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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    8 million immigrants have green cards and are eligible for U.S. citizenship

    Naturalize Now -- Citizenship Application to Double in Length

    Posted: 03/31/2014 12:21 pm EDT Updated: 03/31/2014 12:59 pm EDT

    LOS ANGELES -- Two days after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen, 71-year-old Tongan American Sione Vanisi smiled broadly, holding a miniature American flag and proudly showing off his citizenship certificate as reporters snapped his photo.

    "I was here for 40 years and I'm glad I'm a citizen," he told a roomful of immigrant advocates, local media representatives and other newly naturalized citizens Friday at the Los Angeles Central Library.


    "My wife always pushed me to file [my citizenship application]," said Vanisi, who moved to Hawaii in 1970. "But I didn't want to, because I thought I'd lose my land back [home]."


    When he learned that becoming a U.S. citizen did not mean renouncing his Tongan citizenship -- that he could be a dual citizen -- he decided to take the step.


    Vanisi got his application in just in time. In May, the citizenship application, called the N-400, will become twice as long, going from 10 pages to 21 pages.


    "We are trying to get immigrants to come forward now," while the old form is still available, Nasim Khansari, citizenship network manager of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, told reporters at the roundtable organized by New America Media.


    But, she added, it's important to note that while the application form itself is becoming longer, there are no other changes to the application process. "The fees are not changing and eligibility has not changed," Khansari said.


    Even after the application becomes longer in May, immigrants here will be able to continue to get free help through a network of 17 organizations that are working to make citizenship more accessible.

    They form part of the New Americans Campaign, a national initiative to encourage eligible Legal Permanent Residents to apply for citizenship, and are holding a series of public workshops to assist people with their applications.


    Their latest citizenship workshop, organized by NALEO Educational Fund, took place Saturday at the L.A. public library -- which advocates say has been a key partner in the drive to make citizenship more accessible.


    "What the libraries are doing in the city of Los Angeles are great models," said Linda Lopez, director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs at the LA Mayor's Office. "Libraries are safe spaces for a lot of immigrants, places immigrants have gone for educational opportunities." The library's role in bringing together immigrants and providing opportunities for them to become citizens, she said, is "a signature issue for L.A. that other cities are trying to model."


    But, she said, more work needs to be done.


    Nationally, more than eight million immigrants have green cards and are eligible for U.S. citizenship. Yet only eight percent of them become citizens each year.


    Advocates are working to help immigrants overcome some of the barriers that may be preventing immigrants from taking that step. For example, it costs $680 to file for citizenship, but immigrants whose income falls below poverty level qualify for a fee waiver.


    Those who don't speak English well may think that limits their chances of becoming a citizen. But if they have been here for many years, they can qualify to take the exam in their native language -- something that many immigrants may not be aware of.


    But one of the biggest challenges is lack of information, according to Joseph Oloimooja, a Kenyan American Episcopal priest who became a U.S. citizen last September. "People don't know the difference between being a permanent resident and being a citizen," he said.

    Unlike legal permanent residents, U.S. citizens can vote, travel freely and live free from fear of deportation. They can also petition their relatives -- a key factor for families in Los Angeles, where more than 40 percent of the population is foreign born.

    An estimated 1.2 million residents of Los Angeles are eligible to become citizens. That's more than any other city in the country, except for New York.


    More than half of these eligible green card holders (54 percent) are Mexican. Eight percent are Salvadoran, five percent are Filipino, four percent are Guatemalan, three percent are Korean, three percent are Chinese and two percent are Vietnamese.


    Guadalupe Guerrero, who came here 10 years ago from Mexico, says her father lived as a permanent resident for over 20 years and never applied for citizenship. "In his mind, the process was very difficult and he didn't see the need," she explained.


    It was his daughters that changed his mind.


    "My sisters and I started encouraging him to take the step, and he did," she said, "and through that, my sisters and I became legal residents." Today, she says, she and her sisters all have bachelor's degrees, and she is now a citizen.


    Guerrero said young people have a critical role to play in encouraging their parents to take the step to become U.S. citizens.


    Becoming a citizen, advocates said, impacts the entire family.


