Naturalization

The process through which a person becomes a US Citizen.

USCIS Announces Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Opportunities

Release Date: July 30, 2019

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program that will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.

These competitive grant opportunities are open to organizations that prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic assimilation through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.

USCIS Announces Plan to Improve the Naturalization Test

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the current naturalization test with improvements to ensure it continues to serve as an accurate measure of a naturalization applicant’s civics knowledge and that it reflects best practices in adult education assessments. The goal is to create a meaningful, uniform, and efficient test that will assess applicants’ knowledge and understanding of U.S. history, government and values.

USCIS to Celebrate Independence Day by Welcoming Nearly 7,500 New Citizens

WASHINGTON — This week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the country by welcoming almost 7,500 new citizens in nearly 110 naturalization ceremonies between July 1 and July 5. The naturalization ceremonies will be held in venues across the country, and include several notable ceremonies.

April 18, 2019, Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Immigration.com

Citizenship and Naturalization

Green Card

Substantial transcription for video

Discussion Topics, Thursday, 18 April 2019:

FAQ: Multiple years of CPT|| Options to stay in the USA after expiration of H-1B ||How to get H-1B approved for three years, not shorter duration ||Issues related to tourist visa/business visa (B-1-B-2) extensions ||

Other: H4 EAD expiration ||Green card interview for inter-filing cases ||Stay in the USA while I 485 pending||limitations on working beyond 240 days on H-1B extension pending ||How is the priority date determined? ||The law on Supplement J||Delay in getting physical green card after approval ||What can trigger deportation?||N – 400, naturalization issues

Form N-400 Denial

Our client received a decision denying his request for naturalization based on allegations that he failed to continuously maintain lawful immigration status since initial entry. Specifically, Service found that the applicant worked at unauthorized locations during his employment with a Petitioner whose owner/CEO pled guilty to visa fraud. We filed an “appeal,” Request for Hearing on Naturalization, arguing that employees of the aforementioned company had no knowledge of the visa fraud scheme and were without fault.

Status
Form N-336 granted; N-400 approved

Citizenship and Naturalization

USCIS Makes Two More Applications Available for Online Filing

Applicants Can Now Request Certificates of Citizenship Online

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that applicants can now complete and file Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, and Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 online.

Civics Test Answer Updates

Are you preparing for the naturalization test? As you study for the U.S. history and government (civics) test, make sure that you know the most current answers to these questions. 

Periodically, answers to the civics test change to reflect the results of federal and state elections and appointments or to clarify content and ensure consistency in terminology. The revised answers to the questions below are effective immediately. 

Nov 8, 2018, Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Immigration.com

Citizenship and Naturalization

Substantial transcription for video

FAQ's

Impact of unlawful presence || Unlawful presence for minors ||How can I downgrade from EB2 to EB3 and the consequences || Traveling abroad while H4 EAD is pending || Filing change of address || Starting business while on student visa || Being without a job on AC21 || Citizenship for employees of consulting companies who have projects in different cities after green card || The new restriction on 12 months of CPT OPT combined – – consequences of H-1B denial on OPT || Not worked for green card sponsoring company – – fraud implication for naturalization/citizenship ||

Other

Applying for a visa || Details of applying for a spouse based green card || Cancellation of visa at the airport || Applying for H1 visa || Quitting green card job after getting green card || quarter exemption scratch that H-1B quota exemption || CSPA || Applying for H4 visa while H one extension is still pending

Oct 25, 2018, Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Immigration.com

Citizenship and Naturalization

Substantial transcription for video

Discussion Topics, Thursday, October 25, 2018:

FAQ: Travel during N-400 naturalization process || Impact of extending B-1 B-2 stay || Filing H-1B without an end client letter (supplied later)||NTA in employment based visa

Other: Marry a LPR holder || Changing jobs on the AC21 using supplement J || F-1 STEM OPT || Port back from EB3 TO EB2

USCIS Using Tablets to Administer the English Reading and Writing Tests for Naturalization

On Oct. 1, USCIS began using digital tablets to administer the English reading and writing tests during naturalization interviews as part of the agency’s ongoing business modernization efforts. Although USCIS applicants already use digital tablets to sign or verify parts of their applications, this new approach expands tablet usage, allowing the device to be used for a greater portion of the application process. USCIS will be able to continue using the paper process on a case-by-case basis.