WorldFest Update
 WorldFest is Louisville's premier international festival and is rapidly approaching! WorldFest 2024 will be held from August 30 - September 2. More details will be released in the coming weeks about specific events, but if you are interested in participating in the WorldFest Parade of Cultures or the Global Village, please fill out the forms below.
The Parade of Cultures will be held on August 31 at 12 p.m. and the Global Village days are Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.
WorldFest kicks off Welcoming Month in Louisville, and you can scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter to see a list of events for September.
+ Journey of Success - August 2024
Jose Neil Donis has an urgency to start something. Upon his arrival in Kentucky, he looked for opportunities and realized that he saw an abundance of Spanish media in LA but little presence in the Louisville area. He was an early entrepreneur, influencing the start of a Spanish language newspaper, Hoy en las Americas. “I knew a need was there and I thought, why not start my own?”
To read about Jose's Journey of Success, and many of our past Journeys, click on the button below.
News Updates
+ Sweet Havana hosts festival to celebrate Cuban culture in the Highview neighborhood
 The inaugural Los Carnavales de sweet Havana was held in the Highview neighborhood at the Sweet Havana. The festival celebrated Cuban culture, along with food, music and dance. The Office for Immigrant Affairs helped to organize the event, which also distributed back-to-school resources.
+ FAFSA Summer Hotline is Now Available!
 KHEAA is here to help you complete your 2024–2025 FAFSA before the college school year starts! From now to August 15, they are offering a FAFSA Hotline from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Thursday.
Hotline Details:
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Phone Number: 888-452-7322
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Hours: 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET, Monday – Thursday
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Dates: Through August 15
Services Offered:
- Live, expert assistance on your FAFSA
- General financial aid questions
- One-on-one assistance from KHEAA Outreach Counselors
- Option to leave a voicemail and receive a return call
Key Benefits:
- Free service
- Available for college-bound students of all ages
- Get help with tricky 2024–25 FAFSA questions
+ Sign up for LENSAlert in Multiple Languages
Sign up to receive emergency alerts on your cell phone!
Text "LENSAlert" to 67283
Policy Updates
+ Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Lebanon
On July 26, 2024, President Biden announced and authorized DED for eligible Lebanese nationals. This announcement means that for the next 18 months, eligible individuals will not be deported to Lebanon. Eligible individuals from Lebanon will also be able to apply for a work permit.
+ Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Palestinians
On February 14, 2024, President Biden announced and authorized Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Palestinians. This announcement means that for the next 18 months, eligible individuals will not be deported to Palestine. Around 6,000 Palestinians are eligible to benefit from DED designation nationally. The main eligibility criterion for DED for Palestine is continuous residency in the U.S. since February 14, 2024. Other eligibility criteria related to public safety and national security.
Individuals with questions about eligibility criteria should consult with an immigration attorney. DED announcements often coincide with suspension of certain requirements related to F-1 visas (student visas), designed to make it easier for students to comply with the requirements of their visa. Students who have questions about whether these changes might affect their F-1 visa should reach out to their campus contact or consult with an immigration attorney.
+ USCIS Begins New Process for Paying Application Fees at a Field Office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will start requiring most applicants, attorneys, and accredited representatives to pay the fees for forms filed at a field office by mail or remotely, instead of in person at a field office.
USCIS receives most of its immigration benefit requests through a Lockbox or a service center. However, in limited instances, it may receive a USCIS form through a local USCIS office. To file a form or pay a fee at a local office, applicants, petitioners, and requestors must schedule an appointment in advance with the USCIS Contact Center and physically visit a field office to make certain application fee payments. USCIS is changing that process.
Beginning Feb. 1, 2024, there will be three methods for paying fees to USCIS for field office filings:
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By mail with credit or debit card. Applicants, petitioners, or requestors may mail a check or Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, to the field office and no longer need to make an appointment and appear in person.
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Emergency Form I-131 filings. Applicants submitting Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with an emergency advance parole request must still apply in person, after making an appointment through the USCIS Contact Center, with their form packet (including any applicable payment and supporting documentation) and pay their application fee by credit card with Form G-1450 or check at the field office once approved.
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EOIR filings by representatives. Attorneys and accredited representatives can now process payments for the Executive Office of Immigration Review and Board of Immigration Appeals through a link provided in an auto-reply email from the USCIS Contact Center. Attorneys and accredited representatives must mail in their client’s EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from a Decision of a DHS Officer, their EOIR-27, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Pay.gov receipt to the field office once the payment is processed.
Events
+ Join the Louisville Language Café!
 Looking to meet new people and learn a language in a relaxed setting? You’ve found the right place! Join us to learn Spanish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese on Tuesdays, and Arabic, Somali, French, and Korean on Thursdays.
Event Details:
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Dates: Every Tuesday and Thursday from now until September 12
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Next Sessions:
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July 30 & Aug. 1: Abol Cafe, 102 1/2 Cannons Lane
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Aug 6 & 8: KIWA, 2235 Frankfort Avenue
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Languages Offered:
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Tuesdays: Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese
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Thursdays: Arabic, Somali, French, Korean
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Format: Each language group will have a facilitator to teach you the basics of the language and culture.
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Locations: Hosted by a different immigrant-owned café each week, featuring delicious snacks and refreshments.
Highlights:
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No experience needed: Come to one session or all eight weeks.
- Free and open to the community
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Presented by: The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund, in partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Kentucky Refugee Ministries.
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Support provided by: Moka & Co (formerly Haraz), Safai @ Logan Street Market, Ziba’s Bistro, Kiwa, and Abol Cafe.
To reserve your spot, email monica.lakhwani@louisvilleky.gov.
We look forward to seeing you there!
+ Networking Nights
 You are invited to join the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods for the upcoming Networking Night!
Networking Nights are an opportunity to get to know some of the change-agents doing great work in Louisville. This event, there will be guests from Interfaith Paths to Peace, Boys of Color Rise, and OSHN’s Anti-Violence Coalition Neighborhood Updates.
This is a great opportunity to get plugged into violence prevention work, learn about resources, and meet others working towards a better Louisville. Food and refreshments will be served!
Date: July 31
Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: 1720 W Broadway
+ Louisville Back to School Events
  The start of the 2024-25 school year is just around the corner! There are a number of events coming up next weekend to help students and families prepare with free school supplies. Take a look to see if you want to attend.
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Saturday, Aug. 3:
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10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Lighthouse Academy of Newburg
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10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Thomas Jefferson Middle School
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11 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center & Life Development Corp.
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Sunday, Aug. 4:
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10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: New Birth Church at Cane Run Elementary
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11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: St. Stephen Church
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2 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Meyzeek Middle School
+ Join the World Affairs Council (WAC) at any of their upcoming Summer Series events
 Through August 22, 2024
Join the World Affairs Council (WAC) at any of their upcoming Summer Series events! WAC's programming is crafted to cultivate global-mindedness and connectivity in Kentucky and surrounding regions. They focus on creating inclusive and accessible experiences that cultivate transformed leadership among youth, business and community leaders, and educators. Participate in WAC's events and become part of a community dedicated to fostering global understanding and belonging for all.
Remaining Events:
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Aug 8: Career Panel
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Aug 14: Great Decisions
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Aug. 22: Speaker Event - Ernest Scheyder
+ Welcoming Month Events
 Welcoming Month kicks off with WorldFest, and continues for the next six weeks. Stay tuned to the Office for Immigrant Affairs page and our newsletters for updates and more information.
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