Citizenship for Us A Handbook on Naturalization & Citizenship

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1 Citizenship for Us A Handbook on Naturalization & Citizenship Principal Writer Contributing Writers, Editing, and Production Contributing Writers Aliza Becker Laura Burdick Jeff Chenoweth Emily Butera Hilary Binder-Aviles Yimeem Vu Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. Available online at

2 CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK, INC. (CLINIC) In 1988, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) established CLINIC as a legally distinct 501(c)(3) organization to support a rapidly growing network of communitybased immigration programs. CLINIC s network originally comprised 17 programs. It has since increased to 173 diocesan and other affiliated immigration programs with 260 field offices in 48 states. The network employs roughly 1,200 attorneys and accredited paralegals who, in turn, serve 400,000 low-income immigrants each year. CLINIC and its member agencies represent low-income immigrants without reference to their race, religion, gender, ethnic group, or other distinguishing characteristics. As a supporting organization, CLINIC trains and mentors local programs, assists in management issues, provides guidance on accreditation of non-attorneys, organizes funding proposals, updates local programs on the law, and administers national projects. For more information, visit the CLINIC website at by Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. 5 th Edition, August 2008 All rights reserved. U.S. Government use unrestricted. Sections of this book may be reproduced for noncommercial educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is made. Published Printed in the United States of America. This document was prepared with funding from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. CLINIC is very grateful for the funders support, while noting that the opinions expressed in this document are CLINIC s and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the funders. The contents of this book should not be construed as legal advice and are not a substitute for the services of legal counsel. Photo Credits Front cover: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Back cover: Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. Pages 1 and 343: Jal Schrof. Pages 2, 11, 23, 26, 79, 122, 124, 126, 151, 213, 221, 223, 224, 231, 245, 267, 271, 299, 307, 312: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pages 3, 268, 328: Esmael Husseini. Page 4: Congressional Office of Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Pages 7, 49, 252, 270, 331, 345: LAURA SIKES. Pages 13, 95: Jeff Chenoweth. Pages 21, 61, 119, 255: Aliza Becker. Pages 24, 256: Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries. Pages 25, 276: Mandy Morgan. Pages 52, 149: Catholic Charities Hogar Hispano of Falls Church, VA. Page 62: Catholic Charities of Dallas. Page 76: Vietnamese Community of Orange County, Inc. Pages 123, 226: Catholic Charities of San Diego. Page 129: John Binatta. Pages 132, 133, 138 (all except Ben Franklin), 140, 142, 150, 152, 153, 157, 158, 164, 165, 169, 171, 172, 177 top left, 184, 347: Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. Page 176: Congressional Office of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Page 177 top middle: Office of Media Affairs, The White House. Page 181: Michel Ducille / The Washington Post. Page 183: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society, photographed by Steve Petteway. Page 188 middle: Fairfax County Public Schools. Page 188 bottom: City of Phoenix Police Department. Page 192 top: Biljana Marjanovic. Page 192 middle, 349, 351, 353: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office. Page 192 bottom: Emily Butera. Page 279, 326: Paula Endo. Page 304: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Page 323: Jo Marcel Vu. Page 332: National Immigration Forum. Page 344: Diana Mejia. Page 354: Juan Rivera. Page 360: Office of Senator Mel Martinez. ii

3 Table of Contents Introduction and Acknowledgments...vii 1 The Citizenship Decision...1 Benefits of Becoming a United States Citizen... 2 Family-Related Benefits... 2 Full Civic Participation Benefits... 4 International Benefits... 5 Public Benefits... 6 Other Benefits... 7 Dual Citizenship... 9 Challenges in the Process Native Country Concerns Citizenship Requirements...13 How Naturalization Requirements Are Decided You May Already Be a Citizen Naturalization Requirements Summary Naturalization Requirements Up Close Be at Least 18 Years Old Be a Lawful Permanent Resident for Five Years Have Made the United States Your Continuous Residence for Five Years Have Been in the United States For at Least Half of the Five Years Pass a Test on English Pass a United States History and Government Test Special Testing Rules Exemptions and Waivers Due Consideration Special Consideration Reasonable Accommodations Have Good Moral Character Some Good Moral Character Problems Understand and Accept the Oath of Allegiance to the United States Have No Citizenship-Related Legal Problems A. Naturalization Information for Military Personnel B. Sample Letter Requesting Due Consideration in Testing C. Sample Civics Questions for Elderly Applicants D. Sample Letter Requesting Criminal Record from FBI E. Form G-639, Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request iii

