Northern Cal Citizenship Day Feb. 2

Promoting naturalization is one key to civic participation for newcomers. Here's one program sponsored by The American Immigration Lawyers Association Northern California Chapter:

CITIZENSHIP WORKSHOP
Saturday, February 2, 2008
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hastings College of the Law, Mayer Lounge
198 McAllister Street, San Francisco
Near Civic Center Muni/BART Station
Eligible applicants will receive free assistance with their citizenship applications as time permits. Participants can also obtain answers to questions regarding their applications or the citizenship process.
You must meet all of the requirements below to apply for naturalization (although some
of these requirements are waived for military personnel and their spouses):

Be a U.S. permanent resident for at least five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen or
have an approved VAWA petition). Can apply 90 days before you meet the 5 years/3 years.

Be physically present in the U.S. for at least ½ of those 5 years/3 years.

While a permanent resident, you did not leave the U.S. for a period of one year or more (a period of
6 months or more may also disqualify you, this would need more analysis).

Be at least 18 years old.

Have good moral character and pay taxes. All arrest/court documents will need to be reviewed.

Pay filing fee of $595 plus biometrics fee of $80 (total fee $675). No biometrics fee for 75 and older.

Be a resident of the USCIS district in which you will be filing for 3 months before filing.

After filing your application, you must maintain continuous residence in the U.S. until oath ceremony.

Speak, read and write basic English. Seniors are NOT exempt from this requirement except:
• Age 55 and older who have been permanent residents for 15 years or more (at time of filing)
• Age 50 and older who have been permanent residents for 20 years or more (at time of filing)
• Those who have a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment, such that the
disability/impairment prevents them from learning English – an extra form and explanation from
the doctor is required. The disability must have existed for at least one year.

Pass civics and history test. If you meet the age exemptions above, can take test in native language.
To receive assistance at the workshop, you must bring all of the following:

Alien card. Social Security card, passport and CA identification/driver’s license is also recommended.

List of all addresses (including zip code) where you have lived for the past five years, including
month/day/year start date and end date.

List of all employers or schools for the past five years, addresses, and month/day/year start date and
end date.

List of all trips outside the U.S. during the last five years, including month/day/year of each exit and
reentry.

Information about all current and former spouses and all children, including full legal name, date of
birth, social security number, alien number, date and place of naturalization, and current address.

Information about all of your current and prior marriages, including date of marriage, date the
marriage ended, and how marriage ended (divorce/death/annulment).

Information about all of spouse’s prior marriages, including date of marriage, date the marriage
ended, and how marriage ended (divorce/death/annulment).

Documentation of all arrests and/or convictions, including reason for the arrest, date, place, and
outcome/disposition. Bring ALL arrest and court documents, even if the charges were dropped.

Men only: Evidence of Selective Service (military) registration if you were in the U.S. between the
ages of 18 and 26. You may verify registration at www.sss.gov, or by calling (888) 655-1825.
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The process will go much more quickly if you fill out a sample naturalization application and bring it with you to the workshop. You can get a free application form online at:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf
PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to register, just drop in on February 2.
CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS: YOU MUST HAVE PHOTO ID TO PASS BUILDING SECURITY
We thank our co-sponsors for their contributions and support:
• U.C. Hastings College of the Law
• Bay Area Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• Chinese Newcomers Service Center
• Asian Law Caucus
• Irish Immigration Pastoral Center
• Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
• Iranian American Bar Association Northern California Chapter
• Jewish Family and Children’s Services
• National Lawyers Guild, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• Polish American Immigrant Rights Coalition
For more information, you many contact:
Media Inquiries: Virginia Sung, media@ailanorcal.com, (415) 296-0682
Other Inquiries: Christina Lee, advocacy@ailanorcal.com, (650) 588-7100

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