The Morning News: News : Immigrants Travel Road Long To Naturalization

Immigrants Travel Road Long To Naturalization

Price Increase Worries Advocates

Last updated Saturday, January 27, 2007 10:09 PM CST in News

By Pablo Bello
The Morning News

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Aurora Vicari has a powerful new motivation to become a U.S. citizen: The price is going up.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans a fee increase for naturalization applications that some fear could double the current fee.

"I applied before the prices will increase to avoid paying double next year. It would have taken a big chunk from my pocket. Now, I am only waiting for a date to take the citizenship test," said Vicari. The 42-year-old, who lives in Springdale, has been a legal, permanent resident for the last decade.

For a legal resident who wants to be a citizen and earns nearly minimum wage, the future fees could be equivalent to a month's wages, she said.

Naturalization application fees are $400 for adults and $255 for a child. The fees don't include the cost of fingerprints, photographs, English language and civics instruction, and application assistance. A family of four would need to pay more than $1,000 to naturalize.

"This is a process that needs to be reviewed. It's going to be approved not by our agency alone but by various agencies that are participating in the process," said Ana Santiago, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The fees do not cover the cost of processing applications, and unlike other immigration departments, Citizenship and Immigration Services is required by Congress to fully fund itself through user fees, Santiago said.

Santiago would not discuss how much of an increase her agency is considering.

The National Council of La Raza, an immigrant advocacy group, has said the new fee may be as high as $1,000 for an adult's application.

Being a citizen of the United States is a civic duty that Vicari takes seriously.

"If I am going to be a citizen, I am going to vote and embrace the values of Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington," she said.

Vicari said she has been eligible to apply for citizenship for 10 years, but her three children and her job kept her busy. Citizenship moved to the background.

"It is not only taking the oath and being a citizen of the U.S. It's also to defend the values of this nation and to know its history," she said.

Residents seeking citizenship have a new ally in the Arkansas Citizenship Coalition, which was formed late last year. Gaining citizenship can take years, according to Margarita Solorzano, director of the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas, who is also the spokeswoman of the new organization.

The group was formed by the women's organization, Catholic Immigration Services, the Ozark Literacy Council, the Jones Center for Families in Springdale, the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 761 and other adult education groups.

According to the Immigration Monthly Statistical Report for fiscal 2006, there were 730,642 naturalization applications submitted in the United States in 2006.

An estimated 30,000 foreign-born people are permanent, legal residents of Arkansas.

Organizers said the coalition will help those residents find English-language classes, help them prepare for the test required for citizenship and host clinics to assist in filling out applications.

Solorzano declined to comment on the possible fee increase, saying the Citizenship Coalition is not a political organization.

Graciela Magana, 40, of Springdale, is taking citizenship classes at the Adult Education Center of NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

She is also motivated by the fee increase, but said there are other advantages to becoming a naturalized citizen.

"I went to Mexico a few weeks ago and the Mexican government asked me for my updated Mexican passport, and my husband and children (U.S. citizens) did not have the same problem," Magana said.

Being eligible for government jobs and to vote are other benefits.

Ben Aldama, director of Adult Education at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College, said there are 111 students in the current citizenship classes.

"We have quite a few students that are working toward their citizenship and increased fees just present another barrier for them. A lot of them are struggling just to survive, and, if they are going to have increased fees, I wish there were some kind of assistance," Aldama said.

Kathy Schneider,an English as a second language and citizenship teacher at the Adult Education Center, said applicants study 160 questions, but only 10 questions are asked at test time.

"Our organization prepares dozens of legal, permanent residents every year. One of our students was so nervous that they had to ask them the questions orally because she couldn't even hold a pencil in her hands," Schneider said.

How does someone become a lawful permanent resident while in the United States?

An immigrant is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of living and working permanently in the United States. It's a multistep process to become an immigrant. In most cases, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must first approve an immigrant petition, usually filed by an employer or relative. Then, an immigrant visa number must be available, even if someone is already in the United States. After that, someone already in the United States may apply to adjust to permanent resident status. A person outside the United States will be notified to go to the local U.S. consulate to complete the processing for an immigrant visa.

What is the name of the citizenship application?

The N-400 is an application for U.S. citizenship (naturalization). A Guide to Naturalization, a pamphlet that explains eligibility requirements, is available from:

* The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Website at www.uscis.gov.

* A toll-free forms line at 1-800-870-3676.

* The Citizenship and Immigration Services National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or TTY: 1-800-767-1833.

Who is eligible for citizenship?

According to N-400 application: A lawful permanent resident for at least three to five years and at least 18 years old or a lawful permanent resident who has been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the last three years.

Other permanent residents and members of other groups are eligible, but there are other restrictions and requirements for specific cases.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Citizenship Questions

Those seeking U.S. citizenship must learn the answers to 160 questions about the country and its history. They are asked 10 questions when tested. Here is a sampling:

Q. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

A. John Roberts

Q. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death?

