“Migration matters, including receiving and extension of residence permits, employment and business opportunities in Latvia, health care, education and family reunification matters are the most popular topics of consultations among the foreigners, who contact our specialists for consultations,” Gunta Vīksne, the Head of the Information Centre for Newcomers (ICN) informs.
“In almost nine months of this year we have provided information and support to 642 foreign nationals* from 49 countries outside the European Union. Overall, this year we have provided 844 consultations, of which 814 in person, on different legal, education and employment matters.”
She indicates that until now nationals of India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Belarus required most support. “People, who received the first consultation, often contact us for assistance again.”
In order to ensure high quality communication with ICN customers, this year the centre has 26 translators and language specialists with knowledge of 14 languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Dari, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Turkish, Hindi, Tigrinya, Georgian, Sorani, Mongolian and Uzbek.
ICN invites to get free consultations by phone, e-mail or in person – applying for a visit in advance (this can be done on the website: www.integration.lv):
ICN Riga office:
Information lines: +371 25565098, + 371 28612120
E-mail: konsultacijas@integration.lv
Skype: PatverumsDM
Address: Lacplesa Street 75 – 1B, Riga
Additional information: +371 67898343
ICN regional focal point “Latgale” in Daugavpils:
Information line: +371 25723222
E-mail: ici.daugavpils@integration.lv
ICN regional focal point “Zemgale” in Jelgava:
Information line: +371 25719588
E-mail: ici.jelgava@integration.lv
ICN regional focal point “Vidzeme” in Cēsis:
Information line: +371 25719266
E-mail: ici.cesis@integration.lv
ICN regional focal point “Kurzeme” in Liepāja:
Information line: +371 25719118
E-mail: ici.liepaja@integration.lv
ICN began its work as a one-stop-agency on 18 May 2016. ICN Riga office operates as a coordinating centre in Latvia. It provides assistance in dealing with problems of a particular customer and supports the ICN focal points/branches in the regions (in Cesis, Jelgava, Liepaja and Daugavpils) with regard to provision of services, ensures professional support to service providers in all municipalities in Latvia, coordinates awareness and availability of services to various groups of immigrants.
The activity of the Information Centre for Newcomers within the framework of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund is ensured and developed by the NGO “Shelter “Safe House””. The centre is co-funded by the European Union. Grant Agreement No. PMIF/12/2017/2/01.
*A third-country national is a person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation.
Information prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Multimedia Communications Specialist, phone 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@integration.lv