Thursday, December 31, 2020

USCIS Application Support Centers Updates

uscitizenpod: USCIS Application Support Centers Updates, December 29, 2020

USCIS: USCIS Application Support Centers Updates, Dec 29, 2020 https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSCISINVITE/2020/12/29/file_attachments/1635668/ASC%20Updates.pdf

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, USCIS has experienced delays in scheduling or rescheduling application support center (ASC) appointments to collect biometrics. Current processing times are affected by several variables including demand and capacity at individual ASCs. The information below may help you understand what to expect with your biometrics appointment. Safely Reopening ASCs USCIS temporarily suspended in-person services between March and June to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and ensure employee and applicant safety. As a result, we cancelled approximately 280,000 appointments. USCIS began a phased reopening of our ASCs in July, after we installed protective screens and incorporated proper social distancing measures across 132 sites. Since reopening, there have been sporadic and temporary ASC closures for reasons such as local stay-at-home orders, COVID-19-related cleaning and extreme weather. From July to September, ASCs were operating at below 50 percent of pre-COVID levels. By late October, we increased ASC operations to approximately 65 percent of pre-COVID levels. Current State We are working to safely maximize appointment capacity at ASCs and are also reusing previously collected biometrics to conduct background and security checks when authorized by law. Based on capacity limitations unique to each ASC, we have not yet rescheduled all cancelled appointments. USCIS is scheduling approximately 10,400 appointments per day. Approximately 1.3 million applications are awaiting biometrics appointments as of mid-December. Applicants should continue to wait for an ASC appointment notice or a Form I-797, Notice of Action, from USCIS indicating that their previously collected biometrics may be reused. Priority of ASC Appointments Biometrics appointments are scheduled based on the prioritization of benefit types, considering adjudication capacity and processing times. Within a benefit type, USCIS generally schedules appointments on a first-in, first-out basis. The wait time for appointments will vary geographically, based on capacity and varying demand at individual ASC locations. Biometrics Reuse USCIS is authorized to reuse biometrics under limited circumstances, and usually where we must verify an individual’s identity and the case is otherwise ready to adjudicate. If USCIS will reuse biometrics for a pending application, we will mail a Form I-797 notice to the applicant stating that we will be reusing the applicant’s biometrics and that the applicant is not required to appear at an ASC. Not all applications meet the requirements for biometrics reuse. Walk-ins Because of our COVID facility constraints, we cannot process walk-ins for biometrics collection except for military applicants and their family members when the principal applicant is scheduled for an appointment. Before visiting any USCIS facility, check the USCIS Office Closings webpage for the current operating status. For more information about USCIS ASCs, visit our ASC information webpage. Please use our online tools for help in managing your application and to track the status of your case. If you have questions that are not addressed in your appointment notice, you may connect with the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS Application Support Centers Updates https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSCISINVITE/2020/12/29/file_attachments/1635668/ASC%20Updates.pdf Dec 13, 2020 What's happening with USCIS Biometrics Appointments? https://youtu.be/sqgdBXfkV_w Dec 21, 2020 BIOMETRICS Plus USCIS TOOLS: Case Status, Case Inquiry, & Processing Times https://youtu.be/BN1sGQjx1tw More links:

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Eric Liu on the meaning of patriotism

 
 
 
Former White House speechwriter Eric Liu, author of the new book "Become America," speaks on true patriots, such as his immigrant parents from China, and those for whom patriotism means not blind faith but constant responsibility in being citizens. 

