancestors, in many cases, might have been considered refugees [rather than immigrants] because of the situations in their home countries.’”

A few notable developments in the line of immigration to Buffalo include:

  • 1800. Joseph Ellicott, employed by the Holland Land Co., begins plans to layout Buffalo.
  • 1830. Buffalo has 8,435 native residents of European descent, 48 foreign-born, and 178 free people of color.
  • 1840. Irish immigrants, escaping the famine, settle in the Flats and First Ward. German Lutherans also come to Buffalo.
  • 1850. Numerous German and Polish Jews arrive.1860 Over 1.6 million Irish-born people reside in the United States.
  • 1869. Jaime Nuno, a writer of the Mexican National Anthem, moves to WNY.
  • 1870. Polish immigration to Buffalo begins in earnest.
  • 1880. A wave of Ashkenazi Jews from diaspora settlements (Russia, Poland, Belarus) arrives in Buffalo, fleeing pogroms and economic hardship.
  • 1890. Italian immigration to Buffalo begins in modest numbers; Polish immigration surges.
  • 1892. Ellis Island opens in New York Harbor, replacing the outmoded Castle Garden. Immigrants find their way up the Erie Canal to Buffalo or overland through Pennsylvania and Canada.
  • 1900. Armenian emigration is sparked by anti-Christian pogroms in their homeland.
  • 1910. Three-quarters of Buffalo’s population is foreign-born.
  • 1915. Near East Relief forms in Niagara Falls to aid Syrians and Armenians after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
  • 1920. The African-American Great Migration is well underway, with those fleeing the Jim Crow south heading to northern cities for the hope of greater opportunity.1924. The Johnson Immigration Act drastically cuts immigration quotas.
  • 1925. More than 36,000 Armenians arrive in the United States between 1920 and 1930.
  • 1930. Italian settlement in Buffalo peaks at around 20,000; untenable farming conditions, few jobs, and economic disparity drive them.
  • 1934. International Institute becomes independent from the YWCA
  • 1942. The Bracero Program brings Mexican workers to the States to stem the agricultural labor shortage during WWII.
  • 1952. Puerto Rico becomes a US Commonwealth.
  • 1965. The Immigration Act is amended, removing specific nationality quotas, but still including a ceiling for entrance from the eastern/western hemisphere.
  • 1980. The Refugee Act passed, allowing those fleeing persecution to be classed differently than other immigrants, paving the way for Buffalo and other American cities to become home to large groups of immigrants from South Asia, Africa, and other areas.

Over 16,000 refugees have settled in Western New York since 2002.

Sign of Honorary Consulate General of France.

Consulates in Buffalo

Currently, there are several foreign representations/consulates in Buffalo. These are:

Czech Republic – Consulate

The consulate of the Czech Republic in Buffalo is located at 10545 Main Street and can be contacted by telephone on (716) 759 6078 as well as by email buffalo@honorary.mzv.cz and zavrel@meaus.com.

The hours of operations are weekdays between 9 am and 8 pm. The consulate may be closed on some US and Czech public holidays. The consulate services include:

  • Visa and passport processing
  • Document legalization
  • People should contact the office to confirm which consular services are currently available.

France – Consulate

Its consulate is located at 32, Admiral Road, and can be contacted by telephone on (716) 903 7441 as well as by email pascalsoar@aol.com. Inquiries about the hours and days of operation should be made in advance. The consulate doesn’t accept visa applications.

Germany – Consulate

The consulate is located at 135 Delaware Avenue and can be contacted by telephone on (716) 854 4010 as well as by email buffalo@hkdiplo.de and jcampbell@prattcollard.com.

The German consulate is open to visitors on weekdays – by appointment. Visitors should call for the exact hours of operation. The German consulate doesn’t accept visa applications. It does issue a passport and provides other consular services.

Italy – Consulate

The vice-consulate of Italy in Buffalo is located at 1201 Pine Avenue and can be contacted by telephone on (716) 856 3626 as well as by email viceconsolatobuffalo@gmail.com.

The hours of operation are between 10 am and 4 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – except for US and Italian holidays. “The vice-consulate may provide a range of consular services such as visa and passport processing as well as document legalization, but note that honorary consulates typically offer limited consular services.”

Buffalo City Hall, the seat for municipal government in the City of Buffalo, New York.

Buffalo City Hall – Office of New Americans Team

Buffalo City Hall is located at 65 Niagara Square. One of the services at City Hall is the Office of New Americans Team whose director is Jessica Lazarin. The Office was established by Mayor Byron W. Brown in April of 2015.

“Buffalo is the only city, outside of New York City, in New York state with an office dedicated to addressing the integration and well-being of the city’s growing refugee and immigrant population.”

“Director Lazarin develops policies that promote access to city services, including bringing resources to Buffalo that have been implemented by the New York State Office for New Americans.

She is the City’s contact for collaborative efforts addressing economic, educational, and vocational opportunities for the immigrant and refugee communities that also include the city’s incumbent Hispanic and African American communities.

Her office facilitates outreach to the community to promote access to already-existing programs and she looks to expand partnerships with Buffalo Public Schools, Adult Education programs, the City’s resettlement, and post-resettlement agencies and local organizations to address community needs.

She also facilitates the promotion of cultural events in the Buffalo and Western New York immigrant community, such as Immigrant Heritage Month and World Refugee Day.”

Sign of University at Buffalo at North Campus.

