Recently I have received several questions about the new N-400 Online application and fee waivers.
Question: Can I apply for citizenship online (N-400) with fee waiver (I-912) or fee reduction (I-942)? Answer: At this time, you cannot apply for citizenship online if you are using with fee waiver (I-912) or fee reduction (I-942) form. If you want to apply for citizenship (N-400) with fee waiver (I-912) or fee reduction (I-942) form, you must download these forms from USCIS.gov and mail these forms together to USCIS.
USCIS has advice about how to find low-cost legal services. Check the show notes for links for the forms and legal services.
However, the question about fee waivers reminded me about an interview that I did last year with Citizenship Teacher, Kathy Martin from Beaumont Adult School. She gave a very clear explanation about the difference between fee waivers and fee reduction. In honor of the resolution: NEW YEAR, NEW CITIZEN, I would like to play a short clip from that interview.
The Equality and Freedom lesson plan and handouts for low intermediate and intermediate learners covering civics test items 6, 48, 60, 74, 77, 84, and 85.
si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Video 84 and Video 85 plus dictation 14 USCIS Questions in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This quiz matches 14 USCIS civics questions with speeches and events from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who worked for equality for all Americans and for all those who thirst for peace and justice throughout the world mp3 and pdf Interview with Krestos Negasi (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) on MLK Day mp3 and pdf
Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said in September that the administration would begin winding down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on March 5. (Jan. 10, 2018)
U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled willingness to compromise on some immigration issues so he can finalize a permanent immigration bill. He met with lawmakers from both parties on Tuesday to address border security, protection of young immigrants without legal status in the United States, chain migration and the visa lottery program. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports after the first in a series of meetings on immigration, both parties expressed hope that they can reach a deal.
Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/4201238.html
Jose Salinas has Temporary Protected Status, which is granted to immigrants who came to the U.S. from countries crippled by disaster or war. The Trump administration has announced that it will end the program — we met with the Salinas family before the decision.
I am very excited to announce a new online citizenship prep course: USALearns Citizenshipwhich was developed by the Sacramento Office of Education in conjuncture with USCIS and the California State Library. This course is FREE and is available at www.USALearns.org The course is divided into four parts: Part 1 reviews eligibility requirements. Part 2 reviews the vocabulary and grammar structures associated with the N-400 Application for Naturalization. Part 3 reviews the history, government, and geography material plus the terms and grammar associated with the USCIS Civics test, known as "The 100 Questions." Plus it reviews the vocabulary for the Reading and Spelling test. Part 4 reviews the interview skils, such as small talk and clarification questions. It also gives you a preview of your new life as an American citizen when you apply for your passport or sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States. USALearns Citizenshipis perfect for the classroom or directed-self study. Also check out their English courses and download their English language learning apps. Join USALearns Citzenshipat usalearns.organd get ready for US Citizenship. I know that you will be a great American citizen!
Nearly 200,000 Salvadoran beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, anxiously wait as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security weighs a decision whether to end the designated security program. Given precedent with beneficiaries from Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan, TPS holders from El Salvador worry they may be next on Trump's chopping block, despite a 16-year history of integration across multigeneration households. VOA spoke with one mixed-status family at their home in Virginia.
Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-of-salvadorans-await-tps-decision/4194945.html
SI.edu: Preparing for the Oath A joint resource of the Smithsonian National American History Museum and the USCIS. A collection of mini-videos, activities, and quizzes for each of the 100 question. BEST! RESOURCE! EVER!
This video was Edwin's first interview that he did several month's ago. You can listen to Edwin's "Regular"Citizenship Interview, which contains 75 questions based on the N-400. After the interview, Edwin talks about his hopes to continue his biological studies and perhaps go on to law school. Edwin also talks the importance of protecting the environment and what we can from countries such as Costa Rica and Panama.
