To obtain free and secure assistance with immigration legal matters, don’t hesitate to contact the city’s immigration legal hotline at 800-354-0365 or 212-788-7654. The hotline is available from Monday to Friday, between 9 AM and 5 p.m. Otherwise, see other resources below.
Make the Road NY is community organization that helps people with legal services in the areas of immigration, housing, employment, and benefits for everyone. Call their main office in Brooklyn at (718) 418-7690 or see all of their offices (Bushwick (Brooklyn), Jackson Heights (Queens), Port Richmond (Staten Island), Brentwood (Long Island), and White Plains (Westchester)) addresses here.
The Immigration Defense Practice is a non-profit law firm that help the immigration consequences of involvement in criminal justice and child welfare systems.
Immigration attorneys are dedicated to defending people facing individuals deportation in Immigration Court. They also provide assistance with benefits such as adjustment of status, renewal of work permits and green cards, citizenship applications, asylum claims, and DACA.
If you or someone you know would like legal support regarding immigration, consider calling NDS at (212) 876-5500.
The Bronx Defenders, a legal aid organization, is based in the South Bronx and provides a range of services to clients and community members. Their lawyers represent Bronx residents in Criminal, Family, Housing, and Immigration Court proceedings.
If the police or child welfare agency (ACS) has contacted you and you do not have legal representation, consider calling the Bronx Defenders’ legal emergency hotline at 347-778-1266 or visiting their office at 360 161st Street, Bronx, New York. Learn more about their services by visiting their website at https://www.bronxdefenders.org/clients-community/help.
If you need help with someone who has been arrested or detained by ICE, call BD Immigration Practice at (718) 564-6290. If you need advice about your immigration status, contact the Immigration Practice at (718) 564-6290.
To learn more about your Brooklyn Defenders, visit their website at https://bds.org/get-help#ice-or-deportation.
Everyone who lives in New York City and is at least ten years old can get a free IDNYC card. Find out how to get one at https://a069-idnyconlineportal.nyc.gov/IOPWeb. Anyone in New York can get an IDNYC, no matter their citizenship, residency, visa, or legal immigration situation.
There are low-cost or free health services in New York City for New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance based on federal guidelines. Please see the options below.
NYC Health + Hospitals, also known as H+H, offers emergency care, general health care, check-ups, immunizations, and more. To reach the center closest to you, call 718-387-6407. To sign up for health care plans, such as the NYC Care program, call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273) or go to nyccare.nyc.
A free clinic is a private, non-profit, community-based group that helps low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people get medical care for little or no cost. They do this by working with other health providers paid by federal programs or using volunteer medical professionals. See a directory of clinics in the linked handouts below.
Manhattan cap4kids.org/newyorkcity/files/manhattan-affordable-care.pdf
Bronx cap4kids.org/newyorkcity/files/bronx-affordable-care.pdf
Brooklyn cap4kids.org/newyorkcity/files/brooklyn-affordable-care.pdf
Queens cap4kids.org/newyorkcity/files/queens-affordable-care.pdf
Staten Island cap4kids.org/newyorkcity/files/staten-island-affordable-care.pdf
Pregnant people can get free Medicaid care through the New York State Department of Health.
To learn more about Medicaid for pregnant people, go to access.nyc.gov/programs/medicaid-for-pregnant-women.
New York City manages a type of public insurance known as Child Heath Plus. Depending on your income, the amount you pay each month may be fully subsidized, somewhat subsidized, or not subsidized at all. The monthly fee however is capped at three children for bigger families.
Child Heath Plus
Your child is eligible for Child Health Plus if:
– It is less than 19 years old
– It is not eligible for Children Medicaid
– It cannot be covered by other health insurance
– It resides in New York State, no matter its immigration status
One of the good things about Child Health Plus is that there are no annual deductibles. You can also sign up your kid for it at any time of the year through the NY State of Health.
Learn if your child qualifies for either Medicaid or Child Health Plus at health.ny.gov/health_care/child_health_plus/eligibility_and_cost. For other questions, call this toll-free number: 1-800-698-4KIDS (1-800-698-4543), and ask about Child Health Plus or Children’s Medicaid. If you are hearing impaired, call the TTY number, 1-877-898-5849.
Union Square Eye Care
Receive excellent, thorough, and focused family eye care. Walk-ins, same-day appointments, and patients of all ages are welcome at the clinic. The facility offers sliding-scale services to those without eye insurance and takes Medicaid and most insurances. No patient is turned away.
Harlem Location. 1815 Madison Avenue@118th Street, New York, NY 10035 . Phone: 212-844-2020 | Fax: 212-844-1141
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Bus: M1, M116,M102 | Subway: 2,3,6 to 116th.
Schedule an appointment here.
Union Square Location. 235 Park Avenue South – 2nd(19th St), New York, NY 10003. Phone: 212-844-2020 | Fax: 212-844-8221
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm | Subway: 4,5,6,L,Q,N,R,W to 14th | Bus: M1,M2 or M3 to 18th St
Schedule an appointment here.
Find more information at www.usqeyecare.com.
Updated on May 16, 2024
Know that the public charge test only applies to certain programs and immigrants.
This information is an excerpt from and available at www.ilrc.org/latest-on-public-charge. Please find more details and resources at www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge/public-charge-resource.
Updated on May 21, 2024