4 New Citizens Today!

Four more of our clients were sworn in as US Citizens today. Three of the four are from Cape Cod. They range in age from 51 to 81, and come from Brazil, Thailand, Germany, and Portugal--three continents!

12 additional clients had their Naturalization Interviews today, and will have their Oath Ceremonies in the near future.

66 of our 289 clients have now become citizens, and over 70 more have applied and are awaiting interviews or ceremonies. Congratulations to all!

Student says "take this class!"

One of our students stopped by our Citizenship Preparation Class this week. She made the trip to the USCIS office in Boston earlier in the week for her naturalization interview. She passed, and she wanted to tell her classmates about the experience.

Her main words of advice: "You need this class. Tell everyone you know who is applying for citizenship--you need this class."  In addition to the basics of learning the answers to the 100 possible questions, she said that the background the class gives on the entire process, including the questions and the interview itself, gave her confidence to sail through the interview.

We are very proud that of 108 students in our classes since November 2011, 26 have passed the citizenship test and 15 more have interviews scheduled. The remainder are working through the process.

The class works!

Naturalization Workshop in Hyannis Thursday 12/13 6:30-8:00PM

Catholic Social Services' legal staff will be on hand for a Naturalization Workshop on Thursday, December 13 from 6:30-8:00PM at our offices at 261 South Street, Hyannis.  We will help complete the N400 Application for Naturalization, and answer questions about the process of becoming a US Citizen.

Please contact Alanna Keane, akeane@cssdioc.org or 508-674-4681 for more information.

10 of our clients became citizens in November!

Congratulations to our ten clients who were sworn in as new US Citizens this month.  They came from Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Columbia, England, Guatemala, Philippines, and Portugal, showing the diversity of the immigrant population in Southeastern Massachusetts.

We are proud to have helped these new citizens through the Naturalization process.

New Citizens on USS Massachusetts in Fall River

Four of our clients were among the 38 new US Citizens sworn in on the USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove, Fall River, in honor of Veterans Day on November 9, 2012.

This brief video of the event, "The Promise of Freedom,"  is from the Boston Globe website: http://www.bostonglobe.com/2012/11/09/2IA6vWZxgujsg1bT1Yl9CN/story.html

Naturalization Workshop November 14

Our next Naturalization Workshop:

New Citizens: Still time to register

If you are a Massachusetts resident sworn in as a US Citizen after the voter registration deadline of October 17, you  can still register to vote. Take your naturalization papers to the town clerk in the town where you live by 4PM on Monday, November 5, and you can register and be eligible to vote on November 6.

Other states have different requirements. If you do not live in Massachusetts, check with your local election official or with the nearest office of the League of Women Voters (http://www.lwv.org/get-involved/local-leagues).

Upcoming Citzenship Events in SE Massachusetts

We offer Citizenship Classes and Naturalization Workshops throughout the region. All are welcome to participate, and all of our services are free of charge.

Our Citizenship Preparation Classes, covering English, US History, and Civics, continue. Students are welcome to join at any time.

Hyannis
Catholic Social Services
261 South Street
Hyannis, MA
Thursdays, 6:00-9:00PM

Fall River
Catholic Social Services
1600 Street
Fall River, MA
Mondays, 6:00-9:00PM

New Bedford
St. James St. John School
180 Orchard Street
New Bedford, MA
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-7:30PM

We are also conducting Naturalization Workshops this Fall. Our legal staff assists with completing the N400 Application for Naturalization and answers questions about the process of becoming a US Citizen.

Wednesday, November 14, 6:30-8:00PM

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
230 Bonney Street
New Bedford, MA

Thursday, December 13, 6:30-8:00PM

Catholic Social Services
261 South Street
Hyannis, MA

Sean Gonsalves-Cape Cod Times 10/7/2012

Sean Gonsalves, columnist for the Cape Cod Times, came to our Citizenship Preparation Class in Hyannis last week.  This is one of three classes currently running in Southeastern Massachusetts (the others are in Fall River and New Bedford).