Also see:

St. John's Church Lafayette Square: Eric Liu: The Concept of American Citizenship

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

George Washington Remembers Crossing The Delaware

 

George Washington's Mount Vernon: George Washington Remembers Crossing The Delaware 

General George Washington reminiscences the crossing the Delaware River, on the evening of December 25, 1776. A day that forever changed history. Learn more about the Battle of Trenton


USCIS 100:69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
  • (George) Washington
USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?*
  • (George) Washington
USCIS 128:80. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
  • (Battle of) Bunker Hill
  • Declaration of Independence
  • Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
  • (Battle of) Saratoga
  • Valley Forge (Encampment)
  • (Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)
USCIS 128:86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.*
  • Father of Our Country
  • First president of the United States
  • General of the Continental Army
  • President of the Constitutional Convention

Monday, December 28, 2020

Citizenship Resources for Kwanzaa



uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for a Joyous Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration (Dec 25 to Jan 1) held in the United States to honor universal African heritage and culture. 

Kwanzaa is a celebration that came out of the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. 

It was created as a way to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage.

Every night, people light a candle on a kinara (candle holder) which represent Kwanzaa's principles: 

Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.  source https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa


For the full quiz, see Citizenship Quiz for Kwanzaa

Also checkout


Saturday, December 26, 2020

Citizenship Resources for Boxing Day

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?




uscitizenpod: Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas Day in England and its former colonies. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen who collected food and clothing and gave them to the poor.  On Boxing Day, workers would received boxes of food and small gifts from their employers.  Frequently, there were used  clothing or blankets in the boxes.

Recently, Boxing Day has gained popularity in America.  Many families "box up" unused clothes, electronics, and furniture and donate them to charitable organizations such as Goodwill.

Goodwill was started in 1902 by the Reverend Edgar J. Helms of Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston. Helms and his congregation collected used household goods and clothing being discarded in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the unemployed or poor to repair them. The products were then redistributed to those in need.

Today, Goodwill has become an international nonprofit that is funded by thrift stores and provides more than 300,000 people with job training and community services each year.  Goodwill also offers free online job skills and technology courses--learn more at gcflearnfree.org 

In the spirit of Boxing Day, we encourage you to donate your unused goods or volunteer with your local civic or community groups.


Boxing Day Resources

Goodwill Industries

More organizations in San Jose/Milpitas that accept household goods donations and need volunteers--check your local area for similar organizations!


Friday, December 25, 2020

Citizenship Resources for Chrismas



Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas

US Citizenship Podcast
  • Dec 25: Christmas
    • USCIS 100: 10. What is freedom of religion? (2011) mp3 / pdf
    • Washington Crossing the Delaware, Christmas Night 1776 (2012) pdf
    • A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas  (2015) mp3 / pdf
    • Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas (2017) video
    • O. Henry, author of "Gift of the Magi," Bio, Practice N-400, and Civics Quiz(2017) pdf

More Resources for Christmas

VOANews

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Alex Padilla will replace Kamala Harris as California senator

 


California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday as the state's next U.S. senator, a historic pick that sends a Latino to represent California in the Senate for the first time.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in Senate, making history as California's first Latino senator

 


California Governor Gavin Newsom will name Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate. Padilla will be the first Latino senator to represent California, the nation's most populous state, which also has the largest Latino population in the country. CBS Los Angeles has more.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

128 Preguntas y Respuestas de Educación Cívica (Versión 2020)

  


128 Preguntas y Respuestas de Educación Cívica (Versión 2020) 

En esta sección, encontrará la lista completa de 128 preguntas y respuestas de educación cívica para la versión 2020 del examen de educación cívica. Estas preguntas incluyen temas importantes sobre el gobierno estadounidense e historia.
El examen de educación cívica es un examen oral, el oficial de USCIS le pedirá que responda 20 de las 128 preguntas del examen. Debe responder correctamente al menos 12 preguntas (60%) para aprobar la versión 2020 del examen de educación cívica.
En el examen de educación cívica, algunas respuestas pueden cambiar debido a elecciones o nombramientos. Visite la página de Actualizaciones al Examen de Educación Cívica para encontrar las respuestas que pueden haber cambiado en el examen. Debe responder la pregunta con el nombre del funcionario que esta en servicio a el momento de su entrevista de naturalización.
Aunque USCIS reconoce que puede haber respuestas correctas adicionales a las preguntas sobre educación cívica, recomendamos a los solicitantes a responder a las preguntas según las respuestas proporcionadas en la lista a continuación.