4 3 Overview of the Process...49 Step 1: Decide if You Should Apply Check that You Meet the Naturalization Requirements Review Possible Legal Problems Review Possible Testing Problems Get Help from a Citizenship Legal Professional Different Kinds of Citizenship Help How to Choose a Good Legal Professional Working with a Legal Professional Protection Against Misrepresentation Step 2: Complete the N-400 Application Package Fee Waivers Step 3: Prepare for the Interview and Test Step 4: Get Fingerprinted Step 5: Go to the USCIS Interview Step 6: Take the Oath of Allegiance A. Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative...86 B. Fee Waiver Request Form C. USCIS Questions and Answers on Expedited Processing D. Naturalization Interview Document Check List E. Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision Filling Out the N Overview Form N-400 with Instructions Part 1. Your Name Part 2. Information About Your Eligibility Part 3. Information About You Part 4. Addresses and Telephone Numbers Part 5. Information for Criminal Records Search Part 6. Information About Your Residence and Employment Part 7. Time Outside the United States Part 8. Information About Your Marital History Part 9. Information About Your Children Part 10. Additional Questions Part 11. Your Signature Part 12. Signature of Person Who Prepared This Application for You Part 13. Signature at Interview Part 14. Oath of Allegiance iv

5 5 The Citizenship Test The New Citizenship Test The English Language Requirement The History and Government Requirement Preparing for the Test Test Preparation Study Guide A. Reading Vocabulary B. Writing Vocabulary C. USCIS Scoring Guidelines for the English Test D. 100 Civics Questions The Interview USCIS Interview Appointment Notice Documents to Bring to the Interview Tips for Interview Preparation People You Can Bring to the Interview Description of the Interview Tips During the Interview USCIS Officer: Expectations and Problems Beginning the Interview Finishing the Interview Sample Interview A. Form AR-11, Alien s Change of Address Card B. Affidavit for Marriage C. Sample Selective Service Status Information Letter D. Form N-652, Naturalization Interview Results E. Form N F. Sample Denial Notice The Disability Waiver and Accommodations English and Civics Testing Exemptions Eligibility for the Disability Waiver The Disability Waiver Process Professionals Who Can Certify Your Disability Completing the Form N After Completing the N Reasonable Accommodations Disability and the Oath of Allegiance A. Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions B. Accomodations Request Form C. Section 504 Complaint Form v

6 8 Citizenship for Children vi Overview of Citizenship for Children Acquisition of Citizenship Documenting Birth Abroad Derivation of Citizenship Certificate of Citizenship Naturalization of Children A. Acquistion Chart B. Derivation Chart C. USCIS Fact Sheet on the Child Citizenship Act of D. Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship The Naturalization Oath Ceremony After the Interview Preparing for the Oath Ceremony The Ceremony After the Ceremony Revocation of Citizenship Expatriation A. Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony B. Certificate of Naturalization C. Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document Now that You Are a Citizen Getting a United States Passport Bringing Family Members to the United States Registering to Vote A. Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport B. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative C. Sample I-130 Approval Notice with Priority Date D. Visa Bulletin E. Sample Letter to Upgrade Status of Relative Practicing Citizenship What is Civic Participation? Civic Participation Activities Before Naturalization Voting Serving on a Jury Serving on Government Boards and Commissions Running for Office A. Learning Activity: Mapping Civic Participation in your Community B. How Can Community Organizations Promote Immigrant Civic Participation? C. Sample Advocacy Letter

An asylee is legally defined as a person who flees his or her country

An asylee is legally defined as a person who flees his or her country Asylee Eligibility for Resettlement The National Asylee Information & Referral Line Asylee Eligibility for Resettlement A joint project of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. and Catholic Charities,