Immigrant Success
Whether you have DACA, TPS or are undocumented, we value all students, period. From scholarship opportunities to finding community, the Immigrant Student Success Initiative is here for you with guidance and resources, regardless of your immigration status.
As the nation’s largest urban public university system, CUNY is dedicated to educating and advocating for the immigrant students and families who make up the lifeblood of our city and state. Find guidance and resources to help you stay safe and focused, no matter your citizenship status.
Contact Us
646-313-8064
ImmigrantSuccess@guttman.cuny.edu
Contact us for referrals to the resources below, and sign up to receive our newsletter.
Immigrant Student Success Liaisons
CUNY colleges have designated staff to help you on campus. Guttman’s immigrant student success liaisons are here to help you with questions about scholarships, plan community events, advocate for our undocumented students and much more.
Sarina Harty, Student Success Advocate
646-313-8071
Sarina.Harty@guttman.cuny.edu
Dana LePage, Associate Director of the Connect Center
646-313-8064
Dana.Lepage@guttman.cuny.edu
Jessica Portilla, Financial Aid Specialist
646-313-8839
Jessica.Portilla@guttman.cuny.edu
Grizzlies Beyond Borders
Grizzlies Beyond Borders is Guttman’s immigrant and ally student group. A safe place for Guttman immigrant students and allies to make friends, support one another and help create resources for the immigrant community at Guttman and beyond.
Email Jessica Portilla at Jessica.Portilla@guttman.cuny.edu to get involved.
Scholarships
If you don’t qualify for federal financial aid, funding your college tuition might seem daunting. You don’t have to pay for college on your own. There are many scholarships available to you, regardless of your immigration status.
- The Cornelis and Angela Klein Scholarship – Available only to Guttman students, the Klein Scholarship is CUNY’s “full-ride” scholarship for students who are unable to submit the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) due to ineligibility related to immigration or citizenship status. The Klein Scholarship is a 2-in-1 scholarship, meaning that you receive tuition and fees support and up to $500 in a scholars grant for books/supplies. You may be in your first year or a continuing student, part time or full time. We understand the importance of privacy; the Scholarship Committee reviewing your application will not know your name or any of your contact information.
Deadline: June 20, 2024
Apply here: 2023-2024 Cornelis and Angela Klein Scholarship Application.
Maximum Award: Up to $2,596.45 in city tuition + up to $500 in books and supplies (Scholars Grant)
Timeframe: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Contact Jessica Portilla , Immigrant Student Success Liaison at jessica.portilla@guttman.cuny.edu or 646-313-8839 for more information.
- José Peralta New York State DREAM Act – Gives undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered grants and scholarships that support higher education costs. If you attended or graduated from a NYS high school, attended an approved NYS high school equivalency program or received a NYS equivalency diploma, you may be eligible.
Call 1-844-833-7129 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.), email NYSdream@applyISTS.com or chat by logging into your HESC ISTS student account.
- Dream.US Scholarship – Covers tuition and fees up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree. Please note: Some scholars may be eligible for an additional stipend of up to $4,000 (or $1,000/year) for books, supplies and transportation. The award is renewable each year; you simply must meet the continuing eligibility criteria. You’re eligible to apply if you came to the U.S. before November 1, 2015. GPA and test scores and considered, but emphasis is placed on demonstrated commitment to community service and your ability to overcome barriers and challenges.
Contact Sarina Harty at Sarina.Harty@guttman.cuny.edu or 646-313-8071 for more information.
- You can also check out this list of scholarships and fellowships, curated by Immigrants Rising, which don’t require proof of U.S. citizenship.
Career Pathways
Depending on your immigrant status, you may have special strengths and face unique challenges in your career journey. The Immigrant Student Success Initiative hosts valuable career planning events, provides important resources and encourages your networking journey.
Obtaining an ITIN
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a powerful tool for undocumented immigrants. They can be obtained by any individual who is not eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). It does not offer work authorization. Some benefits include opening a bank account, filing and paying taxes, obtaining a home mortgage, pursing career opportunities via independent contracting, freelancing or starting a business and participating in paid internships and fellowships that are open to ITIN holders. Currently, the time to receive an ITIN after applying is approximately 2-3 months.
Career Options for Undocumented Students
Independent contractors/freelancers are self-employed and contracted to provide services for others as a non-employee. A contract signed by both parties clearly defines the contractor’s pay duties, type of project, etc. You need an ITIN to provide services and pay taxes.
Business owners are generally structured as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), using an ITIN or SSN. They have access to capital and business insurance, can hire employees and have a protected identity. There are over 823 undocumented entrepreneurs.
Worker cooperatives are businesses structured as LLCs. Members own and manage the cooperative, which means they invest in the business and vote in decision making. The cooperative operates according to a set of principles.
Disclosing your Status to Employers
Throughout the job search and hiring process it is important to provide information that is true and authentic; however, you ultimately get to decide whether to share your status.
DACA
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) gives protection to certain people who entered the U.S. as children that meet guidelines set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If you have DACA, it allows you to apply for a driver’s license, social security number and work permit, and it offers deportation protection.
DHS announced a final rule to continue the DACA program under the current policy, effective October 31, 2022. Under the file rule:
- If you were granted DACA before the court decision on July 16, 2021, you will continue to have DACA if you renew it on time.
