The founders of Borderwise, that startup from Philly Startup Leaders’ accelerator program that offers online immigration advice, decided they couldn’t stay idle in the face of #MuslimBan, so they’re offering low-income families guidance through the green card application process for just $1.
Immigrants from households making under $30,000 a year who have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent or child and are eligible to apply for permanent residency, can reach out to the company by emailing team@borderwise.co to have access to a pro bono attorney, legal consultations and the online platform to fill out the application. It’s estimated that some 300,000 low-income immigrants are eligible for a green card.
“All proceeds from the special offer will go to nonprofits working in the immigration sector,” the company said in a press release. “The initiative is in response to increasing pressure on immigrants in the current political environment.”
Cofounder and immigration attorney Jeremy Peskin explains just how tricky the process is: “A green card application can require 40 pages of paperwork on over twelve different forms,” Peskin told Technical.ly. “For immigrants that aren’t fluent in English and can’t afford $3,000 in legal fees, this is a real problem. Our usual fee is affordable, but we want to make sure we’re not leaving anyone behind.”