    "If you want true security in the United States," said Elisa Sequeira, California director of civic engagement for NALEO Educational Fund, "security from fear of deportation, of being separated from your family, to really have roots in the United States that cannot be taken away, you have to become a U.S. citizen."


    For more information about the New Americans Campaign, go to www.newamericanscampaign.org.


    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elena-...b_5052937.html

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  2. #2
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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  3. #3
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization


    Eligibility Requirements for Naturalization

    To become a naturalized US citizen, you must meet several general requirements including age, residence, presence, moral character, English language, U.S. history, etc. Below is a list of basic requirements for naturalization, for more details please download USCIS Guide to Naturalization(03/2012 edition):

    • You are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder);
    • You must be 18 years of age or older;
    • You have resided in the US as a LPR for at least 5 years, with no single absence from the US of more than one year. Absence of more than 6 months may restart the clock of counting Continuous Residence (Note that "resided" means "retained legal residence," which is different than "physically present" in the following requirement);
    • You have been physically present in the US for at least half of the last 5 years (30 months) ("physically present" means you are actually in the U.S.);
    • You have resided within a state or district for at least 3 months;
    • You must be a person of good moral character (certain crimes such as aggravated felony, drug related, gambling offenses, prostitution, etc. will most likely disqualify an applicant);
    • You can read, write, speak and understand basic English;
    • You have a basic knowledge of US history and government (see test questions);
    • You must show attachment to the principles of the Constitution;
    • You may also apply for citizenship if
      1. you have been a lawful permanent resident for 3 years if you obtained LPR status based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen, and you have been married to and living with the same citizen for the past three years (Note that the 3-year period starts with the date your green card is approved, even if it is a conditional green card); or,
      2. you have served in the U.S. Armed Forces; or,
      3. you belong to one of several groups eligible for naturalization (e.g. people who are nationals but not citizens).


    How to Calculate Continuous Residence


    The five-year "continuous residence" requirement means that you have not left the United States for a long period of time during the five years prior to your application for naturalization. If you leave the United States for too long, you may interrupt your continuous residence.

    • If you left the United States for six months or less, you are OK. You still maintain continuous residence;
    • If you left the United States for more than six months, but less than one year, you have broken your continuous residence unless you can prove otherwise. You need to provide additional documents;
    • If you left the United States for one year or more, you almost certainly have broken your continuous residence. The time you spent before leaving the U.S. will not count toward meeting the five-year requirement. This is true even if you have a re-entry permit.
    • If you left the United States for one year or more, but returned within two years, the last 364 days (1 year minus 1 day) outside the U.S. actually count toward your time in continuous residence. However, as mentioned above, the time you spent before leaving the U.S. does not.


    Please refer to the Guide to Naturalization linked above for more detailed information on continuous residence.


    How to Apply for Naturalization


    To apply for citizenship:

    • Make sure you meet all eligibility requirement;
    • Download Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;
    • Fill out Form N-400 completely;
    • Take two standard passport photos;
    • Assemble all supporting documents (copies of green card, etc.);
    • Send the application including fees to the service center;
    • Receive a fingerprint appointment notice;
    • Get your fingerprints taken for FBI fingerprint check;
    • Wait for FBI name check to clear;
    • Receive an interview notice;
    • Attend the interview, bring all documents required by USCIS;
    • Answer questions, under oath, related to your naturalization application;
    • Take the English and civics tests during the interview;
    • Receive a decision after the interview: Granted (approval), Continued (on hold), or Denied;
    • If approved, you will receive a notice to attend a naturalization ceremony;
    • Check in at the ceremony and return your green card to USCIS;
    • Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States;
    • Receive your Certificate of Naturalization and become a US citizen.


    When to Apply for Naturalization


    If you are applying based on five years as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or three years as a LPR married to a U.S. citizen, you may apply for naturalization no earlier than 90 calendar days before the date you meet the "continuous residence" requirement. For example, if June 1, 2010 is your 5th anniversary of becoming a permanent resident, March 3, 2010 will be the earliest date when you can file N-400 to apply for naturalization, assuming you meet all other requirements at the time.

