Immigration in Putnam County, NY
Immigrants in Putnam County
Putnam County, NY is home to nearly 100,000 people, about 14% of whom were born outside of the United States. Being a mostly rural county, it contains access to abundant and beautiful nature, but it is also one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. The largest towns and cities include Carmel, Kent, and Philipstown, which contains the popular village of Cold Spring.
One of the most dramatic examples of immigration in Putnam County is the village of Brewster, where nearly half of the local community was born abroad, particularly in Guatemala. Like nearby Poughkeepsie and Newburgh, this influx of new community members has helped to stabilize the local population, which had been trending downward. Delicious Guatemalan and Mexican restaurants and grocers line Main Street, such as El Pueblo and La Guadalupana, and you’ll be able to enjoy dishes like tortas (sandwiches), guisados (stew), and arroz con leche (rice pudding).
Religion in the Hudson Valley
In nearby Kent, visitors from around the world come to Putnam County to meditate, reflect, and pursue inner peace at the Chuang Yen Monastery. In operation since the 1980s, the Buddhist temple is known for having the largest indoor Buddha statue in the western hemisphere.
The United States has long prided itself on the freedom of everyone to practice their faith, and the immigration system recognizes this through the R-1 visa. Through this program, religious leaders can work in the U.S. at places such as the Chuang Yen Monastery, or otherwise at churches, temples, mosques, and elsewhere. The visa is open to religious workers from different faiths, for example monks (Buddhism), ministers and priests (Christianity), rabbis (Judaism), and imams (Islam).
Chuang Yen also hosts retreats and educational programs hosted by Buddhist leaders. For such short-term, temporary events, the U.S. also allows for visitors to utilize the B-1 temporary business visa. The B-1 visa expressly allows visitors to come to the U.S. to participate in educational conventions on specific dates, making it a helpful visa for religious leaders who wish to visit the Hudson Valley from abroad.
Putnam County Immigration Lawyer
If you live or work in Putnam County and are looking into your immigration options, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney. Please get in touch today: +1 845-288-2435 / beaconimmigrationlawyer@gmail.com.
Beacon Immigration PLLC is a law firm located in the Hudson Valley of New York at 6 Eliza Street, Suite 5, Beacon, NY 12508 (Dutchess County).