Citizenship and Naturalization

There are many advantages to becoming a U.S. citizen—including helping family members immigrate to the United States, traveling with a U.S. passport, and voting in U.S. elections. Millions of lawful permanent residents are eligible to naturalize but need support to take the important step of becoming a U.S. citizen.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) provides critical support to organizations helping immigrants navigate the naturalization process. We provide trainings and technical assistance, publish the top practitioner’s guide, Naturalization and U.S. Citizenship: The Essential Legal Guide, engage in federal and local advocacy. Through the national New Americans Campaign, we also develop and disseminate best practices in providing access to naturalization services.

Latest in Citizenship and Naturalization

Acquisition & Derivation Quick Reference Charts

02/26/2020

These three charts outline the different requirements for acquiring and deriving citizenship. Because the law governing acquisition and derivation has changed many times and is generally not retroactive, these charts detail what the eligibility requirements are depending on the time period in question. Each chart has extensive footnotes that provide explanations about the legal requirements,...

A New Remedy for Liberians: The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF)

01/03/2020

Effective December 20, 2019, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) act opened a one-year window that will allow many Liberians living in the United States to apply for permanent residence. The act was buried in Section 7611 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. This practice advisory will provide a summary of the law, which went into effect immediately and...

ILRC Submits Comment on USCIS Fee Rule

12/23/2019

On December 23, 2019, ILRC submitted a comment in opposition of the Department of Homeland Security’s notice of proposed rulemaking titled, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements,” published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2019, with supplemental information published on December 9, 2019. The proposed...

Fee Waivers: Status of Proposed Changes

12/16/2019

Recent attacks on the current fee waiver system threaten the access of low-income individuals to immigration benefits they are otherwise eligible to receive. This practice advisory provides an overview of the proposed changes as well as some practice tips for how to fight these harmful changes and best support low-income clients.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing FOIA Requests with DHS

12/13/2019

A FOIA request can be an invaluable tool in immigration law to help an immigrant and their representative. This guide details how to complete a FOIA request for USCIS, ICE, OBIM, and CBP. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete Form G-639, and also includes tips about alternatives to Form G-639, such as online submission options.