    Another example: If a K-1 visa holder's conditional green card is approved on June 1, 2010, she will be eligible to apply to remove the conditions on March 3, 2012 (90 days before the 2nd anniversary), then on March 3, 2013 she will be eligible to apply for naturalization (90 days before the 3rd anniversary), assuming she meets all other requirements.

    You can use the Date Calculator to figure out the earliest date when you can apply for citizenship.

    When does My Permanent Residence Begin


    The date you became a permanent resident is printed on your green card (Permanent Resident Card, formerly known as an Alien Registration Card).

    What exactly is the 3-month state residence requirement?


    This requirement means that you must have resided within a state or district for at least three months prior to filing your N-400 application. More specifically:

    • The 3-month period must be immediately preceding the filing of your application; and
    • You must maintain residence within a state or district during the 3-month period. However, this does not mean you have to be physically present in the residence or the state for three months. For example, if you have been a California resident and have lived in your CA home for two months, then travel to New York for one month, you may file N-400 immediately upon returning to California as long as your one-month trip is temporary in nature. If you live in CA for two months, then relocate to NY, you must wait three more months before you can file N-400 from the state of New York.


    Benefits of Becoming a U.S. Citizen:



    • Become eligible to Vote. Federal elections definitely require U.S. citizenship, and most state-level elections are limited to citizens also;
    • Help family members immigrate to the United States. For many first-generation immigrants, this means they can bring their parents to live with them in the U.S.
    • Travel to many countries without visas, if you have a U.S. passport;
    • Become eligible for jobs at government agencies;
    • Become eligible for jobs at private companies that receive military and defense contracts;
    • Run for office and become an elected official;
    • Never worry about lost or expired green card;
    • Never worry about losing permanent residence.


    How Long Does It Take to Become Naturalized


    After Form N-400 is submitted, it can take several months to more than a year for it to be approved. Note that all applicants will have to undergo background security checks before becoming citizens.

    Do I Become a Citizen after N-400 Approval


    If your N-400 is approved by the USCIS, you will become a citizen as soon as you take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a formal naturalization ceremony. Sometimes you may take the Oath immediately after your interview, but often you will attend a ceremony on a later date.

    What is My Proof of Being a U.S. Citizen


    You will receive a Certificate of Naturalization after becoming a U.S. citizen. Keep the certificate in a safe place. If you lose it, you may use Form N-565 to replace it.

    Your U.S. issued passport is also evidence of your citizenship. For this reason it is strongly recommended that you apply for a U.S. passport as soon as you become naturalized.


    Can I Apply for Naturalization if My Green Card has Expired or will Expire Soon?


    Yes, but you may have to renew your green card using Form I-90. If you apply for naturalization less than 6 months before the expiration date on your green card, or if it has already expired, you must renew your green card. If your green card is still valid for six or more months at the time you apply for citizenship, you do not need to renew it even if your naturalization application may still be pending when your green card expires.

    If your green card is lost or stolen, you should replace it before applying for naturalization. This is indicated by the first item of the Document Checklist in USCIS' Guide to Naturalization (M-476). If you haven't received the replacement green card yet, you can include a copy of your I-90 receipt in your citizenship application.


    New vs. Old Naturalization Test


    USCIS will begin administering the redesigned (new) naturalization test on October 1, 2008. Use the chart below to determine if you will take the old or redesigned (new) test.:
    Date Form N-400 Filed Date of Initial Exam Test to be Taken If Applicant Fails Initial Exam, Re-test to be Taken
    Before October 1, 2008 Before October 1, 2008 Old Test Old Test
    Before October 1, 2008 On or After October 1, 2008 up until October 1, 2009 Applicant's Choice of -Old Test or -Redesigned (New) Test The same version of the test as the one taken during the initial examination
    On or After October 1, 2008 On or After October 1, 2008 Redesigned (New) Test Redesigned (New) Test
    At Any Time (i.e. Before, On or After October 1, 200 On or After October 1, 2009 Redesigned (New) Test Redesigned (New) Test

    Copyright © ImmigrationRoad.com Last updated: 03/02/2014


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    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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