Category: USCIS

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

  • We the People

The Constitution says: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

With the words “We the People,” the Constitution states that the people set up the government. The government works for the people and protects the rights of people. In the United States, the power to govern comes from the people, who are the highest power.

This is called “popular sovereignty.” The people elect representatives to make laws.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

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2. What does the Constitution do?

2. What does the Constitution do?

  • Sets up the government
  • Defines the government
  • Protects basic rights of Americans

The Constitution of the United States divides government power between the national government and state governments. The name for this division of power is “federalism.”

Federalism is an important idea in the Constitution. We call the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution the “Framers” of the Constitution.

The Framers wanted to limit the powers of the government, so they separated the powers into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The Constitution explains the power of each branch. The Constitution also includes changes and additions, called “amendments.”

The first 10 amendments are called the “Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights established the individual rights and liberties of all Americans.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

Download PDF

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

  • The Constitution

The Founding Fathers of the United States wrote the Constitution in 1787. The Constitution is the “supreme law of the land.” The U.S. Constitution has lasted longer than any other country’s constitution.

It establishes the basic principles of the United States government.

The Constitution establishes a system of government called “representative democracy.”

In a representative democracy, citizens choose representatives to make the laws. U.S. citizens also choose a president to lead the executive branch of government.

The Constitution lists fundamental rights for all citizens and other people living in the United States. Laws made in the United States must follow the Constitution.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

Download PDF

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted 16.5% of the total of all the people who became naturalized citizens

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted 16.5% of the total of all the people who became naturalized citizens

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted for 77,655 of all the people who became naturalized citizens.
That is approximately 16.5% of the total.
Another large segment was people originally from Asia who accounted for 35.1% of the total.
The smallest representation was people origination from Republic of Guinea-Bissau (in West Africa) who only had 13 people become naturalized U.S. citizens.
We now call these folks our American brothers and sisters.

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?
 
Did you tell them: “Well I don’t want to because it cost money”, or “I don’t want to because I have a green card and that is just fine”?
 
Well think about this:
 
As a permanent resident, as a “green card” holder as they say, you can still be deported.
You can also be denied entrance to the United States when you are returning back from a trip to another country.
 
Is that really what you want?
 
Or do you want the ability to come and go into and out of the United States whenever you wish? 
Do you want to know that no matter what happens to you in the United States no one is going to put you on a plane, and send you back to some other country?
 
The only way to guarantee that you are secure is to become a U.S. citizen.
 
You don’t know what the future holds, you don’t know when something will come up that will cause you to become ineligible to keep your green card. 
 
But one thing you can count on, the United States does not deport U.S. citizens. Think about it!
Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why would you want to do that?

Here’s one reason – you can vote.
A lot of people think voting is a burden, but it is not. Voting is your way of affecting how the laws are made in this country and which people run the government. This is extremely important; there are many countries all over the world whose citizens can’t vote. The people have no control over the laws or the government. So being able to vote is the number one reason for you to become a U.S. citizen.

Another reason to become a U.S. citizen would be to serve on a jury.
There are many people who think that’s also a burden, but if you are accused of a crime, wouldn’t you want someone like you on your jury? Someone who has been through the same experiences as you? The jury determines whether or not you are innocent or guilty – do you want to be judged by people who know nothing of your life?

One final reason has to do with your rights and responsibilities, that would be that most elected officials in this country can only be U.S. citizens.

So, if you vote that’s great, if you serve on a jury that’s terrific,
But if you really want to make some changes, if you really want to serve your fellow citizens, why don’t you run for office?

Well – you can’t do that until you become a U.S. citizen!

Here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen

Here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen

If you and your children are permanent residents – you all have green cards, here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen:

Here you go –

You have to study. Yes.

You have to pay a fee. Yes.

You have to speak English well enough to pass. Yes.

But if you do that, and if you pass, and if you become a U.S. citizen . . . and you have children living with you in the United States, under the age of 18, who are also “green card” holders, they automatically become U.S. citizens. No charge for the children!! No test for the children!!

Besides the savings, you will have the peace of mind to know that when your children turn 18, they will already be a U.S. citizen, with no chance of being deported. What other reason do you need to naturalize?

America values the contribution of immigrants

America values the contribution of immigrants

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts the world.

America values the contribution of immigrants who continue to enrich this country and preserve its legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity.  When you make a decision to become a US Citizen it is one of the most important decision you’ll ever make.

If you decide to apply and become a US Citizen you’ll be showing your commitment to the United States and your loyalty to the constitution.

In return, you are rewarded with all the rights and privileges that are part of US Citizenship.

Children sworn in as new U.S. citizens in Salt Lake City

Children sworn in as new U.S. citizens in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — (KUTV) – Ten children in Utah, who come from all over the world, have entered 2018 as new citizens of the United States.

They took the Oath of Allegiance and were sworn in last week at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Salt Lake City, in a ceremony that was at times high energy, at times solemn.

“How about another round of applause?” said a man from Samoa who greeted the kids and their families. “Who’s from Ethiopia?”

A girl stood as the audience clapped, followed by other children who hail from Mexico, Taiwan, China, Peru and other countries.

“It feels pretty cool and amazing that now I’m an American citizen,” said 10-year-old Haitham Layth Mohammed Ali, whose family left Iraq when he was two.

A relative of his family said Haitham’s father serves in the U.S. Army.

The oath the kids recited had some words not often used on the playground. Part of it read, ‘I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen…’

Haitham said he did not know “all” the words.

“There were a lot of big words there,” 2News noted.

“Tough for a fifth grader,” he replied with a smile.

Some of the kids’ parents recently became citizens themselves.

Now, as one of the youngest and newest Americans, Haitham has an American dream.

A fan of Steph Curry and LeBron James, he said, “My dream is to succeed in my dream as a basketball player.”

Source link: http://kutv.com/news/local/children-sworn-in-as-us-citizens-in-utah-ceremony

Hurricane Harvey: USCIS Available Immigration Services

Hurricane Harvey: USCIS Available Immigration Services

USCIS offers immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances, including disasters such as Hurricane Harvey.

The following measures may be available on a case-by-case basis upon request:

Changing a nonimmigrant status or extending a nonimmigrant stay for an individual currently in the United States. Failure to apply for the extension or change before expiration of your authorized period of admission may be excused if the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control;

Re-parole of individuals previously granted parole by USCIS;

Expedited processing of advance parole requests;

Expedited adjudication of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;

Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate;

Consideration of fee waivers due to an inability to pay;

Assistance for those who received a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny but were unable to submit evidence or otherwise respond in a timely manner;

Assistance if you were unable to appear for a scheduled interview with USCIS;

Expedited replacement of lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); and

Rescheduling a biometrics appointment.

Note: When making a request, please explain how the impact of Hurricane Harvey created a need for the requested relief.

To learn how to request these measures or determine if an office is open, call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 800-767-1833) or visit USCIS Office Closings.

If your InfoPass appointment was affected by this storm, you can reschedule your appointment online or by calling the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 800-767-1833).

All Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, requirements remain in place. Those affected by Hurricane Harvey should review Form I-9 acceptable documents and receipts for more information on how to complete the Form I-9 if an employee’s documents are lost, stolen, or damaged. Visit I-9 Central for more information.

For more information about how we provide assistance to individuals affected by unforeseen circumstances, visit Special Situations. Or call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 800-767-1833).

For more information about the federal government response to Hurricane Harvey, visit usa.gov/hurricane-harvey.

Last Reviewed/Updated: 08/30/2017

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-alerts-those-affected-hurricane-harvey-available-immigration-services