Citizenship Orientation Training AILA 2011

8/7/2019 Citizenship Orientation Training AILA 2011

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Naturalization

Webinar Training

Based on the

ya es hora Ciudadana! Guide to Citizenship


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Why Become a U.S. Citizen? (pg 6)

The Right to Vote: You can cast your ballot and fully participate in theelectoral process.

Protection from Loss of Legal Status: You enjoy the full rights

guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. Non-citizenseven Legal Permanent

Residents (green-card holders) who have lived here for many yearscan

suffer loss or reduction of their immigration status if Congress changes

the law.

Protection from Deportation: You cannot be deported.

Freedom of Travel: You can leave and re-enter the United States easily,

regardless of how long you are gone. You never lose your right to live here

legally.

Passport: You can obtain a U.S. passport for identification abroad.Source: http://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.html
http://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.htmlhttp://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.html


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The Right to Hold Office: You can run in elections and win publicoffice.

Government Employment: You may obtain one of the many

government-related jobs restricted only to U.S. citizens.

Public Benefits: You can collect certain public benefits that Legal

Permanent Residents cannot. Citizens are eligible for Social Security and

Medicare benefits, and many non-citizens may not be. You can also

receive Social Security benefits wherever you live worldwide.

Tax Deductions: You can receive substantial deductions on U.S. estate

taxes.

End to USCIS Reporting: U.S. citizens dont have to report any

informationaddress changes or anything else to the U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services (USCIS).

Source: http://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.html

http://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.htmlhttp://www.immlaw.com/citizenship.html


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Residency Assistance for Family Members

You can help family members become Permanent Residents.

You can file a petition for your:Spouse

Parent

Child of any age, married or unmarried

BrotherSister

You begin the process by filling out Form I-130, a Petition for Alien Relative. You

can get it from the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

For detailed information on this process, please see the USCIS guide How Do I

Help My Relative Become a U.S. Permanent Resident at:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/A1eng.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/A1eng.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/article/A1eng.pdf


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Eligibility Checklist (pg 10)If you answer Yes to any of the questions below, please call an attorney or trained staff

member to verify is they are able eligibility to apply.

1. Have you been outside the U.S. for six months or more since becoming a Legal PermanentResident?

2. Have you EVER claimed to be a U.S. citizen (in writing or any other way)?

3. Have you EVER registered to vote in any federal, state, or local election in the United States?

4. Are you younger than 18?

5. Have you EVER lied to any U.S. government official to gain entry into the United States?

6. Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including

USCIS and military officers) for any reason?

7. Have you EVER been charged with any crime or offense?

8. Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?

9. Have you EVER had your criminal record cleared?

10. Since becoming a Legal Permanent Resident, have you EVER failed to file a requiredfederal, state, or local tax return?

11. Do you owe ANY overdue taxes, whether federal, state, or local?

In general, if you are unsure on any of these questions please speak with an

attorney or trained staff member for assistance


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To be eligible to apply for

U.S. Citizenship you must: (pg 8)

Be at least 18 years of age Have been a Legal Permanent Resident for 5 years OR 3 years if your

spouse is a U.S. citizen and you have lived with that person for the entire 3 years, and

throughout those 3 years they have been U.S. Citizen

If you lived in the U.S. between the ages of 18 to 26 and were born

after 1960, you must have registered for Selective Service (even ifyou were undocumented at the time)

Have basic knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and

government.

Be able to read, write and speak basic English unless they fall under

the 50-20 or 55-15 exemptions. Be a person of good moral character.

Continuous Residence


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Continuous Residence (pg 8)

You must meet two requirements:

1. You cannot have left the United States for any period longer than 6

months.

EXAMPLE: Hector has lived in the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident for 7 years,

but 3 years ago he took a business trip to Buenos Aires for 8 months. Result: The five-year

period started all over again the day he returned and he must wait 2 more years to apply.

2. You must have been physically present here for a total of at least 30

months.

EXAMPLE: Maria has been a Legal Permanent Resident for 6 years, but each year she has

taken two 4-month trips out of the country. Result: She has been physically present in the

United States for just 4 months a year, or 24 months total. She must remain here for

another 6 months to apply.


