INCREASED ELIGIBILITY OF COFA MIGRANTS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), Citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau have the right to live and work in the United States. On March 9, 2024, federal legislation restored full public benefits for COFA migrants living in the United States. These are in areas related to health insurance, unemployment, FEMA disaster relief, subsidized housing including Section 8 rental assistance, SNAP, WIC, Social Security disability and retirement, and state financial assistance.
Download the PDF to read more.
Download the PDF to read more.
| increased_eligibility_for_cofa_migrants.pdf |
Homeland Security will accept an unexpired passport and I-94 record as proof of identity and lawful presence for citizens of the Freely Associated States under the REAL ID Act.
"Homeland Security will accept an unexpired passport and I-94 record as proof of identity and lawful presence for citizens of the Freely Associated States under the REAL ID Act. New policy goes into effect 09/04/2019. This means citizens of the Freely Associated States do not need an Employment Authorization Document to obtain a driver's license or state ID."
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/04/2019-19024/designation-of-real-id-identity-documents-for-citizens-of-the-freely-associated-states-unexpired
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/04/2019-19024/designation-of-real-id-identity-documents-for-citizens-of-the-freely-associated-states-unexpired
Important documents for citizens of the Freely Associated States
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Employment Authorization Document
Citizens of the Freely Associated States may apply for a work permit, or Employment Authorization Document, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") for free. The application is called the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Please click on the link below to access the application on www.USCIS.gov. You cannot apply in person. Residents of Hawaii must mail their applications to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox, P.O. Box 21281, Phoenix, AZ 85036. The application, including renewals, is free for Citizens of the Freely Associated States.
Presentation for Service Providers
Please contact HIJC Managing Attorney Rebecca Leibowitz at (808)380-5236 or [email protected] if you would like to host a legal workshop. We've provided training for service providers and community groups, including Nations of Micronesia, Parents and Children Together, and West Hawaii Community Health Center.
Language Access
You have the right to be informed of or participate in and benefit from services, programs, and activities offered by Federal or State government agencies and organizations that receive money from the Federal or State government, even if you cannot speak, read, write or understand English well. Under language access law, when people who have trouble with English use these services, programs and activities, the government agencies and government funded organizations must help you by providing free language access services, such as interpretation, and in some situations, translation.
Mei wor om Pwuung omw kopwe sinei ika pachenong, ika tufich seniekkei pekin aninnis mei kawor seni pekin Mwuu Nap (Federal) ika mwuun State ir mei angei moni seni Mwuu Nap ika Mwun State inamo ika kese tongeni kapas, annea, makeiika wewieti kapasen Merika. Ika aramas rese weweiti kapasen Merika fansoun arkuta aninnis seni ekkwe nenien aninnisir mi nounou moni seni kofemen, pochokunen ewe Annukun Awora Chiaku non fosun nenier (Language Access Law), ekkewe nenien aninnisrepwe awor chon chiaku rese kamo ngenir awewe ren chiaku iwe pwan awewei kapas non fosun fonuer.
Jelājimwe ko am einwōt juōn LEP. Ewōr am jimwe im maroñin jelāak bed im bōk jibañjen program ko kajojo einwōt Federal im State agency ko kab organization ko im rej bōk aer jāān in jibañjen Federal ak State government, jekdôôn ñe kwōjjab maroñkōnono, read, im jeje ak melele kajin pālle. Lumin language access kakien eo, ñe armij rejjab melele kajin pālle ñan bōk jibañ, pād ilo program ko im makitkit ko, ra ko ilo kien im droulul ko kien ej lelôk jāān ñan er aikuj jibañeok lewaj ilo ejelôk wōnān ri-ukok ilokōnono im jet ien, jeje.
Mei wor om Pwuung omw kopwe sinei ika pachenong, ika tufich seniekkei pekin aninnis mei kawor seni pekin Mwuu Nap (Federal) ika mwuun State ir mei angei moni seni Mwuu Nap ika Mwun State inamo ika kese tongeni kapas, annea, makeiika wewieti kapasen Merika. Ika aramas rese weweiti kapasen Merika fansoun arkuta aninnis seni ekkwe nenien aninnisir mi nounou moni seni kofemen, pochokunen ewe Annukun Awora Chiaku non fosun nenier (Language Access Law), ekkewe nenien aninnisrepwe awor chon chiaku rese kamo ngenir awewe ren chiaku iwe pwan awewei kapas non fosun fonuer.
Jelājimwe ko am einwōt juōn LEP. Ewōr am jimwe im maroñin jelāak bed im bōk jibañjen program ko kajojo einwōt Federal im State agency ko kab organization ko im rej bōk aer jāān in jibañjen Federal ak State government, jekdôôn ñe kwōjjab maroñkōnono, read, im jeje ak melele kajin pālle. Lumin language access kakien eo, ñe armij rejjab melele kajin pālle ñan bōk jibañ, pād ilo program ko im makitkit ko, ra ko ilo kien im droulul ko kien ej lelôk jāān ñan er aikuj jibañeok lewaj ilo ejelôk wōnān ri-ukok ilokōnono im jet ien, jeje.
Need Help? Contact the Hawaii immigrant justice center at Legal Aid at (808) 536-4302!
