• Comprehensive and compassionate resettlement services
• Case management
• Advocacy, immigration and asylum counseling
• Legal services
• Volunteer recruitment to help refugees build new lives in our community |
You are welcome to visit the SOAR office at:
2906 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97232.
Phone: (503) 284-3002
Email: soar@emoregon.org |
SOAR is recognized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as a provider of legal services. Counselors in the SOAR office assist with a broad range of immigration related issues and applications including green cards, travel documents and citizenship. For additional information, please contact one of the SOAR immigration counselors by calling (503) 284-3002.
Translation Services:
SOAR staff can translate in English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Ukrainian and Bosnian. We charge an average of $40 per page for translation and $10 per notary stamp. Depending on the type of document, the cost may be greater or smaller per page, but the notary cost is always the same. You do not need to be a SOAR client to have a document translated at SOAR. Please allow one week for translation to occur. Payment must be made before translation is done, and all proceeds go to our Emergency Client Assistance Fund.
Education:
SOAR also provides global and cultural education to help raise awareness in the local community about refugees and immigrants and the lives they were forced to leave behind.
For more information about how refugees immigrate to Portland through SOAR and to learn more about one refugee’s experience, read the July 2002 Voice article on page 4. The featured story is about a refugee who fled religious and political persecution in his native country, and with the help of a friend and SOAR, found a local Portland church to sponsor him to the United States.
You, your church, friends or community organization can help resettle an individual or family. Sponsors create a hospitable environment for refugees and provide for material needs upon their arrival to the United States. Sponsors also help refugees find affordable housing, greet refugees at the airport, help with transportation, be a friend in time of need and assist with other tasks necessary to a new life.
SOAR welcomes donations for newly arriving refugees. Items in high demand include:
• small couches
• tables and chairs
• lamps
• dresser drawers
• dishes, pots, pans and silverware
• men’s clothing
• toiletries (soap, toothpaste, deodorant, towels, etc.).
• towels and wash cloths
• bed linens, warm blankets, pillows
• diapers
All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
Volunteer opportunities:
• Sponsor refugees
• Acquaint refugees to American culture
• Tutor ESL
• Pick up refugees from the airport
• Research housing options for refugees
• Accompany clients to appointments, either on public transit or with private vehicle.
• Donations Coordination: Solicit and pick up donations, and help to maintain the orderliness of SOAR's donation storage areas
• Contribute money to help meet emergency financial needs
For more information about SOAR or volunteering for SOAR, call (503) 284-3002 or e-mail soar@emoregon.org.
SOAR Legal currently has attorneys and Accredited Representatives on staff to provide low cost immigration representation to immigrants and refugees in application processes such as:
• Legal Permanent Residency
• Travel Documents
• Family-based Visas
• Temporary Protected Status and Asylum counseling.
• Family reunification (read article about SOAR Immigration's efforts to reunite families)
• Affidavits of Relationship
• Affidavits of Support
• Employment Authorization
• Naturalization to United States Citizenship
SOAR may also do inquires to the Immigration Service about the status of a pending case, including requesting copies of immigration files.
All Accredited Representatives are Notaries.
SOAR Legal's “Cuban Haitian Assistance Program” (CHAP) grant has been renewed to 2013. Funded by the Department of Human Services Refugee Program, the CHAP program will increase outreach and enrollment efforts and expand self-sufficiency support services.
The Cuban Haitian Assistance Program specifically assists Cubans and Haitians during their transition of acclimating to the U.S. work culture with employment support services. CHAP also offers citizenship and naturalization workshops, crime and victimization prevention services, and mental health services. SOAR Legal continues to focus on serving the law-related needs of the broader refugee and immigrant communities.
For more information about SOAR Legal, call (503) 284-3002 or e-mail cvanderharten@emoregon.org.
You are welcome to visit the SOAR office at 2906 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97232.
Phone: (503) 284-3002
Email:
soar@emoregon.org