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Lack of Good Moral ConductWhat constitutes lack of good moral conduct:

Any crime against a person with intent to harm

Violating any controlled substance law of the U.S., any state, orforeign country

Habitual drunkenness

Drunk driving (D.W.I/D.U.I) Prostitution

Illegal gambling

Failing to pay court-ordered child support or alimony payments

Lying to gain immigrant benefits


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Criminal RecordIf you have been arrested, cited, or detained and you had to

pay a fine of more than $500, you must provide:

A certified copy of the arrest report, court dispositions, and

sentencing or any other relevant documents.

If a traffic incident was related to alcohol or drugs, you need to submit

documentation for traffic fines.

If you were convicted of a crime such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or domestic

violence, you must first speak with an immigration attorney before submitting yourapplication. (see pg 11 of the Citizenship Guide for information on avoiding immigration

fraud)


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You must show the interviewer that you:

a) can speak, read, and write basic English, and

b) b) know basic facts about civics, that is, U.S. history and government.

A. English. You do not have to take the English test if:

a. You are 50 and have been a Permanent Resident for at least 20 years.

b. You are 55 and have been a Permanent Resident for at least 15 years.

If you decide not to take the English test, you must bring an interpreter to the interview.

B. Civics. You must get 6 questions out of 10 right on the civics test. You will be required to study from

a list of 100 possible questions.

a. If you are 65 and have been a Permanent Resident for at least 20 years, you can study from adesignated list of just 20 questions.

If you have certain medical conditions, you can skip one or both exams. Complete Form N-648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions) if you

believe you have one.

English and Civics Proficiency

Requirements (pg 8)


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The Five Steps to NaturalizationStep 1: Complete Your Written Application

Fill Out the Application (p 13)

Provide Documents (p 17)

Step 2: Have Your Fingerprints (Biometrics) Taken (p 18) USCIS will send you an appointment letter telling you when and where to go for your fingerprinting. If you

absolutely cannot attend at the place or time, follow the instructions for rescheduling on the letter.

Arrive early for the appointment. Do NOT be late or miss the appointment.

Bring your appointment letter from the USCIS to the fingerprinting, along with your Permanent Resident Card

and another form of official photo identification, such as a drivers license or state ID.

Step 3: The Interview (p 19)Wait for the USCIS to schedule your interview. The agency will send you an appointment letter, which will tell you the

date, time, and place of your interview. If you absolutely cannot attend the interview, follow the rescheduling

instructions in the letter immediately. While the USCIS is conducting your background check, they may request

additional documents before it schedules your interview. If so, they will send you a letter explaining what they need and

where to send it.

Step 4: Take the Oath of CitizenshipIf USCIS approves your application, you must attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance of the United States.

USCIS will notify you by mail of the time and date of your ceremony in a letter.


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The Five Steps to NaturalizationStep 5: Participate in Civic Affairs (p 20)

1. Register to Vote

As a new citizen, you can influence government decisions on issues that matter to you,your family, and your communities. The first step in the voting process is to register.

For information on voter registration, call (888) VE-Y-VOTA.2. Apply for a U.S. Passport For more information please visit www.travel.state.gov or call the

National Passport Information Center toll-free at (877) 487-2778.

3. Let People Know of Any Name Change

If your name has changed as a result of your naturalization, be sure to change all correspondinglegal documents.

4. Contact Social Security

Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your new citizenship status. Fill out the SS-5

Form (available atwww.ssa.gov) at your local Social Security office. For more information, call

Social Security at (800) 772-1213.

5. Contact Your Elected Officials

We encourage you to communicate with your elected and appointed officials to keep them awareof what is going on in your community, and to share your feelings about policies, laws, and

proposals. Visit Project Vote Smarts website at www.votesmart.org to locate your elected

officials and to learn more about how you can make a difference!


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Volunteer Training


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Overview of Workshop Stations Step 1: Orientation/Check-in

Step 2: Pre-Screening/ Eligibility

Step 3: Copying: Permanent Residence Card (some do other I.D.

and SS#)

Step 4: One-on-one application assistance

Use Post-Its for missing info or to alert quality control

Step 5: Two full- frontal color Passport Pictures 2 x 2

Step 6: Check out/Quality Control

Step 7: Money order (optional)

Step 8: Copies of Application and Supporting Documents.