A. Patrick Henry

Q. Who elects the president of the United States?

A. The Electoral College

Q. How many amendments are there to the Constitution?

A. 27

Q. In what year was the Constitution written?

A. 1787

Source: Staff Report

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Reader Comments (25 comment(s))

The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

What wrote on Jan 27, 2007 11:53 PM:

" Like anyone cares about any of those questions "

What is an American wrote on Jan 28, 2007 5:08 AM:

" That is what should be asked. For some reason there is one ethnic group out of many that seems to think they deserve more favor over other groups who have become American Citizens. When you become an American you become part of this country. You don`t go walking around saying I am this nationality or another with an attitude. Being American is a state of mind regardless of race. "

Being American wrote on Jan 28, 2007 8:01 AM:

" Means your part of the most crooked organization on the planet. "

Born and Raised in Rogers wrote on Jan 28, 2007 8:48 AM:

" I would think they could come up with better questions. How many American could answer those. I had to think about John Roberts and completely forgot about Patrick Henry, and any one who knows me can tell you I'm a fanatic about history. "

ME wrote on Jan 28, 2007 9:48 AM:

" Like anyone cares about this article. "

Me again wrote on Jan 28, 2007 9:50 AM:

" Where can I get free Govt. benefits is probably the most popular question fot the Mexicans "

reason wrote on Jan 28, 2007 10:11 AM:

" I hope that anyone wanting to seek citizenship will ignore the nasty remarks people have posted. God bless everyone seeking citizenship. We can't have it both ways, criticising people who don't assimilate and rejecting those who do. Immigrants who come here and do not assimilate are the problem. "

disappointed wrote on Jan 28, 2007 11:23 AM:

" welcome to those who have become, are becoming and will become citizens. good luck to them one and all! "

To Observer wrote on Jan 28, 2007 5:44 PM:

" That is right we made this country. Do you want to be part of it ? "

Tspud wrote on Jan 28, 2007 7:16 PM:

" This is the way it is supposed to be done. The part about "I wish there were some kind of assistance," Aldama said." should show you how most of them think. Remember when or if millions get the right to vote, they will still have this mentality and they will vote even more of your money their way, but that's democracy. It will lead to socialism. "

Fast Eddie wrote on Jan 29, 2007 7:47 AM:

" Tspud, your touching on the very thing that bothers the mind of those who work hard, pay taxes, vote, support our schools by funding every class project that comes along. If this is a domocracy, the democratic way to do things is step by step, you come here legally, request and achieve citizenship, then your rights to agency assistance, voting, everything OUR ancestors fought to have. This wave of immigrants, mostly illegal have entitlement mentality that just because they are here, they should be treated like citizens, that they have rights, and are "entitled" to every form of wlefare that was granted to real citizens in need. It boggles the mind, and like yous aid Tspud, will lead only to socialism, and maybe even civil war and a police state. If it wasnt for NAFTA and greedy polititions we would have owned Mexico long ago. "

Curious wrote on Jan 29, 2007 3:56 PM:

" Anyone knows what is the current fees for US Citizenship application? Does the rate varies on different states? "

Tspud wrote on Jan 29, 2007 4:06 PM:

" Curious, I have no idea, but since they are asking to become a citizen of the US, I would think it would be the same from state to state. What do they charge you for a passport in your state? It should be the same as what they charge in mine. "

to tspud wrote on Jan 30, 2007 1:32 AM:

" Your worried about socialism, I don't blame you. It seems our democratic party, once for the working class, has now become socialist, but Arkansas continues to vote democrat. We have to stop voting party and chose the individual, since neither party can be trusted. "

Tspud wrote on Jan 30, 2007 9:32 AM:

" To me it's not so much either party because they both seem to be pandering to this group. It's the group and their mindset that has me worried. Look where they come from. In many of the southern hemisphere countries socialism has taken over. It's a easy concept for a leader like Chavez to sell to the poor uneducated. It's the fault of the people that have something(America) They bring this mindset with them when they come here. Now in a few years when Juan & Esmerelda have umpteen kids,at our expense, that are raised this way, how do you think they will vote? The writing is on the wall and government will just become larger to fill this role of your provider and of course they run things so well. I am in favor of work permits but not citizenship to criminals. "

Fast Eddie wrote on Jan 31, 2007 11:47 AM:

" A price increase for this service worries me. Im not going soft, but you price it out of reach of the "migrant" or "work permit" illegal, then they just stay illegal, raping the public systems, have "citizen" non-english speaking kids that overcrowd our schools and suck dry the welfare systems. If they have a chance, and are inclined to want to do it right, please don't price it out of reach. But you know what, even if it cost 1$, the illegeals would still come because they can move around invisable, impervious to INS, and our goverment thet protends to protect tax paying citizens. You would think the new Latino ACLU lobby would be all over this already. "

bored wrote on Feb 1, 2007 1:53 AM:

