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Immigrant Resources

HRA helps over 3 million New Yorkers. To learn more about this work, read HRA's Guide to Immigrant Benefits.

Find forms and information in your native language below.

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Immigration Legal Services

Please call 311 to get more information on legal services.

Clients who are immigrants and who are concerned that they may be at risk of deportation may obtain free, safe immigration advice and assistance from: ActionNYC hotline at 1-800-354-0365.

If a family member or friend is detained and in need of a lawyer you may call: The Legal Aid Society’s hotline at 1-844-955-3425.

The City of New York also reaffirms its long-standing policy and commitment to protect the privacy of our clients and the confidentiality of client information pursuant to Federal, State and Local Law, as well as the policies of City agencies.

Public Charge Rule

On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule on 'public charge', providing clarity for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility.

The final rule took effect on December 23, 2022.

The rule restores the historical understanding of the public charge ground of inadmissibility: the reasons a person could be denied a green card, visa, or admission into the United States because they are found likely to become a public charge.

For more information, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resources page on public charge.

Public Charge Updates

New Yorkers with questions about public charge can call the City's Immigration Legal Services hotline. Call 800-354-0365, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and say "public charge" to access trusted information and connect to free and safe immigration legal help.

Language Access

DSS/HRA is committed to providing meaningful language access to all New Yorkers. We provide multilingual materials about critical services and information and provide free interpretation services to ensure effective communication with individuals with limited English proficiency.

The Language Access Implementation Plan explains how DSS/HRA/DHS will provide language access services to people who have limited English proficiency. It outlines our policies, procedures, and resources for ensuring meaningful access to our program and services. DSS/HRA/DHS Language Access Implementation Plan has been last updated on June 10, 2024. Read DSS/HRA/DHS Language Access Implementation Plan 2024 (PDF).

You can also read the DSS/HRA/DHS Report on Local Law 73 compliance in 2023.

If you have any questions or concerns about getting translation and interpretation services at DSS/HRA/DHS, please contact DSS/HRA/DHS’s Language Access Coordinator: Cheryl Wertz, Director of Language Access, wertz@dss.nyc.gov.

How to file language access complaints?  

You can file a complaint if you did not receive service from DSS/HRA/DHS, because of the language you speak. You can file a complaint anonymously and regardless of your immigration status.

You are not required to leave your name, if you want to be anonymous.

You can file complaints by:

  • Emailing the DSS/HRA/DHS’s Language Access Coordinator at wertz@dss.nyc.gov, or
  • Calling 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675)

It helps if you can provide this information:

  • What the problem was
  • When it happened
  • Who you spoke with
  • Office address you went to or the phone number you called
  • Language you speak

Google Translate disclaimer

The DSS/HRA’s website is provided in English. However, the "Google Translate" option may assist you in reading it in other languages. Please note that “Google Translate” cannot translate all types of documents, and it should not be relied upon for vital information. DSS/HRA does not guarantee the accuracy of the translation provided by this tool.

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