CITIZENSHIP SUPPORT SERVICES
The Need for Expansion
The citizenship application rate has increased 336% over the last 2 years, putting crushing pressure on the IAC’s citizenship support services. With the lack of action by Congress for immigration reform in addition to protections for immigrants being eliminated, these growth trends show every sign of continuing.
%
Increase in applications for citizenship over the last 2 years
The IAC prepares legal permanent residents in the greater New Bedford region to become naturalized, economically contributing U.S. citizens. The IAC encourages everyone who is eligible to pursue U.S. citizenship, as it is their only permanent protection. Citizenship provides the key to participation in the community and local economy, as well as the chance to secure employment and develop self-sufficiency.
The citizenship process is lengthy, complicated, and expensive. Through classroom instruction and individual tutoring, the IAC enables clients to:
- Learn English
- Learn how to use a computer
- Pass a complicated US civics test
- Handle a one-on-one personal interview
- Correctly complete the application
- Pay for or apply for a waiver for a hefty application fee
- Register to vote
When English language and computer skills are achieved, students will be able to access many online tools at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS.gov) to:
- Study for and take practice citizenship tests
- Practice the citizenship interview and oath
- Check case processing times
- Access resources in 25 languages
- Apply for citizenship online
- Use E-verify to self-check employment status
- Help friends and family members access self-service tools including obtaining employment authorization documents, renewing or replacing green cards, filing petitions for family members, obtaining asylum status, and other tools
98%
The high percentage of students who pass the citizenship test
is our strongest measurement of impact.
Sign Up for a Class
Get started on your path. Take a class at the IAC today.
LEARN MORE ABOUT US THROUGH OUR NEWS & UPDATES
‘A lot of questions’: SouthCoast groups hurry to help with DACA renewals
NEW BEDFORD — The Immigrants’ Assistance Center is set to host a DACA information and renewal session and two other community organizations are also available for renewal assistance. “We’re trying to get as many applications through as possible,” said Helena DaSilva...
Hundreds of Portuguese ‘Dreamers’ in legal limbo
It is hard to know numerically how many Portuguese could face deportation due to President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — a reprieve for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children — but...
Help Us Make a Difference
Help a young person get the resources they need for a bright future.
Our Case Managers
Our case managers are multi-lingual, speaking six languages, and multicultural, able to fully understand the subtleties of culturally-based dreams and fears.