- If you currently have DACA, you can renew it. You can also request and receive advance parole. For assistance, email dream@legal-aid.org.
- USCIS will continue to accept the filing of new requests for DACA and employment authorization, but they won’t grant these requests.
The Immigrant Student Success Initiative has helped me apply for valuable scholarships and provided access to the community pantry whenever I need it.
– Derick Cacho
Liberal Arts and Science
Citizenship
Being a U.S. citizen is a privilege and something many immigrants aspire to be. There are four fundamental ways to become a US Citizen: citizenship by birth in the U.S., citizenship through derivation, citizenship through acquisition and citizenship through naturalization.
How to apply:
- Complete Form N-400 “Application for Naturalization” online by following step-by-step instructions.
- Print, sign and send your mistake-free application after an expert review.
- Pay the USCIS fee and receive your U.S. document by mail.
If you are a current student at Guttman, you may be eligible to receive an emergency grant toward your citizenship application fee.
CUNY Citizenship Now offers free, high-quality, and confidential immigration law services to help you and your family on your path to U.S. citizenship. They will assess your eligibility for legal benefits and help you apply if you qualify.
Health Care and Insurance
Immigration status shouldn’t be a barrier to having Health Care and Health insurance. There are different plans that you may be eligible for, including if you are undocumented.
| Immigrant Status | Medicaid | Essential Plan | Child Health Plus | Family Planning Program | Emergency Medicaid | Pharmacy Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualified Immigrants | X | X | X | X | ||
| Temporary Residents with NYS residency | X (some) | X | X | X | ||
| PRUCOL | X | X (most) | X | X | ||
| DACA | X | X | X | |||
| Undocumented pregnant woman | X | X | X | X | ||
| Undocumented youth < 19 | X | X | X | |||
| Undocumented adults | X | X | X |
Applying for or getting Emergency Medicaid or full Medicaid will NOT affect your ability to apply for legal status and is not reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Legal Services
If you have immigration-related questions such as obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship, or defending against deportation, there are nonprofit organizations that provide free, high-quality, and confidential immigration law services.
ActionNYC – Free, safe immigration legal help, regardless of immigration status, for a range of cases like citizenship, green card applications and renewals, asylum, DACA and TPS.
Coalition for Immigrant Freedom – Free telephone or video consultations on immigration-related matters.
CUNY Citizenship Now – Free, high-quality and confidential immigration law services to help you and your family on your path to U.S. citizenship. Paralegals and attorneys will assess your eligibility for legal benefits and help you apply.
Immigrant Defense Project – Free legal services for immigrants affected by the criminal justice system or facing detention or deportation.
Legal Aid Society – Urgent legal services to reunify families and assist you, if you are a low-income immigrant, in obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship and defending against deportation.
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation – Free legal assistance with naturalization/citizenship applications, DACA applications, Battered Spouse Waivers, Temporary Protective Status petitions and other forms of immigrant relief.
Unlocal – Free legal advice and representation to immigrant communities throughout New York State on their immigration-related matters.
Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a life-saving immigration status that allows foreign nationals to remain in the U.S. if during the time they were in the U.S. something catastrophic happened in their country of origin preventing their safe return (e.g., war, famine, natural disaster or an epidemic). TPS allows people to work legally and be protected from deportation.
Countries currently designated for TPS:
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Somalia
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Know your Rights with ICE
All people in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, have rights under the U.S. Constitution and other laws. You can’t always control whether you will encounter immigration or law enforcement. Understanding what your fundamental rights are and how to use them will help you advocate for yourself and respond appropriately if you encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Red Cards are like helpful business cards that you can hand to an officer if they approach you in public or that you can slide under your front door if they knock and begin to ask questions. Red cards are printed with your constitutional rights and are a statement that you are exercising your right to remain silent.
Download and print your Red Card
Hotline available to anyone impacted by ICE raids:
New York State (NYS): 800-566-7636
Outside of NYS: 212-419-3737
Call Monday-Friday 9 .am.-8 p.m. Calls are anonymous/confidential and are answered in different languages. Not affiliated with U.S. citizen and immigration service. No legal advice is offered.
Asylum Seekers
Asylum is a form of protection from persecution meaning you are protected from being returned to your home country. Asylum seekers must navigate a difficult and complex process that can involve multiple government agencies; the following resources can help.
Once you are granted asylum you can:
- Apply for lawful permanent residency after one year and then after four years, apply for Citizenship.
- Be authorized to work in the United States.
- Apply for a Social Security card.
- Request permission to travel overseas.
- Petition to bring family members to the United States.
- Apply for eligible government programs, such as Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance.
Asylum Assistance and Resources
If you are an asylum seeker who has just arrived in New York City through the U.S. Southwest Border on or after January 1, 2022, you can get free and confidential help at the Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center.
For newly arrived migrants to NYC Pro Se Plus Project is a collaboration of several immigration legal services providers that aim to address some of their unique needs.
ActionNYC offers free legal assistance for your asylum case — call 800-354-0365 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.).
If you are under 21 years old and need legal assistance for your case, call the New York State New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.). All calls are confidential.