IMMIGRANT PATHWAY Institute is a 40-hour training that covers a wide range of topics in immigration law and practice.

The class touches on every area of immigration law, including citizenship; family-based, employment-based, and other visas; inadmissibility and deportability issues; removal proceedings and defenses; asylum; and immigrant rights, as well as issues in legal practice, such as legal research; legal writing; interview skills; case management; and ethical responsibilities. Many students go on to apply for Dept. of Justice (DOJ) accreditation to practice immigration law.

Although all are welcome to attend, the class is specifically designed to serve advocates working through churches and other faith-based organizations and will cover topics such as biblical ethics of immigration practice and how to mobilize a church or denomination to serve immigrants. Please contact us for more information.

Although all are welcome to attend, the class is designed to serve advocates working through churches and other faith-based organizations and will cover topics such as biblical ethics of immigration practice and how to mobilize a church or denomination to serve immigrants. Please contact us for more information.

Format

• Online
• 5 weeks of content (April 10 – May 17 May 24, 2025)
• Take-home final exam due June 9 June 16, 2025.
• The class length has been extended one week to account for the Easter holiday. There will be no discussion groups on Easter weekend (April 17-19).

Cost

Registration

• For profit – $745
• Nonprofit – $645
• Immigrant Hope / EFCA – $520

Discounts for groups and returning students.

Curriculum* – $385+ (depends on options selected)

* The primary curriculum is A Guide for Immigration Advocates: A Comprehensive Immigration Practice Manual, published by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). Students order curriculum directly from the publisher at a discounted rate. The curriculum is available as a printed book or a PDF download. Price depends on options selected. Two or three students may share one set of curriculum but all will need access to it before, during, and after the class.

The ILRC is having technical issues with their website that may affect your ability to purchase or access curriculum. Please contact karla.hannant@immigranthope.org if you have issues getting access.

Expectations

To receive a Completion Certificate, students are required to:

• Read ILRC Curriculum units, either before or during the class (approx. 2-3 hours per week)
• Watch each week’s presentations before the scheduled Presentation Q&A discussion group session (approx. 5 hours per week)
• Complete each week’s quizzes and assignments before the scheduled Homework and Activities discussion group session (approx. 2 hours per week)
• Participate in all assigned discussion group sessions on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (3 hours per week)
• Complete the take-home Final Exam following the class with a passing score of at least 77/110 94/134 points.

Students who do not meet these requirements may still receive a Participation Letter from Immigrant Hope certifying their attendance and participation. Refunds are not available for students who do not receive a certificate.

Contact

This set of course modules guides students through the analysis and preparation of common family-based immigration applications. Modules may be completed in any order or combination on your own schedule timeline. There is no live instruction, only self-directed work with feedback from instructors.

This course is designed as a followup for a basic immigration law course, such as IMMIGRANT PATHWAY Institute. It will help prepare you for hands-on experience in an immigration legal program. The modules will teach you to analyze and fill out common family-based immigration applications. Using sample case files and other resources, you will find and fill out immigration forms, evaluate and attach supporting documents, draft cover letters, and compile complete immigration application packets.

Requirements

Basic understanding of immigration law is required. Students should have completed a 40-hour basic immigration law class, such as IMMIGRANT PATHWAY Institute, or equivalent training.

Content

• DACA
• Green Card Renewal
• Naturalization
• Family Visa Petition
• Consular Processing
• Adjustment of Status
• FOIA Request

Format

Content modules completed through Google Classroom.

Cost

• For profit – $100 per module
• Nonprofit – $50 per module
• Immigrant Hope – $40 per module
• EFCA – $40 per module

Expectations

To receive a Completion Certificate, students are required to:

• Submit all assignments.
• Complete revisions of assignments as requested by instructors.

Course modules are designed to require 3-8 hours each to complete. Actual time required will vary based on the module’s complexity and each student’s level of knowledge, experience, and technical ability. Refunds are not available for students who do not complete the assignments to the satisfaction of the instructors.

Modules must be completed within 6 months of registration.

Contact

Participants who meet the requirements receive:

• A Shadowing Case Log detailing the work completed
• Recommendation Letter(s) from supervisors
• Completion Certificate from Immigrant Hope listing modules completed

Skills covered

• Understanding common immigration applications
• Client interviews
• Case management
• Case documentation
• Filling out forms
• Preparing application packets
• Legal research
• Case analysis
• Legal ethics
• Representation relationships
• Communicating with clients
• Using case management software

Modules

• Cerenade ICM Skills
• Creating a Case File
• Legal Ethics
• Naturalization
• Green Card Renewal
• DACA Renewal
• Family Visa / AOS
• FOIA

Modules may be completed in any order or combination, depending on the needs of the trainee and availability of supervisors.

Cost

• $15 per hour for nonprofits
• $11 per hour for Immigrant Hope members

Costs are paid directly to the supervising Immigrant Hope center. There may be additional charges for housing, food, or other services.

Sign up

You can sign up for shadowing experience by contacting the supervising Immigrant Hope center directly. Work with the supervising center to determine content, schedule and payment.

Certified Shadowing Providers