Information and discussion about our Citizenship Program and about the process of becoming a US Citizen. Of interest to Legal Permanent Residents and providers of naturalization services. We have served 465 clients from 42 countries since Oct 1, 2011. 158 of our clients are now US Citizens, over 90 are awaiting action on their applications. Others are moving through the process. 159 of our clients attended our Citizenship Preparation Classes in Fall River, Hyannis, Nantucket, and New Bedford.
Monday, September 24, 2012
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.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
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 .
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 .
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
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
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
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
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
http://youtu.be/1lZi26vEbEk
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