TAMPA BAY – As part of its initiative towards addressing pertinent issues facing Caribbean Immigrants, the Caribbean Coalition of Associations Inc. (CCOA Inc.) a non-profit organization will be hosting an Immigration Town Hall Meeting for the growing Caribbean-American community in the Tampa Bay area on Thursday September 25th, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N.22nd St. in Tampa.
The CCOA envisions that people of Caribbean descent in the Tampa Bay region will unite and take collective action to empower themselves to enhance the destiny of Caribbean people in the Tampa Bay area and in their respective island nations and thereby improve the quality of life for all.
The forum will focus on, but will not be limited to the following:
– Number of Caribbean deportees being returned to the various islands and reasons for deportation
– Number of Caribbean immigrants living in South & Central Florida and their status (if available)
– Benefits of U.S. Citizenship vs. permanent residency (green card)
– Visas –challenges faced by students (International & Student visas)
– Visas- benefits and limitations of work related visas
– Role of the Caribbean Consulates in assisting Caribbean immigrants in the U.S.
There will be a group of panelist which will be allowed to address the audience and will be followed by an interactive question and answer session.
