CWHA: Become a citizen

Why become a citizen?

As a citizen, you'll have rights and responsibilities. You'll be able to make your voice heard. As a citizen, you'll have the right to register to vote. You'll also have the right to run for office and represent your community!
You'll have the right to petition for the permanent residence of your spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters.
You'll have the right to enter and leave the United States, without time limits on your travel.
When you become a United States citizen, your minor, lawful permanent resident children are automatically entitled to become citizens, no matter where they were born.
You will be protected from deportation.
You will gain access to certain jobs that are legally restricted to U.S. citizens.
You can go to live in a foreign country and, depending on the country, still retain your Social Security benefits.

Who can apply for naturalization?

You may apply if:

You have been a legal permanent resident for five years, or
You obtained legal permanent residency through a U.S. citizen spouse, you have been a legal permanent resident for three years, and remain married to that citizen; or
You are the legal permanent resident child of United States citizen parents; or
You have qualifying military service.

In most cases, you must also:

Be 18 years of age;
Speak and understand English;
Have knowledge of U.S. government and history;
Have paid your taxes and not been convicted of a serious crime;
Be willing to pledge to uphold the United States Constitution;
Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of the five years you claimed residency there.

How do I apply for citizenship?

You'll need Form N-400, "Application for Naturalization" which you can get from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Submit this form with the following:

A copy of your alien registration card
2 color photographs
2 fingerprint charts
A check or money order for $90 made payble to "Immigration and Naturalization Service" or "INS"
Men who were 18-26 ytears old while residing in the US must include information regarding their Selective Service registration.

Contact the Caribbean Women's Health Association, Immigrant Service Center for expert assistance in filing for your citizenship.

The INS will contact you with an interview date. On the day of the interview, you will be tested on your ability to speak and understand English. You will also be tested on your knowledge of United States history and government.

If you wish, you may take the exam on U.S. history and goverment before your interview. The New Citizens Exam is given by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). If you pass the ETS exam, you will not be tested during your interview, but you will still be required to speak and understand English. If you are interested in taking the ETS exam, call ETS at (800) 538-6230 or CWHA at (718) 826-2942 to register to take the citizenship exam at CWHA, test center # 238.

Are there English Language requirements for becoming a citizen?

Yes. You must speak and understand English to become a citizen of the Unties States. The only exceptions to this rule are people who are at least fifty years old and have been lawful permanent residents for twenty years or more, or fifty-five years old and lawful permanent residents for at least fifteen years.

If I legalized through the amnesty program, when can I apply for citizenship?
If you legalized through the amnesty program, you may apply for naturalization five years after the date you applied for permanent residence (not temporary residence).

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN NOW!
For information and assistance
contact Caribbean Women's Health
Association, Immigrant Service
Center, 2725 Church Avenue.
Brooklyn, NY 11226, tel.
(718) 826-2942

About CWHA's Immigrant Service Center

Find out what you need to know about asylum

Caribbean Women's Health ASsociation
Building Bridges Across
Diverse Communities
Opening Doors to Citizenship
and Community Empowerment