Colleges in Buffalo that attract international students

The three largest public post-secondary schools In Buffalo are:

The University at Buffalo provides International Student Services. These services include:

  • Helping new students
  • Immigration and status help for F-1 student, J-1 student, J-1 student intern, US visas, travel visas, J-1 scholars, H-1B employees, TN employees, and permanent residents.
  • Social security cards
  • Income Tax
  • Life in Buffalo
  • International orientation and welcome services

Buffalo State College provides international services. Erie Community College also provides international services.

The total enrollment of the three public institutions combined is approximately 54,000 students.

Private schools in Erie County, where Buffalo is located include:

Italian heritage festival

Ethnic Festivals in and around Buffalo

Ethnic festivals help people from all walks of life feel part of the Buffalo community. Information about many of these festivals can be found on their websites and social media pages. Some of the major international and ethnic festivals in Buffalo (there are adjustments due to the COVID-19 crisis), according to Only in Your State, are the following:

  • The Italian Heritage Festival. This festival is usually held over several days in mid-July. It will be moving to the Outer Harbors.
  • Buffalo German Festival. This festival takes place on Labor Day week on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga.
  • Buffalo Irish Festival. This festival takes place at the Outer Harbor from August 25-August 27. There’s also a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
  • Dyngus Day Festival. This celebration is held on the Monday after Easter in South Buffalo
  • Lebanese Festival. The Nickel City Smokers takes place at 2040 Wehrle Drive in Williamsville on July 28.
  • The Macedonian Festival Buffalo includes dance, music, and cultural exhibits. It takes place at 4785 Lake Avenue in Blasdell from July 10-12.
  • The Buffalo Greek Fest is hosted by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. There’s great Greek food and dance, “church tours, and special cultural exhibits from June 2-4 at 146 West Utica.”
  • Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade. The Parade is held on August 18-19. The parade starts from the City Hall Steps.
  • Taste of Diversity “is held on Grant Street on June 24th. This festival gives you an opportunity to try authentic cuisine from around the world, featuring vendors from Burma, Colombia, Iraq, Liberia, Poland, Puerto Rico, Sudan, and more!”
Business People Success Achievement City Concept

How immigration in Buffalo helps foster growth

One article in Buffalo News emphasized how immigration in Buffalo will help with the growth of the city. The article emphasized that Buffalo could become like its counterpart, Toronto, which has seen population and economic growth by making itself a destination for direct and secondary immigrants. Other US cities, such as Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Detroit, have also benefited from making their cities attractive to immigrants.

“The Pew Charitable Trusts reported earlier this year [2019] that more than a quarter of Philadelphians are immigrants or have a foreign-born parent. Their presence, it reported, is largely responsible for the city’s growth since 2006.”

Some Buffalo successes due to immigration are the neighborhoods in and near Grant Street, Hertel Avenue, and the Broadway-Fillmore area.

According to Dyssegaard Kallic (director of the Fiscal Policy Institute’s Immigration Research Initiative) and Eeva Hasset (executive director of the International Institute of Buffalo) “Somali, Burmese, Hmong and Bosnian refugee communities find jobs quickly and make substantial gains in income over time.

Three of the four refugee groups studied had higher rates of homeownership than U.S.-born families after 10 years. We should be recruiting people such as those.”

Buffalo should be attractive to immigrants because of its land values and comparatively low land values.

The Buffalo New story adds, “Buffalo is also a welcoming town. Its government, its service agencies and its residents are known for opening their arms to refugees and other immigrants. Here, we seem to understand the human imperative to help others and also that, in so doing, we help ourselves, as well.”

USCIS

USCIS offices

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has different offices for many different functions including the following offices which supplement the agency’s website.

  • Field Offices handle scheduled interviews and some types of applications. They also provide limited information and services that supplement those on the field office website.
    • The Buffalo Field Office is located at 306 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo NY. 14202. The office is open from 8 am to 3 pm, Monday-Friday.
  • Application Support Centers (ASCs) provide fingerprinting and related services.
    • The Buffalo ASC is located at 306 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. The office is open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday-Friday.
  • Asylum Offices handle scheduled interviews for asylum-related issues only
    • Buffalo asylum issues are handled at Newark. 1200 Wall Street West, Fourth Floor, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
  • Service Centers receive and process a large variety of applications and petitions.
    • The Service Center nearest to Buffalo is in Vermont.
  • National Benefits Center receives and processes a large variety of applications and petitions.
  • Our National Records Center receives and processes FOIA requests and applications for genealogy information.
Immigration Lawyers

Speak with an experienced immigration lawyer today

Herman Legal Group’s Buffalo office is located in Downtown Buffalo

We are generally open M-F from 8 am to 8 pm and Sat from 9 am to 2 pm. Please call first as the COVID-19 crisis affects our hours of operation and whether we meet with people at our office or remotely. We also have numerous offices in Ohio and in other states.

Know that the Herman Legal Group has the experience and skills to help you and your loved ones seek admission into the United States and seek a change of immigration status. We represent clients in agency hearings and adversarial proceedings.

Our lawyers speak different languages and understand different cultures. We work with the full range of immigration officials in Buffalo. Our lawyers and staff also help immigrants and refugees adjust to American and to Buffalo.

For help with any immigration issues including applying for a green card or a deportation hearing, call Herman Legal Group at +1-216-696-6170 or complete our contact form to speak with us.