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

Fee Waiver Template Comment

05/06/2019

On April 5, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed change to fee waiver eligibility and process. The April 5 notice announces USCIS’ intention to proceed with a plan, previously published on September 28, 2018 , to eliminate receipt of means-tested public benefits as a way to demonstrate inability to pay certain...

Totality of the Circumstances: Assessing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

05/03/2019

For the last twenty years, a “public charge” has been defined as a person “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance, or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.” This test has evolved during the 20th century and may be poised to change under the current administration. This...

Practice Alert: Upcoming Elimination of Means-Tested Benefits as Basis for Fee Waiver Requests

04/22/2019

On April 5, 2019, DHS announced it intends to proceed with proposed changes to the fee waiver process, most significantly by eliminating receipt of means-tested benefits as a basis for requesting a fee waiver. This practice alert provides a brief overview of some of the main changes practitioners can expect with the rule change. We do not know exactly when the revised Form I-912 and fee waiver...

Naturalization Field Guide: Resources for Red Flag Screenings and Application Reviews

01/03/2019

It has always been important to screen naturalization applicants thoroughly to ensure that they are, in fact, eligible for naturalization, and to assess any potential issues that could cause them to denied or deported. While the laws governing how and when someone is eligible to naturalize and how and when someone is deportable have not changed, the importance of screening applicants has...

Denaturalization: Understanding the Process and Recent Increases in Denaturalization Efforts

12/21/2018

In the past, denaturalization proceedings were rare and usually brought only against alleged war criminals and in other extreme cases. However, continuing their assault on immigrants, families, and communities of color, the Trump administration has increased resources dedicated to pursuing denaturalization in an effort to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens and there are concerns this...