Maui County’s Immigration Services Division will end some services on Dec. 1, including the accreditation of immigration applications, because employees certified to accredit applications are retiring — and will not be replaced.
Esther Yoo from the Legal Clinic, a nonprofit immigration and naturalization service, says immigrants will now have to rely on services from neighboring islands.
Nonprofits such as the Legal Clinic, Catholic Charities, and Pacific Gateway can offer remote services. Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi's Maui branch is the only nonprofit with immigration accreditation services located on the island. Nonprofits offer their services for free or at a low cost.
There are also private immigration attorneys located throughout the island.
"It’s a loss to the community that the Maui County immigration office won’t be providing services," Yoo said.
The Maui County Immigration Services Division will continue to provide free immigration forms and referrals.
Other services ending on Dec. 1 include but are not limited to the following: I-90 Renewal or Replacement of Permanent Resident "green" card, I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (EADs), I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, and N-400 Application for Naturalization (citizenship).