" I can see that many of you are unhappy about the people that are "raping public systems"...but have you ever stopped to think that a great chunk of the people who you are referring to, Latinos, are actually not accepting any government aid? I find it insulting that most of you are classifying all Hispanic people the same way. Not all of the Hispanic population "rape public systems." My parents have lived here for more than 20 years and never in my life have I seen them ask for Welfare or other government aid programs. My parents have also taken steps into becoming American citizens and paid the fine that the USCIS requires illegal immigrants to pay. On a side note, who are all of you people to judge wrongfully about immigrants? The founding fathers of this country were not American. They were English. They had no right to take this land, and yet they did. The last time I checked, this land was habited by Native Americans, not English caucasians. After the English settled here, then came the Irish, the German, the Austrian, the Japanese, along with many other races, and yet I don't see anyone referring to them. For the most part, you're all referring to Mexicans, as if Mexicans are the only immigrants that come to this country. Why can't you just see that we're all people and that we were all created by one God? "

bored1 wrote on Feb 1, 2007 1:55 AM:

" Oh and for those of you who are degrading Hispanics/Latinos, it wouldn't kill you to learn how to spell and use correct grammar. Shame you couldn't even learn your own language. "

Aja wrote on Feb 1, 2007 10:00 PM:

" Kuddos to "Bored", Many people love to blame all of the US social problems to immigration, guess what? they're just mimicking our government. They love to use the immigration topic to gain votes, is just the oldest and more pathetic political game, and yet people still fall for it. Funny thing, americans are getting killed everyday while fighting for an unjustified war, BILLIONS of dollars are dispose at IRAQ every day but no one here seems to care about that, how pathetic!!! "

baby boomer 49 wrote on Feb 7, 2007 9:17 AM:

" To all of those above who feel they are knowledgeable about the welfare and tax system. Have you ever sat in the lobby of the welfare office? Notice the color of the clients. They are quite washed out of color. Taken over Mexico, Fast Eddie?? That was done years ago when you stole Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico. My ancestors came here in 1776 to colonize the West. My family name is still prominant in California. Do you know your Roots?? Anyone of you?? Soo Sad. "

Hoping To Pass wrote on Feb 7, 2007 8:40 PM:

" I moved here from Canada and love it here. Processed all my paperwork (and spent a huge portion too because there was myself & 2 kids)...so if the cost goes up...I will be extremely disappointed because I would love nothing more than to pass this test & become a U.S. Citizen...but if I can't afford to take it...I will be very disappointed. I processed every document as was requested so it really chaps my hide that so many people are working illegally & getting away with it. If you live here...you are representing both your country & the country you are working in....so working illegally really gets me upset! It is wrong...and the lazy man's way of doing things...no different than a thief stealing from a Corner Store... "

to me or is it him, slow eddie and potato or tomato spud wrote on Feb 9, 2007 1:05 PM:

" I recommend that you both pay a visit to Boozeman and Hoff Eye clinic and or a visit to Ozark Guidence would be in order because it is obvious both of you are either delusional or blind. I'm starting to wonder if we should expel you both out of country being that you are so clueless as to suggest that "Mexicans" are raping this country, lining up at the welfare office and taking over the world. If you would open your eyes you would notice that the lines at the welfare office consist of mainly your "cousins" clamouring on about how those "damn Mexicans just cut in line!" " Ah wish this laan wood hury, I need ma teeth for to nat!" I also noticed your "sister" the tweeker scratching at her forehead and picking at her scabs, she needs her money quick before the withdrawls start full force! Come to think of it I also noticed when I was driving by the old family farm that there was a line of Mexicans asking your uncle Bubba if he had any work he needed done. Unfortunately Bubba told them he did not need them because he just got his farm subsidy or welfare check for not working his farm, "Sorry illegal amigos, yall go on now, git on outa my cuntry." And Yeah, tspud, what in the world is a tspud, is it "Mexican" for paranoid? "

john wilson wrote on Mar 27, 2007 6:41 AM:

" I have gone through your web site it was heroic. I got plenty data from your site, there was a website which spend gen nigh on Spend Your Free Time at the Finest Five Star Resorts In the Entire World and Still Make More Money than any one. Travel "

Victor wrote on Apr 11, 2007 9:10 PM:

" I want to be an U.S. citizen, but I cannot afford the fee of $490. where can I go to get help for this? "

helpmehelp.u2@hotmail.com wrote on Dec 8, 2008 4:02 AM:

" Who pays for these classes? I heard on the news that the English classes are free! Sure they've got a fee to pay for the N-400 as well as they should. You want to become an American YOU pay for your English classes. I am tired of going into the DMV and seeing info and tapes in every language how in the world can a person obtain a DL listening to a tape in their language and not undertand road signs in the language of the US WHICH is ENGLISH! Give me a break.... "

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