New to the United States
Immigration
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processes all immigrant and non-immigrant benefits provided to visitors of the United States, including:
- Family-based petitions - assisting the process for close relatives to immigrate, gain permanent residency, work
- Employment-based petitions - assisting the process for current and prospective employees to immigrate or stay in the U.S. temporarily
- Asylum and Refugee processing - ruling on asylum and the processing of refugees
- Naturalization - approving citizenship of eligible persons who wish to become U.S. citizens
- Special status programs - ruling on eligibility for U.S. immigration status as a form of humanitarian aid to foreign nationals
- Document issuance and renewal - including verification of eligibility, production and issuance of immigration documents.
Federal, State & City Government
USA.gov - U.S. Government Official Web Portal - Services and Resources. If you need help finding a federal program or service call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).
Maryland.gov - The official website for the State of Maryland
Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Immigrant & Multicultural Affairs, providing:
- Information about Deferred Action for the Parents of Americans (DAPA) in English or Spanish
- Links to online resources about President Obama's November 20th, 2014 immigration announcement in English or Spanish
English Classes
List of Baltimore Classes and Tutoring
Directory of Maryland Adult Education Program/Classes from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Maryland Schools and ESL Programs
Education
How to Get a GED in Maryland - Information about how to get a high-school equivalency qualification.
Maryland Public Libraries Directory
Maryland State Department of Education (MDSE) - features detailed plans for the state school system, Maryland Report Card, and websites for educators, parents, and students.
Employment
Catholic Charities - Maryland and Catholic Charities - Washington D.C. - Provide extensive support for people new to the United States, including employment placement assistance.
Enoch Pratt Free Library Job Seeker's Toolkit - Comprehensive links to employment and training opportunities in Maryland, as well as guides to the application process, writing a resume & preparing for an interview.
Maryland Workforce Exchange - The Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s Maryland Workforce Exchange offers a starting point for Marylanders looking for a job or a career. Sections include: Seeking Jobs; Employer Services; and Career Planning.
Health Resources
Healthcare Access Maryland - Assisting Maryland residents to enroll in health insurance.
Health Coverage for Immigrants - Health care rules and options for immigrants.
Intercultural Counseling Connection - Resources for refugees in Maryland.
Maryland Health Connection - Health Insurance marketplace for Maryland.
Housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental assistance information.
Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Legal Help
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Resource Center - Flyers, posters, videos and brochures about immigration in different languages, such as How to Find Help When Applying for an Immigration Benefit
Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division - provides mediation services to consumers to help resolve complaints.
National Immigration Legal Services Directory page for Maryland. Directory of non-profit free or low-cost legal services.
Resource Directories
Maryland 211 - Access information about health and human services resources online or by telephone.
Maryland Community Services Locator - A directory of community agencies and resources in Maryland, including services for those who are new to America.
Transportation
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) - information about driver's licensing, and vehicle registration in Maryland.
Maryland Transit Administration - Information about public transportation in Maryland.
Maryland Transportation Resource Information Point (TRIP) - Provides information to plan a journey by public transport in Central Maryland.
Ask Us
If you would like more information, please visit us, email us through our Ask-A-Librarian service, call us at (410) 396-5320 or mail your question to:
Social Science and History Department
Enoch Pratt Free Library
State Library Resource Center
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore MD 21201