Sean spent time with students and with our staff, and approaches the subject from the aspect of what it means to our clients to aspire to US Citizenship. Read the full column at: http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121007/NEWS/210070335/-1/NEWS31

Workshop with MIRA Coalition in Brockton Sept 22

As proud members of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), we participated in Naturalization Workshop in Brockton on Saturday, September 22. MIRA and partners helped over 200 Legal Permanent Residents with Applications for Naturalization. See Coverage in boston.com and miracoalition.org.

Naturalization Workshops this week

Our Naturalization Workshop in Hyannis last week was very successful. We will  conduct two more workshops in September.

Wednesday September 19, 6:30-8:00PM
Mt. Carmel Church
230 Bonney Street
New Bedford, MA

Saturday September 22, 11:00AM-2:00PM
Brockton High School (Red Cafeteria)
470 Forest Avenue
Brockton, MA

Our legal staff assists with completing the N400 Application for Naturalization and answers questions about the process of becoming a US Citizen.

Spread the word and/or join us!

15 New Citizens!

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) held a huge Naturalization Ceremony in Boston on September 11, 2012.  Among the 2500 new citizens were 15 of our clients from 9 countries.  We are very proud and happy to have been a part of this event.

Congratulations to all of our new US Citizens!

Please follow this link for WGBH's coverage of the event http://www.wgbhnews.org/post/becoming-us-citizen-911 .

September Citizenship Events

In September, we will be offering Citizenship Classes and Naturalization Workshops throughout the region. All are welcome to participate, and all of our services are free of charge.

Our Citizenship Preparation Classes, covering English, US History, and Civics, will resume in September after a brief break.

Hyannis resumes September 27
Catholic Social Services
261 South Street
Hyannis, MA
Thursdays, 6:00-9:00PM

Fall River resumes September 24
Catholic Social Services
1600 Street
Fall River, MA
Mondays, 6:00-9:00PM

New Bedford continues September 04
St. James St. John School
180 Orchard Street
New Bedford, MA
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-7:30PM

We are also conducting three Naturalization Workshops in September. Our legal staff assists with completing the N400 Application for Naturalization and answers questions about the process of becoming a US Citizen.

Wednesday September 12, 6:30-8:00PM
Catholic Social Services
261 South Street
Hyannis, MA

Wednesday September 19, 6:30-8:00PM
Mt. Carmel Church
230 Bonney Street
New Bedford, MA

Saturday September 22, 11:00AM-2:00PM
Brockton High School (Red Cafeteria)
470 Forest Avenue
Brockton, MA

241 Clients in 11 Months

Citizenship Services Program
Catholic Social Services of Fall River

As we close August, we celebrate our continued progress in helping Legal Permanent Residents attain US Citizenship. The results of our first 11 months of operation:

Clients
241 clients from 33 countries

New Citizens
45 total
28 sworn in
17 more (so far) have fulfilled requirements and will be sworn in

Applications
97 applications submitted on behalf of clients
40 acted upon (interviews occurred or scheduled)
57 awaiting notification of their interview/test date

Citizenship Preparation Classes
84 students enrolled

See our videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-9Yf8wxWSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lZi26vEbEk

More about us:
www.cssdioc.org/services/immigration, www.facebook.com/CSPatCSS, www.twitter.com/@CitizenshipServ

Voter Registration for New Citizens in Masachusetts

With the Presidential election drawing near, and many of our clients in the process of becoming citizens and looking forward to their first vote, we should take a look at voter registration procedures. Note the big "however" for those who become citizens between October 17 and Election Day.

There are many differences by state, and there's a lot going on around the country, but here's what is required in our service area in Massachusetts. Check with your local election official for variations by location (particularly outside of Massachusetts).

Registration is accomplished with the local election official (often the Town Clerk, but not always; larger towns and cities may have a separate offical).  There is a list of local officials by town at  http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm

The Secretary of State's web site has the details of what's required to register in Massachusetts: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm

In Massachusetts, the deadline for registering to vote in the 2012 general election on November 6 is October 17, 2012.

HOWEVER: anyone who becomes a US Citizen after the deadline but before Election Day has until 4PM the day before the election to register. This is the only exception. (See http://lwvboston.org/wp-content/uploads/english_4-27-09.pdf or http://www.lwvboston.org/voter-information/--it refers to Boston, but applies statewide--see above for the election official in your town). Note that other states may have different laws.

