West Wing Week 12/24/13 or, "The Holiday Card"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 12/24/13 or, "The Holiday Card"

This week, we will be celebrating the season by taking you behind the scenes as the White House is transformed into a yuletide masterpiece with the help of volunteers from across the country. We will also stop into a news conference the president held before he departed for the Hawaiian island of Oahu to have a Mele Kalikimaka with family and friends. That's December 20th to Christmas eve or the "Holiday Card Edition."

African Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa

VOAVideo: African Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa

African-Americans as well as Africans throughout the world celebrate Kwanzaa. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1) is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:

• Unity
• Self-Determination
• Collective Work and Responsibility
• Cooperative Economics
• Purpose
• Creativity
• Faith

Washington Crossing the Delaware, Christmas Night 1776

Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emmanuel Leutze, 1861

uscitizenpod: A brief history (and puzzle) of Washington Crossing the Delaware, Christmas Night 1776 (download pdf)

USPS Christmas Stamps, FOREVER!

Also see: Arago:The Art of Christmas Stamps

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas

US Ethnic Communities Celebrate Christmas

VOAVideo: US Ethnic Communities Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a highlight for many immigrant communities in the United States who bring colorful traditions from their countries of origin. Mike O'Sullivan looks at the holiday celebrations of three ethnic communities in Los Angeles.

Michael Barone on World War II as a Unifying Experience for the US part 7 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on World War II as a Unifying Experience for the US

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on Immigration and Politics Part 6 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on Immigration and Politics

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on the Irish and German Migrations Part 5 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on the Irish and German Migrations

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on New Migration Patterns and Economy Part 4 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on New Migration Patterns and Economy

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on Latin America Migration into US Part 3 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on Latin America Migration into US

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on First Waves of Migrations in US part 2 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on First Waves of Migrations in US

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

Michael Barone on the Evolution of the Democratic and Republican Parties Part 1 of 7

VOAVideo: Michael Barone on the Evolution of the Democratic and Republican Parties

As the White House and Congress debate immigration reform in the United States, host Carol Castiel and reporter Reuben Sanon speak with historian and political analyst Michael Barone about his new book "Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration Transformed America and its Politics." Barone explores how dramatic waves of immigration have sculpted the US political, economic and cultural landscape from pre-independence days to the present.

For update on Press Conference USA, and other VOA's programs, follow host Carol Castiel on Twitter: @CarolCastielVOA

UScIS Naturalization Self-Test

Naturalization Self-Test 1

Practice your knowledge of U.S. history and government with these 4 different self-tests. This is 1 of 4 practice tests available for you to try.

09/05/13

Naturalization Self-Test 2

Practice your knowledge of U.S. history and government with these 4 different self-tests. This is 1 of 4 practice tests available for you to try.

09/05/13

Naturalization Self-Test 3

Practice your knowledge of U.S. history and government with these 4 different self-tests. This is 1 of 4 practice tests available for you to try.

09/05/13

Naturalization Self-Test 4

Practice your knowledge of U.S. history and government with these 4 different self-tests. This is 1 of 4 practice tests available for you to try.

09/05/13

Holidays at the White House - Building the 2013 Gingerbread White House

USCIS 96:94. What is the White House?

wh.gov: Holidays at the White House - Building the 2013 Gingerbread White House

As part of White House holiday tradition, the State Dining Room is home to the famous gingerbread house. Over the course of several weeks, Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and his talented team created a 300-pound, edible White House replica. This year's creation features a mini Bo and Sunny sitting on the front steps of the house lit from within, and a functioning replica of the North Lawn fountain.

old USCIS 96:94. What is the White House?

• The President’s official home

Flag of Honor

As a nation, we can’t stop every act of violence. We can’t heal every troubled mind. But if we want to live in a country where we can go to work, send our kids to school, and walk our streets free from fear, we have to keep trying. We have to keep caring. We have to treat every child like they’re our child. Like those in Sandy Hook, we must choose love. And together, we must make a change.

WH.gov: Weekly Address: Marking the One-Year Anniversary of the Tragic Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut  Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

WH.gov: President Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama Mark the One-Year Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Shooting

VOAVideo: US Passion for Guns Survives the Newtown School Shooting

West Wing Week 12/13/13 or, "Madiba, Farewell"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 12/13/13 or, "Madiba, Farewell"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and far beyond. This week, the Vice President wrapped up a six-day, diplomatic mission to Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea, while the President spoke on achieving peace in the Middle East at the Saban Forum, honored and lit the National Christmas Tree, and traveled to Johannesburg to honor the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. That's December 6th to December 12th or "Madiba, Farewell."

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Virgen de Tepeyac,


Patroness of the Americas,


Mother Without Borders,


PRAY FOR US!

Quia Citizenship: Vocabulary Hangman!

Quia Citizenship: Vocabulary Hangman!

Try to guess these words from the USCIS Reading and Writing Vocabulary Word Lists. These words will be used during the Reading and Writing tests at your USCIS Citizenship Test. Try to guess all the correct letters before the little bear falls down!

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day

For more info, visit Human Rights Action Center or

Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Simple English Wikipedia ...

You just watched a video about the Universal declaration of Human Rights. 

USCIS 100:9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness

Facing Modern Day Enslavement

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites you to participate in a webinar on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss the various relief options available to victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes.

VOAVideo: Facing Modern Day Enslavement

Human trafficking exists in almost every region around the globe - children, young women, even men - entrapped and forced into prostitution, involuntary labor and other forms of servitude, unable to escape. The best estimates indicate that 100,000 children and adults are trafficked within the U.S. every year. As VOA's Faiza Elmasry reports, though, a variety of activists have mobilized to fight it. Faith Lapidus narrates.

For more info, see USCIS: Victims of Human Trafficking & Other Crimes

There are two types of immigration relief we provide to victims of human trafficking and other crimes:

T Nonimmigrant Status (T Visa)
T nonimmigrant status provides immigration protection to victims of trafficking. The T Visa allows victims to remain in the United States and assist law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking cases.

U Nonimmigrant Status (U Visa)
U nonimmigrant status provides immigration protection to crime victims who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse as a result of the crime. The U visa allows victims to remain in the United States and assist law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.

Resources
USCIS offers resources for victims of human trafficking and other crimes and the organizations that serve them. This information is designed to help answer any questions you or your family might have about obtaining T or U Nonimmigrant status.