General Information
- Immigrant life -
This well organized website guides you through "what to do" when applying for Social Security number, driver's license, bank account, credit card, telephone service, health/auto insurance , filing US taxes and other aspects of immigrant life.
- Citizen Guide ( New York State) -
This NYS official website finds you short answers to common questions, and links you directly to a wealth of state services grouped by categories.
- Everyday life in America -In plain English this Westchester/Queens Library website explains to new immigrants the basics of everyday American life from computer technology, money matters, education , law, to US Government and more.
Consumer Protection
- Consumer Help - Prepared by New York State Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection, this website advises consumers of their rights in dealing with auto issues, computer/internet issues, credit & lending, health, housing, family and other general consumer concerns.
- Consumer Action - This website provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center provides advice and steps to take when shopping for goods and services, list of Federal Agencies where consumer complaints can be filed.
- NYS Professions Online Verifications -This online verification website allows searches of licensees by name (within a profession) and by license number; searches on pharmacies, professional business entities, and professional discipline actions.
- Consumer Products/Services - Comparisons and choices on phone and internet services, insurances, debt consolidated loans, credit reports. Narrow search by State and Area Code.
Driver License
- Driver License - Driver licenses, learner permits, non-driver photo ID cards, road test schedules and site locations, driving classes, international driving permit, everything a new driver needs to know.
- Driver's Manual - An online new driver study guide including test practice.
- Local DMV Offices - Find office locations and hours of operation. Listed in alphabetical order by county.
- Driving Courses - Accident prevention techniques, safe driving courses in the Newburgh area.
Education ( Adult/Community Education) & Language
- Language Proficiency - Classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship courses, high school equivalency preparation in English and Spanish. SAT prep courses, 5-hr driver's course. Classes are free or at a minimal charge, available in the Newburgh School District.
- Language Proficiency - Orange County Community College website for classes in English as a second language, defensive driving , plus programs in professional development and continuing education.
- Proliteracy Program - Search for literacy program (ESL tutorial classes on a one to one basis) in your local area.
- Vocational Training - Orange-Ulster BOCES website for a broad variety of classes in vocational training, classes range from automotive to building construction, computer drafting, notary public, health and safety and more.
- Test Practice & Learning - Online test practices and course resources in college and graduate school entrance exams, real estate, Teacher Certification, GED, cosmetology, TOEFL, US Citizenship and more.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - Online registration, practice online. Portions of the website are available in Espanol, Francis, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese. \
- GED -- General information, Testing schedules updates, application for testing, eligibility requirements, GED Exam in French and in Spanish.
- Translation dictionaries online - Links to over 3500 bilingual and multilingual dictionaries and glossaries available free online, links to translator associations world wide, and free online translation.
- Free Translation - An easy to use site for rapid translations from English to Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Norwegian and vice versa.
Employment
- Labor Department (NY) - This State Labor Department official website leads you to local Labor Department, job openings, career planning, resume guidance, job training opportunities, counseling, unemployment insurance, worker protection and other employment services.
- Job Search - This American Job Bank website allows you to access job listings by selecting a job category and a location.
- Interjob Search - Prepared by the Middletown Thrall Library, this well organized website offers you access and links to everything you need to know in job hunting, including links to resume writing, local employment, interviews and other job options.
- New York State Licensed Professions - This NYS Education Dept. website lists NYS licensed professions, license requirements/application forms, online license verifications, information on state boards, and links to state and national professional associations.
- Social Security - Information on how to apply for the social security number and card, change of name on card, card replacement, social security benefits, and on-line application forms.
Health
- US Dept of Health &Human Services Resources Locators - This comprehensive and well-organized website allows you to narrow the search to local areas on a broad variety of health topics including child care, nursing homes, physician directories, health care facilities, health insurance, Medicaid and Schip (State Children Health Insurance Program) criteria for immigrant eligibility.
- Local Health Insurance Plan Providers - This website links you to information on individual/family health insurance, short term /small business group health insurance, and health insurance coverage plan providers in Orange County of NY.
Housing
- Home Buying & Home Shopping -This US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website informs you of your rights as home buyers or first time borrowers; buy vs rent, local government grants, home buying programs, responsibilities of the mortgage service providers. (Text also available in Spanish)
- Mid-Hudson Real Estate - This site allows you to locate houses for sale, and apartments for rent in the Hudson Valley area.
- Real Estate Search -This website from the Times Herald Record Classified Ad allows you to search housing by city and price.
- Mortgage Rate -Home loan mortgage rates from local banks and financial services.
Immigration & Citizenship
- U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service - A comprehensive website on immigration information with links to immigration services and benefits programs, immigration laws, regulations, immigration forms, green cards and citizenship, case status, processing dates. Text is also in Spanish.
- Visa Application - Information on how to apply for the US permanent and temporary visa.
- Citizenship classes - Free classes for those planning to become US citizens. Text available in Spanish.
- Immigration Courts in NY - US Dept. of Justice website on immigration review, links to frequently asked questions, immigration courts in NY, and a list of free legal service providers.
- Immigration Law - Easy to find and easy to understand information on immigration law from the Legal Database.com, links to Green Card Lottery, immigration attorneys, legal terms, legal forms, training programs for the law practitioners, plus links to advocate groups, US Census Bureau and more..
- Immigrant Weekly - This on-line weekly updates immigrants/advocates/lawyers on new immigration laws and legislation, government policies, issues and concerns that may affect immigrants. Free subscription.
Law and Lawyer
- Find a Lawyer - Lawyer search by city and state, and practice area . Links to cases and codes, forms, legal subjects, state and federal laws.
- Law Help for Low Income Immigrant Families - List of resources in 22 foreign languages (from Arabic to Urdu) to help low-income immigrant families solve legal problems on health care, housing, immigration and naturalization, public benefits ( food stamp programs) , tax credits and more.
