More than 400 consultations have been provided to third-country nationals
10.02.2016. As of 1 October 2015, within the framework of the participation agreement concluded with the Ministry of Culture regarding the provision of integration support measures for third-country nationals*, including refugees and persons having the alternative status, the Society “Shelter “Safe House”” has provided more than 400 free consultations already.
Topics and issues that dominated the consultations were mainly related to the acquisition and re-registration of residence permits, entrepreneurship, tax system, family reunification. Every third client was interested in the opportunity to learn the Latvian language in parallel to issues of legal nature. Specialists indicate that the number of countries whose clients seek consultation has expanded. “October through December 2015, consultations were provided mostly to third-country nationals from Ukraine and Russia, whereas we also consulted clients from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Taiwan, Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel this year,” one of the organization’s consultants – lawyer Alvis Šķenders – points out. “People really appreciate the chance to receive support of our state – free consultations on social and legal issues –, therefore they use this service actively.”
The target group mostly chose to turn for consultations in person – more than 200 times, while more than 150 consultations were provided via phone. Clients have also used the option to ask their questions electronically (
Free consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: konsultacijas@patverums-dm.lv, as well as in person – at the premises of “Shelter “Safe House””, Lacplesa Street 75-9/10, Riga. The consultations are provided in Latvian, Russian and English.
Consultations are provided under the participation agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and “Shelter “Safe House” on 17 September 2015, on execution of certain public administration tasks for integration of third-country citizens.
*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation
Information was prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Communications and Social Media Expert, phone: 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com
Third-country nationals residing both in Latvia and abroad seek free consultations
12.01.2016. In December, free-of-charge lawyer consultations were most frequently used by citizens of Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan, indicate specialists of the society “Shelter “Safe House””. In total, 94 consultations were provided, 40 of them via phone, and 15 – by using e-mail. Calls were received from different regions of Latvia, as well as from Russia. While third-country nationals* residing in Pieriga (Jelgava, Ogre and Jurmala) mostly visited consultations on site – 39 consultations were provided. The largest interest was shown about residence permits, as well as about tools for proving means of subsistence.
Specialists say that there frequently occurred situations when issues to be solved during consultations were very specific and their topics were about entrepreneurship and the tax policy. The longest consultations in December lasted for more than two hours.
Lawyer Alvis Skenders (Alvis Šķenders) mentions the explanation process as the major challenge while giving consultations to third-country nationals. “Taking into consideration that some of third-country nationals come from Eastern countries, these people very often have a different understanding about various legal issues. We have to repeatedly discuss the same issue to ensure that the client has indeed understood the legal terminology precisely. During consultations, we often have to explain why exactly migration rules in Latvia are so complicated and why such procedures as proving means of subsistence are necessary”.
“Shelter “Safe House”” reminds that Free consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: konsultacijas@patverums-dm.lv, as well as in person – at the premises of “Shelter “Safe House””, Lacplesa Street 75-9/10, Riga. The consultations are provided in Latvian, Russian and English.
Aimed to determine the needs and satisfaction of third-country nationals with the received service, in the homepage of the society www.patverums-dm.lv there is created and available a client satisfaction survey.
Consultations are provided under the participation agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and “Shelter “Safe House” on 17 September 2015, on execution of certain public administration tasks for integration of third-country citizens. The agreement provides that, as of October 1, the society shall ensure integration support measures for third-country nationals, including refugees and persons having the alternative status. It is planned that during a four-month period within the framework of the agreement the needs of third-country nationals will be identified in order to improve the process of their integration in Latvia. Experts of the society inform that, during the four-month period, it is planned to identify the needs of third-country nationals to improve the process of their integration in Latvia.
*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation
Information was prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Communications and Social Media Expert, phone: 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com
Third-country nationals are using free consultations
10.12.2015. The society “Shelter “Safe House”” informs that specialists of the society have provided in total 102 consultations for third-country nationals* in November. Similar as in the previous month – the largest interest has been about residence permits and their extension, launching entrepreneurship, and the tax system in Latvia.
“Mostly the clients choose to meet and have a discussion on site, because in this case we can examine various documents brought by the client and related to the issues concerned,” tells one of the consultants of the organization - lawyer Alvis Šķenders. The highest proportion of clients represented such countries as Ukraine and Russia. The statistics show that in November in total 62 consultations have been provided on site, 36 – by phone, and 4 times the society has been addressed by e-mail.