One for the applicant and one for the organizationsrecords

Step 9: Packaging


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Review of N-400

Application


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Black Ink

ALL Capital Letters

Write Clearly

Before you Begin:


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Use Post-Its for missing info or to

alert quality control (lawyers)

Sheets of blank paper

White-out

Before you Begin:


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Ask for and organize the following documents in front of

you if applicants bring them:

Legal Permanent Resident card (Green Card)

Social Security Card

Passport

Drivers License or ID Other documents: W2, paystubs, etc.

Before you Begin:


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Write A# at the top right-hand corner of each page of

the form.

A# number must be 9 digits long. If only 7-8 digitslong, write 0 in the front until 9 digits long. For

example:

Before you Begin:

If A# is 12345678, write down as 012345678. If A# is 1234567, write down as 001234567.


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When does my time as a

Permanent Resident begin?

Your time as a Permanent Resident begins on the date you

were granted permanent resident status.

This date is on your Permanent Resident Card (formerlyknown as an Alien Registration Card or Green Card).

The sample cards show where you can find important

information such as the date your Permanent Residencebegan.


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Where can A# be found?A-number

Date you

became a

Permanent

Resident


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Ask for legal last name, usually as it appears

on Driver or ID Card. May be different from

Resident Card

(Green Card)

000 000 000

-NAMES USED IN ANY COUNTRY

-Names on IDs that differ from Permanent Resident

Card

Must Have 9 digits. If A# is

only 8, add 0 in front.

Name in birth

Certificate, drivers

License or ID card; may

be different from

permanent Resident

Card

Even if misspelled on Permanent Resident Card


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NEW LAST NAME

Must include proof of marriage and spouse

proof of Citizenship

NEW FIRST NAME NEW MIDDLE NAME

For Example, if they get

married or divorced, or

want to change name

from Jose to Joseph

Can file at 4yrs & 9 monthsof legal permanent

residency

Can file at 2yrs & 9 months

of legal permanent

residency


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000 000 000

Form N-648required

Ask if they have a marriage certificate or divorced decree. If separated

but not divorced, check married.

Make sure consistent with all documents

If yes flag or make a note & ask an attorney

These are on Residency,

but if doesnt match

with passport let a

lawyer know

Medical Waiver

For example, wheel chair


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If applicant wants correspondence mailed to a address different from Home

Address. For example relatives house

ALWAYS ASK!

Should be the same as W2, pay stubs; if not, make a note lawyer


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000 000 000

Start Date

ALL ADDRESSES IN LAST FIVE YEARS, BEGINING WITH MOST RECENT

And work your way back


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EMPLOYER HISTORY FROM LAST

FIVE YEARS FROM

MOST RECENT

TO

OLDEST

IF APPLICANTS DO NOT HAVEEXACT DATES, USE

APPROXIMATIONS. ASK WHAT

SEASON, MONTH, AND IF IT WAS

AT BEGINIING OR END OF

MONTH. TRY TO GET CLOSER TO

ACTUAL DATE

And work backwards


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000 000 000

TRAVEL HISTORY BEGIN

WITH MOST RECENT

FIRST COMPLETE HISTORY BELOW, THEN CALCULATE

Some people may travel every year since becoming

residents. If so, write and every year for Christmas (or

whatever reason) since becoming LPR, and no tripsmore than 6 months. If this option selected, estimate

total days and add next to statement

If need help check exit & entry stamps ontheir passports

If trips lasted 6 months or more, FLAG or

make note to lawyer

Start with C. then work backwards to B & A

3

2

1

Example:

08/2004 09/2004 X MEXICO 20


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IF LIVING TOGETHER, WRITE SAME AS APPLICANT AND PROCEED

TO NEXT SECTION (C)

Include current marriage and all previous

marriages. If currently married and no other

marriage, then its 1.

Note: If spouse is deceased, marriage is annulled. Do not complete this section. Go to Section F about former marriages.


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000 000 000

IF UNDOCUMENTED

CHECK OTHER AND WRITENON-LPR


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INCLUDING CURRENT

MARRIAGE


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000 000 000

YOU MAY ALSO WRITE:

SAME AS APPLICANT ORDECEASED

INCLUDE

*BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN

(WHETHER DOCUMENTED OR NOT)

*OUT OF WEDLOCK,

*ADOPTED CHILDREN.

