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.