Dear Friends,

Here’s an update on Just Neighbors’ latest news as we continue our partnership with the immigrant community of Northern Virginia.

Client Story of the Month

Mary came to our office this month asking for help in applying for a green card.  She is an asylee from Pakistan.  Mary was granted asylum in the United States based on religious persecution; she is a Christian who proudly showed the photos of her baptism to us. 

Mary came to the United States via Saudi Arabia, where she had hip and knee replacement surgeries.  Unfortunately, the surgeries were not done well.  Mary is in pain now, uses a walker, and is scheduled for hip and knee replacement surgeries later this summer.  She had gone to a private law firm for assistance, but was unable to pay the fees when she became too disabled to continue working. 

Dear Friends,

Spring has arrived and Just Neighbors has been keeping busy as usual.  I want to share with you what we’ve been up to this past month. 

Client Story

The following client story was submitted by Priscilla North, a volunteer attorney who began working with Just Neighbors in March.

 Our 74 year-old Somalian refugee client first set foot in the with her daughter, son-in-law, and 5 grandchildren in 1997.   Though we generally don’t handle naturalization cases at Just Neighbors, this client is special.   She needs to be naturalized in order to once again receive Social Security benefits and Medicaid.  The law requires that these benefits end for a refugee after 7 years of living in the if that person does not naturalize.  In order to naturalize, a person must take and pass an English language exam and a History and Civics exam.  Tests are only given in English.  Our client, at 74 with dementia is unable to speak, read or write English.