A. Šķenders indicates that clients – third-country nationals, including refugees and persons with granted alternative status, mainly have obtained the information about the possibility to receive free social and legal assistance from the information placed by “Shelter “Safe House”” in October at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, and from non-governmental organizations, including minority societies.
Aimed to determine the needs and satisfaction of third-country nationals with the received service, in the homepage of the society www.patverums-dm.lv there is created and available a client satisfaction survey.
“Shelter “Safe House”” reminds that Free consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: konsultacijas@patverums-dm.lv, as well as in person – at the premises of “Shelter “Safe House””, Lacplesa Street 75-9, Riga. The consultations are provided in Latvian, Russian and English.
Consultations are provided under the participation agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and “Shelter “Safe House” on 17 September 2015, on execution of certain public administration tasks for integration of third-country citizens. The agreement provides that, as of October 1, the society shall ensure integration support measures for third-country nationals, including refugees and persons having the alternative status. It is planned that during a four-month period within the framework of the agreement the needs of third-country nationals will be identified in order to improve the process of their integration in Latvia. Experts of the society inform that, during the four-month period, it is planned to identify the needs of third-country nationals to improve the process of their integration in Latvia.
*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation
Third-country nationals are invited to use free consultations
16.11.2015, Riga. The non-governmental organization “Shelter “Safe House””, which, as of October 1, ensures integration support measures for third-country nationals*, including refugees and persons having the alternative status, within the framework of the participation agreement concluded with the Ministry of Culture , informs that their specialists have provided a total of 102 consultations on social and legal issues in October.
The greatest interest and most of the questions from the target group concerned such issues as: opportunities to learn Latvian; residence permits and other issues related to migration; child allowances; entrepreneurship, including registration of companies, tax system; employment relationship; divorce. Specialists of the organization indicate that, during the consultations, the necessary support has been provided also in writing letters and applications to public institutions, and explaining the information on accessibility of social services, and decisions of public institutions.
One of the consultants of “Shelter “Safe House”” – lawyer Alvis Šķenders – notes that, taking into consideration the different countries clients are coming from, most of the times the intermediary languages during consultations have been English and Russian. Most frequently, third-country nationals have wanted to receive consultations in person – 77 times in total. Consultations via telephone have been provided 23 times, whereas via e-mail – 2 times.
“Our practice shows that using an individual approach for resolution of social cases results in the most positive solution, therefore, it is very significant that the clients have an opportunity to receive such support from the state. It not only gives people a more in-depth understanding of their problem and helps to find an individual solution together with a consultant, but also provides an opportunity to obtain more information on their rights and opportunities in the Republic of Latvia,” indicates A. Šķenders and invites third-country nationals to be active and use this unique opportunity.
Free consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: konsultacijas@patverums-dm.lv, as well as in person – at the premises of “Shelter “Safe House””, Lacplesa Street 75-9, Riga.
Consultations are provided under the participation agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and “Shelter “Safe House” on 17 September 2015, on execution of certain public administration tasks for integration of third-country citizens. The agreement provides that, as of October 1, the society shall ensure integration support measures for third-country nationals, including refugees and persons having the alternative status. It is planned that during a four-month period within the framework of the agreement the needs of third-country nationals will be identified in order to improve the process of their integration in Latvia. Experts of the society inform that, during the four-month period, it is planned to identify the needs of third-country nationals to improve the process of their integration in Latvia.
*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation
Information was prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Communications and Social Media Expert, phone: 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com
"Shelter "Safe House"" starts implementing the task delegated by the state administration on the integration of third-country nationals
01.10.2015. Based on the participation agreement on carrying out certain state administration tasks for the integration of third-country nationals* signed between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and society “Shelter “Safe House”” on 17 September 2015, the association launches measures for supporting the integration of third-country nationals, including refugees and persons with alternative status, as of October 1.
It is expected that by 31 January 2016 society “Shelter “Safe House”” will provide information and regular consultations to third-country nationals and their family members on topical issues related to integration (education, employment, health care, etc.).
Consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: konsultacijas@patverums-dm.lv, as well as in person – at the premises of “Shelter “Safe House””, Lacplesa Street 75-9, Riga.
Experts of the society inform that, during the four-month period, it is planned to identify the needs of third-country nationals to improve the process of their integration in Latvia.
*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation
Information was prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Communications and Social Media Expert, phone: 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com