Monday, December 21, 2020

BIOMETRICS Plus USCIS TOOLS: Case Status, Case Inquiry, & Processing Times



Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Teacher Jennifer Gagliardi talk about an applicant who had a biometrics appointment scheduled in March 2020.  The applicant's appointment was never rescheduled--instead the applicant received a letter that the biometrics from her Green Card application will be used.  We speculate that USCIS is trying to deal with the biometric cases that had "fallen through the cracks" and this is a RARE EXCEPTION needed so that cases may proceed.  We also talk about how to use USCIS TOOLS to your case status and make a case inquiry.   Here are the links:

USCIS TOOLS

Case Status Online

Case Inquiry

Check Case Processing Times

Login or create a USCIS online account

Saturday, December 19, 2020

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Ahmed Khan

 
 

Ahmed Khan is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is practicing for his naturalization interview this week. We included extra civics and dictation practice. Let's get started!

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Citizenship Fall Class 35

This is the last class for 2020. The next class is Tue. Jan 5, 2021. 
However during the Christmas Break, I will post daily lessons related to U.S. Citizenship.  
If you need to contact me, email uscitizenpod@gmail.com
 


Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

Warm-up
  • read and write pdf
  • si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
  • Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf
N-400
  • Overview of the Revised N-400 Part 12 pdf
  • N-400r Part 12 Overview pptx via Google Slides 
  • N-400r Part 12 Overview Vocabulary (pdf of pptx
      Civics
      Integration
      • N-400 Part 12 Quiz 3 pdf

      Wednesday, December 16, 2020

      Electoral College Officially Elects Biden as US President


      The 538 members of the Electoral College met Monday in places across the United States. The electors officially cast 306 votes for Joe Biden as the country’s next president. Biden officially won the presidency with 306 electoral votes over 232 for President Donald Trump. Two hundred seventy electoral votes are needed to win the presidency. Biden won more than 81 million popular votes — more than any other candidate in U.S. history — against 74 million for Trump which is the second most. read more  or Listen

      Words in This Story

      cast –v. to formally vote

      integrity –n. the quality of being honest and fair

      fathom –v. to understand the reason for something

      retroactively –adv. effective from a particular date in the past

      procedural –adj. related to established ways of doing things; having to do with procedures

      Tuesday, December 15, 2020

      Citizenship Fall Class 34

       


      uscitizenpod: A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions video 

      Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
      For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

      Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

      Warm-up
      • read and write pdf
      • si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
      • Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf
      N-400
      • Overview of the Revised N-400 Part 12 pdf
      • N-400r Part 12 Overview pptx via Google Slides 
      • N-400r Part 12 Overview Vocabulary (pdf of pptx
          Civics
          Integration
          • A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)

          Extra Credit

          Citizenship Resources for Bill of Rights Day links
          VOA Learning English: What Does the Bill of Rights Say?

          What Do the Amendments in the Bill of Rights Say?

          Monday, December 14, 2020

          How Are American Election Results Certified?

           




          VOA Learning English: U.S. Elections.

          uscitizenpod

          • Electoral College Citizenship Quizzes
            • Part 1: U.S. Civics mp3 / pdf
            • Part 2: U.S. History mp3 / pdf


          Important Dates

          November 3 – Election Day Voters voted, votes were counted.

          November 4 – November 23: Votes are counted. 

          December 23: Electoral votes must arrive in Washington.

          January 3: New 117th Congress is sworn in.

          January 6: Electoral votes counted. 

          January 20: Inauguration Day.

          Sunday, December 13, 2020

          Naturalization Ceremonies May Look A Bit Different But They Still Mean So Much For Those Becoming US

           


          Due to coronavirus naturalization ceremonies no longer take place in a courtroom, but in a parking lot outside the court house. These ceremonies still mean so much though for people who have spent years working towards becoming a US citizen.

