FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs for Students
Can I still access your services if I am not Hispanic?
YES! We provide services to immigrants from everywhere regardless of ethnicity, religion, nationality, or ability to pay.
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Can I still access your services if I am not Catholic?
YES! - All are welcome! We provide services to immigrants from regardless of ethnicity, religion, nationality, or ability to pay.
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How do I get help if I don’t speak Spanish or English?
Hogar staff speaks a number of different languages. If you speak a language that is not spoken on staff, please bring a translator with you when you come to the office.
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What should I do if I have more questions?
Call the Hogar Immigrant Services office at (703) 534-9805 or (571) 208-1572. We are here to answer all your questions!
FAQs for Volunteers
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Who will I teach?
The majority of our adult students are from Central and South America, but we also have representatives from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
What will I teach?
You will be teaching English that is used in everyday life.
Citizenship teachers and tutors will teach practical history and civics information about the naturalization interview and test to help immigrants pass the test, become citizens, and integrate more fully into their communities.
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When will I teach?
Classes are held mornings, evenings and weekends. You let us know when you are available.
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Where will I teach?
Classes are held at 13 sites throughout the Diocese of Arlington, including various parishes and the Hogar office. We make every effort to place teachers at sites that are convenient for them.
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What is required to be a teacher?
Volunteers must:
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be reliable
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be at least 18 years of age
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be proficient in the English language.
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Do I have to be bilingual to teach English?
No. In fact, we encourage our bilingual volunteers to speak only English in the classrooms to maximize students’ exposure to the language they came to learn.
Do I need previous teaching experience?
No. Just a positive attitude! Hogar Immigrant Services provides training.
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What training is involved?
Teachers are required to take a Boot Camp training, our six-hour orientation workshop. Teachers are strongly encouraged to take at least an additional four hours of training, either through Hogar Immigrant Services or another recommended organization. Teachers receive notices on free trainings in the Hogar monthly email newsletter.
How long am I expected to volunteer teach?
We ask volunteers to commit to one academic year (two semesters).
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What resources are available to help me with my teaching?
The Education Services office is open from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and we are available to answer questions and provide support. We have a library of ESOL resource materials available to our volunteers and copying facilities as well. We offer periodic trainings at which teachers are provided with teaching materials.
Can I do something else besides teaching?
You can work with the Education team in our Manassas office. We often need help with administration, advertising and outreach. We especially need bilingual (English/Spanish) volunteers to provide class information to prospective students over the phone.
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Why should I volunteer?
Give back to your community! Serve those in need. Reach out and change someone’s life by helping them advance in US society. It is also a great opportunity to meet other wonderful people who care, like you!
How many hours do I volunteer each week?
This varies depending on the volunteer position you are interested in and how much time you are able to give. To find out more about the opportunities available go to the Get Involved section.
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What volunteer positions are available at Hogar Immigrant Services?
We need volunteers in both Education Services and Legal Services. All of these positions are essential to the program. Take a look at the descriptions in the Get Involved section and tell us which you prefer.
Why do I have to enter my volunteer hours?
Because all of Hogar’s grants require us to collect information on how many hours are donated by volunteers and Catholic Charities tracks in-kind donations. The more hours we have, the better our chances of continuing to receive the necessary resources that allow us to serve our clients.
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Legal FAQs
How do I start an immigration case with Hogar Immigrant Services?
The legal staff of Hogar Immigrant services meets with potential new clients by appointment only; please see our Legal Services page. All potential new clients must first make a consultation appointment before their case will be considered for representation. Returning clients must contact their case worker to make an appointment.
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My family member is detained, what can I do?
Hogar Immigrant Services does not take on cases of individuals in detention. CASA of Maryland has put together a great list of instructions for how to find your family member if they have been detained. See their How do we find them? Locating someone in detention in the MD/ DC/ VA region flier. CAIR Coalition, a non-profit organization located in Washington DC may also be able to assist you. They are located at 1612 K Street NW, Suite 204, Washington DC 20006 and their phone number is 202-331-3320.
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Where can I find immigration forms online?
You can visit the website of US Citizenship and Immigration Services at http://www.uscis.gov/. You should NEVER pay for immigration forms. The forms themselves are always available free of charge.
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Does Hogar Immigrant Services do translations?
YES! However, this service is limited to clients who have a current case open with our office. In this context, Hogar does provide translation services at an accessible fee for birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and baptismal certificates from Spanish to English to clients that currently have an open case with our office.
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Is my priority date current?
First, you need to know what your priority date is, where you were born, and what your petition category is. Then you can check this month's Visa Bulletin on the Department of State's website.
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How can I get a green card?
Everyone's immigration situation is very different and Hogar Immigrant Services suggests seeking the advice of an immigration attorney or an accredited Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) representative to discuss the particulars of your immigration case. To learn more about the steps to becoming a Green Card holder (lawful permanent resident), you may consult the USCIS Green Card guide.
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How can I become a U.S. citizen?
To learn more about naturalization, visit Hogar's Naturalization page.