So, if your Naturalization Ceremony (swearing-in ceremony) is after October 17 but before November 6, 2012, you may register to vote up until 4PM on November 5. It may be possible to register, or to receive registration materials, at the ceremony.

See the current mail-in registration form (http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2012-Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf) for a look at the information required.

We are proud to have helped many new voters this year.  Congratulations!

New Video with Radio Segment on WCAI

We just posted a video of the radio piece on our program on WCAI. Reporter/Producer Sean Corcoran did a great job of capturing the emotion of a Naturalization Ceremony, and of reporting on the services we provide. Congratulations to Rayon, to all our clients who have become new US Citizens, and to our clients who are working through the process.
http://youtu.be/1lZi26vEbEk

Citizenship Services Program

The Citizenship Services Program (CSP) helps Legal Permanent Residents become naturalized citizens through Citizenship Preparation classes and legal support throughout the process of becoming a US Citizen.

We operate throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands under a grant to Catholic Social Services of Fall River from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Grant Award Number 2011-CS-010-000006).

CSP includdes 4 components, all free of charge.

• Citizenship Preparation Classes--classes in English, US History, and Civics to prepare for the Citizenship Exam
• Naturalization workshops where our legal staff assists with completing the N-400 Application for Naturalization
• Legal representation throughout the process
• Tutoring in English and/or test preparation (for clients who cannot attend our classes or who require additional assistance

We offer Citizenship Preparation Classes in three locations:
          Fall River:        Catholic Social Services, 1600 Bay Street, Mondays 6:00-9:00PM
          Hyannis:          Catholic Social Services, 261 South Street, Thursdays 6:00-9:00PM
          New Bedford: St. James-St. John School, 180 Orchard Street, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:30PM
Students may join a class at any time.

Workshops are offered regularly at locations throughout the region. Please see http://cssdioc.org/services/immigration/workshops.html  for the current schedule and locations. Workshops are planned for Falmouth on August 23, and for Brockton, Hyannis, and New Bedford in September.

Since CSP's beginning in October, 2011:

• 222 clients from 32 countries have registered in the program for Citizenship Instruction and/or Naturalization Application Services
• 28 of our clients are now US Citizens; 2 more have passed their interviews and will be sworn-in as citizens in the near future
• 77 clients enrolled in our classes. Our third 18-week session will begin in September 2012 at each of our three locations 
• 86 clients worked with our legal staff on their Applications for Naturalization, and we submitted applications on their behalf. 22 of these clients are now citizens.  The remaining 64 are in various stages of the USCIS process (awaiting interview, passed interview but awaiting ceremony, etc.)
• 65 clients received legal assistance with Applications for Naturalization at 14 Naturalization workshops in 7 locations (Attleboro, Fall River, Hyannis, New Bedford, Orleans, Provincetown, Taunton)
• 9 tutors worked with 17 students throughout the region

All Legal Permanent Residents are welcome to participate in any or all of our services.

Contact: Lemuel Skidmore, Project Manager, 508-771-6771, lskidmore@cssdioc.org

              Ashlee Reed, Naturalization Caseworker, 508-674-4681, areed@cssdioc.org

See facebook.com/CSPatCSS, twitter.com/@CitizenshipServ,  www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-9Yf8wxWSY for more details and current news.

Clients become citizens in Fall River--Video

This video, posted by the Fall River Herald News, shows 51 people being sworn-in as US Citizens on the USS Massachusetts in Fall River.

Four of our clients are in this group--that's 28 new citizens from our program since we began in October, 2011. Congratulations all!

Immigrant Songs from NPR 4th of July Show

Thanks to National Partnership for New Americans (twitter.com/@NPNA) for this.

Video on Citizenship Services Program

It's worth re-posting this video, describing our program with scenes from one of our Citizenship Preparation Classes, from two of our Naturalization Workshops, and from a Naturalization Ceremony where one of our clients became a US Citizen.

Note: You really need external speakers or headphones to hear the client testimonial at the beginning. The rest of the audio is fine.