Follow along by downloading:
A “Regular” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (6 pgs, 75 questions) (updated 10/01/2016)
uscitizenpod: USCIS N-400 Online Quickcast! 2-Part Login to your MyUSCIS account Learn about process to sign into your MyUSCIS account. You need to remember your email address and password which you used to create your MyUSCIS account. USCIS will then send you a one-time password to complete your login. USCIS has implemented this two-part sign in process to protect your personal data. Another cybersafety tip: use a secure browser such as Google Incognito mode when working on your online N-400. After logging back into your MyUSCIS account, you can continue to update your online N-400 Application for Naturalization. To learn how to create your MyUSCIS, watch: USCIS N-400 Online Screencast 1 of 4: Create Your Account https://youtu.be/ptxwRRJhzdM You can watch the whole playlist below. More Quickcasts (short screencasts) will be posted during the upcoming weeks. US Citizenship--Apply Online Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtyN34w6H7y46j_oXYuMJ6TgzB-XvGi40 MyUSCIS Account https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/
New Year’s Day is a federal holiday. Many people make New Year resolutions on the first day of the year. These January 1 events will help you achieve your goal: New Year, #newUScitizen! 1892 – Ellis Island opens. It was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 until 1954. It is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. 1. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? 2. Where is the Statue of Liberty (and Ellis Island)?* Listen and read the full New Year's Day Quiz:
Applicants can file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization online through their USCIS online account. When they use the interactive Form N-400, applicants will see questions, alerts, and notifications specific to the answers they provide while completing the form. Applicants will also see prompts and reminders to upload required evidence. This means each person follows a personalized path for completing the form based on the information that they provide. By using the online account, applicants will be able to:
Update personal information online.
Answer optional questions in the Naturalization Eligibility Tool to help determine their eligibility for naturalization.
Create, edit, save, or delete a draft application.
Upload evidence.
Pay any fees and submit the application.
View real-time case information and the history of their interactions with USCIS.
Securely and directly communicate with USCIS about their case.
Currently, individuals can create a unique, online account and file their Form N-400 online, with only three exceptions. At this time, applicants must submit a paper Form N-400 if:
They are applying for citizenship based on having served in the U.S armed forces or based on their current service.
They want to apply from outside of the United States, or,
They are requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee.
USCIS is also introducing an online naturalization eligibility tool that helps intending applicants determine if they may be eligible to apply for naturalization. This optional tool provides information about the most common eligibility requirements for naturalization. We encourage you to file online for Naturalization. N-400 Online Filing Tool:https://www.uscis.gov/n-400 USCIS Online Account: https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/ Thanks to USCIS for helping us become new US citizens in the New Year! Intro to the USCIS Online N-400 Application for Naturalization podcast http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/n-400-online.mp3 USCIS N-400 Online Screencast 1 of 4: Create Your Account https://youtu.be/ptxwRRJhzdM USCIS N-400 Online Screencast 2 of 4: Eligibility https://youtu.be/nRDL820J5xs USCIS N-400 Online Screencast 3 of 4: Personal Info (Parts 1-11) https://youtu.be/_boZd9P9fLw USCIS N-400 Online Screencast 4 of 4: Moral Character (Part 12) https://youtu.be/m-s8NeLt1qI
Less than a year into his presidency, Donald Trump has reshuffled the list of priorities as to who, among the country's refugees, undocumented immigrants and immigrant hopefuls gets to stay in the United States, or enter the country. Few campaign promises have yet to come to fruition, and not without strong opposition and legal challenges. But for the many affected, 2017's decisions and reversals have led to a year of personal upheaval. Ramon Taylor reports.
Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/a-year-of-change-immigration-policy/4177948.html
President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress began the year with ambitious plans to remake major pieces of the nation’s broken immigration system. One of the president's most high profile campaign promises was to build a wall along the United States’ southern border with Mexico. VOA’s Congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson looks back at challenges the president faced on Capitol Hill building the Wall and carrying out other key pledges.
Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/4179244.html
Before adjourning for the holidays, U.S. lawmakers kept America's federal government funded for four weeks but left key questions unresolved, including the fate of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. VOA's Michael Bowman reports that Democrats did not follow through on threats to shut down the government unless Congress addressed the status of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants but will have another chance when government funding expires January 19.
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
uscitizenpod: US Citizenship Resources for African-American History Month and Citizenship, Immigration, and Government Resources in African Languages https://goo.gl/ZYarom
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.