- Martindale-Hubble Law Directory - The leading and authoritative law directory website to locate lawyers by practice areas and locations. Dispute resolution centers and their locations.
- Public Resources - New York State Bar Association guidelines on selecting a lawyer, and filing grievances against lawyers, lawyer referral service and pro bono programs available in your area.
Local Information
- Living in Rural Orange County - This Cornell Cooperative Extension website provides new residents with access to resources in Orange County and offers insights on rural living. Additional links to information on recreation/culture, nature, public utilities, transportation , schools and libraries.
- Newburgh Free Library Local Resources - This comprehensive library website leads you to a wealth of information in the mid-Hudson area grouped by categories: from local colleges, school districts to airports, local attractions and recreations, counties and municipalities, plus links to New York City.
- Orange County Resources - This easy to use website allows you to search Orange County information by categories from local attractions and events calendar to local schools and colleges, libraries, lodging, news media, publications, stores, transportation, and weather. Also links to Hudson Valley Guide and tourism in NY State.
- Orange/Rockland County Resources - An easy to use website leading to key information in all aspects of living in Orange and Rockland Counties including education and school districts, emergency numbers, hospitals, restaurants, transportation, real estate, special events and more.
- RECAP Program for the Low Income Families - This Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP) website helps low income families in Orange County to locate local programs and services on supportive housing, home energy conservation, health insurance, employment and more.
- Shortline Bus - Bus schedules for service in Orange and Sullivan Counties, plus commuter service to New York City.
- Metro-North Railroad - Port Jervis to Hoboken train schedule. Links to NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Long Island Bus, and Metro-North Railroad schedules.
News & Media
Regional Library Resources & Resources in Multi-languages
- New Americans Program - Established by Queens Borough Public Library in Queens, NY, the Program is to provide special services to the region's new immigrants, it includes an international language collection, resource guides on multicultural web sites, immigrant-serving agencies for various ethnic groups.
- World Link - Presented by Queen's Borough Public Library, this web-based international information resources can be accessed in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, French, Korean, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Its local resources link up to services in the NYC area for different ethnic groups.
- Glossary of Library Terms in Multi-language - Designed to serve international students and scholars, the Glossary presents a list of commonly used library terms in 6 languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Japan, French, and Spanish) with definitions in English for each term.
- Governments on the web - Comprehensive database of governmental institutions on the world wide web.. Data are compiled in the country's native language.
- Social Security Online in Multi-language - Public information materials translated into several languages from Arabic to Chinese, French, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and others. Free interpreter services on request available, call 1-800772-1213, Mon-Fri, 7AM-7PM.
- Online news in 8 foreign languages - This MIT Library website allows you access online domestic and foreign news in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
- Voice of America - Minute by minute news update online in English and 45 different foreign languages .
Special Interests Groups
- Asian Women¡¦s Alliance for Kinship & Equality
P.O.Box 275
Taliman, NY 10982
Tel. 845-368-2011
Chinese
- Chinese American Cultural Association of Rockland, Inc.
P.O.Box 2033
New City, NY 10956
Tel. 201722-1478
- Chinese Association, Orange County (OCCA)
- Chinese Language Materials from Regional Libraries - More than 350 Chinese language items including books, videos and audios available from the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) and the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS). Subject search for "Chinese language materials", or search by Authors / Titles using Pin-Yin transliteration.
- Chinese Art and Literature - A primary online resource for comprehensive information on Chinese culture and heritage. Topics arranged from A-Z with emphasis on Arts, Classics, History, Literature, Science, Religion. Also included are maps, dictionaries, language, medicine , and travel.
- Chinese Language Information Page - A comprehensive navigational tool pointing you to Chinese language related resources : Chinese Classic Literature, Educational Resources, Software Programming, Radio Broadcasts (from Hong Kong), Viewing and Listening to Chinese, Chinese Bookstores around the world and more.
News in Chinese Language -
http://chinese.news.yahoo.com
http://www.gov.tw/news/can/
http://www.chineseworld.com/
http://www.bbcchinese.com
http://www.cnd.org
- http://www.cnpedia.com/pages/knowledge/baserule.htm
OTHERS
- Filipino Association of Rockland
14 Doscher Ave
West Nyack, NY 10994
Tel. 845-358-2777
- Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization (HACSO)
32 Grove St
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel 845-352-8096
- Hispanic Coalition of Rockland County, Inc.
49 W Broad St, Ste 3
Haverstraw, NY 10927
Tel. 845-429-1100
- Hispanic Speakers
- India Association of the Catskill Region
P O Box 93
Middletown, NY 10940
Tel 845-342-6199
- Sons of Italy - Rockland Lodge #2176 (Organization of Italian Culture)
46 Van Wyck Rd
Blauvelt NY
10913
Tel. 845-359-5899
- Jamaican Civic and Cultural Association of Rockland, Inc. (JAMCCAR)
147 N Main St
P.O. Box 1727
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel. 845-425-7327
- Japanese Community Association of Mid-Hudson
Konbit Neg Lakay Inc. (Haitian non-profit organization)
25 N Madison Ave
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel. 845-425-4623
- New to Nyack
Friends of the Nyacks
Mail to:as.dutt@verizon.net
Tel. 845-480-4622
- Polish Heritage Club
367 Mount Eve Rd
Goshen NY 10924
Tel. 845-651-7505
- R&M Promotions (Latinos cultural events)
- Tolstoy Foundation (Human rights/ethnic Groups)
104 Lake Rd
Valley Cottage NY
10989
Tel. 845-268-6722
- Warwick Newcomers Club (Social group to help new comers to make friends)
16 Andrew Ct
Florida NY 10921
Tel. 845-651-2308
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