Work Authorization Clinics

IFCLA hosts quarterly Work Authorization (EAD) clinics, which support eligible asylum seekers in applying for a work permit and social security number. These documents benefit the entire family, not only expanding opportunities to secure employment but also avenues to apply for additional documents such as a Missouri driver’s license, state ID, and other resources that require a valid social security number, which are unavailable to undocumented immigrants in Missouri. Work authorization leads to increased access to employment and a path to leading healthy, stable lives.

Since its inception, IFCLA has helped 119 people apply for and obtain work authorization.

While our hope for the families we accompany who have had a work permit for over a year is that they’ve been able to secure greater financial stability, we also recognize that for asylum-seeking immigrant and mixed-status families who fall below the poverty line, several obstacles to a financially-stable, safe, and dignity-filled life remain. These underlying racial inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well, further complicating the situation for many. As such, through work application renewal efforts, we will operate on a case-by-case basis to offer partial fee support to each applicant.