Immigration Counseling

JVS Immigration Counseling Services assists refugees and immigrants in changing or adjusting their status in the United States, offering a wide variety of paralegal services to those who are trying to navigate through the sometimes intimidating and complicated procedures necessary to achieve United States citizenship.

The demand for immigration services in Kansas City and its surrounding areas is great. JVS feels that by providing these services that we are addressing the needs of immigrant communities.

The immigration process can be difficult and confusing experience. One of the goals of the Immigration Counseling Services program is to make the process as accessible and affordable as possible. We provide services with professionalism, experience and compassion. Since the Immigration Counseling Services program at JVS opened its doors in 1999, between 2,100 - 2,600 individuals per year have received services.



The services we provide include:

  • Family visa petitions
  • Diversity Visa
  • Family unity
  • Citizenship
  • Status adjustment for refugees & asylees
  • Applications for permission to work
  • Representation before INS
  • Asylum applications
  • Consular processing
  • Financial affidavits of support
  • Assistance with naturalization process
  • Section 245(I) applications
  • Petition waiver of grounds of excludability
  • Immigration & passport photos
  • Translation services for legal documents
  • Notary services

Both JVS and its immigration counseling staff are accredited by the United States Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review Board of Immigration Appeals to provide paralegal services in the areas of immigration and naturalization.

Appointments are available Monday-Friday from 8:00 am. to 4:00 pm. at our office at JVS, 1608 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108. For more information, please contact:

Mariana Omazic, Manager of Immigration Services, BIA momazic@jvskc.org or (816) 471-2808

Mohammed Badri, Immigration Counselor, BIA at mbadri@jvskc.org or (816) 471-2808


Additional Resources

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html http://www.adelantesi.com/Archive/June04/youandthelaw_eng.htm http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis http://www.mssu.edu/missouri/citizenship.htm http://www.uscitizenship.org/ http://www.immigration-usa.com/spanish.html