          Saturday, December 12, 2020

          Madre Sin Fronteras


          Virgen de Tepeyac,


          Patroness of the Americas,


          Madre sin fronteras,



          PRAY FOR US!










          Friday, December 11, 2020

          Two Citizenship Questions for Hanukkah




          uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for Hanukkah

          Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

          Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was a Jewish-American poet and activist who used the image of America as a light to the nations when she wrote "The New Colossus" (1883). This poem, which is engraved inside of the Statue of Liberty, talks about the millions of immigrants who came to the United States many of whom came through Ellis Island at the port of New York. The final lines say:
          "Give me your tired, your poor,
          Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
          The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
          Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
          I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
          Manfred Anson (1922-2012), a survivor of the Holocaust, designed this Hanukkah lamp for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Anson used a souvenir figurines to cast the statuettes for the lamp, and the Statue of Liberty torch was transformed into a candle holder. The lamp is surmounted by an American eagle, and the base of each statuette is inscribed with significant dates in Jewish history. This Statue of Liberty Menorah is currently displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Washington DC.

          USCIS 100:95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*

          USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?


          Learn more:

          A closer look at our Statue of Liberty Hanukkah lamp blog post

          A Menorah That Honors an Immigrant’s Story: After escaping the Holocaust, Manfred Anson paid tribute to his new home article

          Emma Lazarus: Poet Of Exiles post

          Statue of Liberty National Monument website

          She Wrote a Nation’s Welcome article

          This One-of-a-Kind Menorah Represents the True Spirit of Thanksgivukkah: A Hanukkah tradition melds with an icon of Americana article

          U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post Jointly Issue Hanukkah Stamps blogpost

          Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays blog post


          Thursday, December 10, 2020

          Citizenship Fall Class 33



          Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
          For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

          Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

          Warm-up
          • read and write pdf
          • si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
          • Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf
          N-400
          • Overview of the Revised N-400 Part 12 pdf
          • N-400r Part 12 Overview pptx via Google Slides 
          • N-400r Part 12 Overview Vocabulary (pdf of pptx
              Civics
              • si.edu: Preparing the Oath
                • Writing the Constitution videos
              • USCIS: Lesson Plans
                Integration
                • N-400 Part 12 Quiz 2 pdf
                • Human Rights Day pdf
                Extra Credit
                • Resources for Human Rights Day post
                • VOANews: Europe Targets Human Rights Abusers With ‘Magnitsky’ Laws video

                Wednesday, December 9, 2020

                People Seeking US Citizenship Face Tougher Test


                VOANews: People Seeking US Citizenship Face Tougher Test 

                People seeking U.S. citizenship will now be required to take a longer and more complex test.

                The test centers on civics, a study of the rights and duties of citizenship. There are now 128 subjects relating to American history and government for applicants to study before taking the test. There used to be 100 subjects.

                The new test requires applicants to answer 20 questions instead of 10. To pass, individuals must answer 12 questions correctly, or 60 percent. This is the same pass rate as before.  (read more)  (listen to the mp3)

                Vocabulary:

                applicant – n. someone who asks for something officially, usually in writing

                interview – n. a meeting in which someone is asked questions to see if they are suitable for a job, position, etc.

                original – adj. existing since the beginning

                status – n. the legal position of someone or something

                determination – n. a decision that something will happen

                efficiency – n. the good use of time and energy




                Tuesday, December 8, 2020

                Citizenship Fall Class 32



                Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
                For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

                Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

                Warm-up
                • read and write pdf
                • si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
                • Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf
                N-400
                • Overview of the Revised N-400 Part 12 pdf
                • N-400r Part 12 Overview pptx via Google Slides (30 vocabulary words)  
                    Civics
                      Integration
                      Extra Credit
                      • VOANews: Philadelphia, Home of Independence video