DO NOT INCLUDE

*STEP CHILDREN NOT LEGALLY

ADOPTED

If children born in U.S., leave blank

or foreign born but now U.S. citizen, write U.S.

Citizen.

If undocumented, write Non-LPR)


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IF YES, FLAG & SEE STAFF OR ATTORNEY

Especially with a govt official to get benefits

Only if they were required to file


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000 000 000

CHURCH, COMMUNITY GROUPS, POLITICAL GROUPS,

OTHERS.


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IF YES, FLAG & SEE STAFF OR ATTORNEY


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000 000 000

Example:

If all traffic tickets are PAID

then #16, 17, 18 ARE YES

This Part may raise legal questions that may require attorney assistance.

If person is in any type of probation, person does not qualify.

Q 16: Regardless of outcome. Traffic tickets included. Some people may say record was

deleted. Must still answer yes.

Q 18: If case dismissed or charges dropped, answer NO

Do Not include Paid Parking Tickets

Including

- Fingerprinted- Border patrol

- Police


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DESCRIBE THE CASE HERE. COURT DOCUMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED IN MOST CASES. COURT

DOCS MUST BE PRESENTED AT INTERVIEW. DOCS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED FOR MINOR

TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS, i.e. speeding (unless misdemeanor). If in doubt, please consult

attorney.

IF YES, FLAG &

SEE STAFF OR

ATTORNEY


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000 000 000

IF YES, SEE STAFF OR ATTORNEY

Example: Have you ever been to immigration Court? If yes, speak with attorney


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If answered yes, male must have registered for Selective Service

(SSS). If male did not register and is

If male under 26, must register before applying.

Between 26-30, may not be eligible until age 31. See Attorney.

If applicant registered but does not know #, have

applicant locate # at www.sss.gov and take

number to interview.

IF NO, FLAG& SEE STAFF

OR ATTORNEY

SS LETER- EXPLAINS WHY THEY DID NOT REGISTER

READ OATH under Part 14(back of this page) before asking them these questions

31 and over, complete SSs Letter

Check with organizer(s) whether these get signed before or after lawyers review and *who signs for


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000 000 000

APPLICANT SIGNATURE HERE

WRITE YOUR NAME HERE AND SIGN

Check with organizer(s) whether these get signed before or after lawyers review and who signs for

Part. 12


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LEAVE THESE PARTSBLANK


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Additional Tips

Remember to review the following documents before theworkshop:

Application ( application can be found at:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf)

age exemptions, and

any other pertinent information related to the

workshop (more info can be found athttp://www.uscis.gov)
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf


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Additional Tips

Inform the Volunteer Coordinator of the exacthours you will be able to assist on the day of theworkshop.

Enjoy the experience. Congratulations for making adifference in your community!

H I t


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How can I partner or

participate?

Download tools and resources http://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/downloads

Download the ya es hora Citizenship Guide in English or Spanish

Disseminate information about the importance of Citizenship promote the ya es hora

hotline, (888) 839-8682 and website, www.yaeshora.info

Volunteer at a workshop near you! - http://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/events/

Become a partner ofya es hora contact [email protected]
http://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/downloadshttp://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/admin/documents/files/NatzGuide_English-2-15-11.pdfhttp://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/admin/documents/files/NatzGuide_Spanish-2-15-11.pdfhttp://www.yaeshora.info/http://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/events/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/events/http://www.yaeshora.info/http://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/admin/documents/files/NatzGuide_Spanish-2-15-11.pdfhttp://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/admin/documents/files/NatzGuide_English-2-15-11.pdfhttp://ciudadania.yaeshora.info/downloads


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For additional Assistance

NALEO Educational FundNational Office

1122 W. Washington Blvd

Third Floor.

Los Angeles, CA

www.yaeshora.info

(888) VE-Y-VOTA / (888) 839-8682

Lizette Escobedo

National Director of Civic Engagement

[email protected]

American Immigration Lawyers Association

1331 G Street, NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20005-3142

202-507-7600, main

Susan Timmons, Esq.

Manager, Pro Bono Programs202-507-7646 direct

[email protected]
http://www.yaeshora.info/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.yaeshora.info/

Citizenship Orientation Training AILA 2011

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