Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Introduction

A naturalization group application workshop is a one-day community event that brings professionals and trained volunteers together to assist Lawful Permanent Residents in completing the Application for Naturalization (N-400).  The workshop is an essential tool for efficiently and effectively providing naturalization assistance to large numbers of people.  The success of the workshop model depends on careful planning, thorough training of staff and volunteers, and high quality services. The purpose of this toolkit is to help charitable immigration programs achieve a successful workshop. The forms and sample documents can be used as is or adapted by local programs for their own needs.

We welcome your feedback on this toolkit and its utility. Also, if you have any documents your agency has developed that you would like to send us for inclusion in the toolkit, or suggestions for additional materials to include, please send these to lburdick@cliniclegal.org. 

General

Chapter Describing the Naturalization Group Application Workshop Model from CLINIC's Report "A More Perfect Union: A National Citizenship Plan"

Planning & Organizing

• USCIS Guidelines for Photographs

• USCIS Policy Guidance on Fee Waivers (July 2007)

• USCIS Policy Guidance on Granting Fee Waivers (March 2004)

• USCIS Fact Sheet on the Child Citizenship Act of 2000

• List of Items for Applicants to Pick Up at Handout Table
  

• Flyer and Order Form for Citizenship for Us: A Handbook on Naturalization & Citizenship
  
• Workshop Flow Diagram from Catholic Charities of Bradenton, FL
• U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Handbook by Daniel Levy, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

Outreach

Information for Applicants

• Flyer listing the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen;
  
• Flyer listing the requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization.

Sample Outreach Flyers Announcing Naturalization Workshops:

• Catholic Charities of Bradenton, FL
• Catholic Charities Hogar Hispano, Falls Church, VA
• Catholic Charities of Dallas with NALEO and State Representatives
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
  
• American Immigration Lawyers Association DC Chapter

Volunteers

Sample Flyers for Recruiting Volunteers

• Catholic Charities of Houston
• Catholic Charities of Dallas with NALEO and State Representatives

List of tasks or responsibilities for workshop volunteers

Volunteer application form

Volunteer orientation information from Catholic Charities Hogar Hispano

Volunteer feedback survey from Catholic Charities of Bradenton, FL

Forms for Agencies to Use in the Workshop

Workshop registration form

Sample Eligibility Screening/Intake Forms

• Sample intake form from AILA/Central American Resource Center
• Sample intake form from Catholic Charities Hogar Hispano

Checklist of stations for workshop participants

Sample waiver of liability from Catholic Charities Hogar Hispano

Quality control checklist

Checklist of contents for the citizenship application package

Sample client information/ instruction sheet from Catholic Charities of Bradenton, FL

Attachments for the N-400

CLINIC fee waiver application form

Sample letter explaining failure to register for Selective Service

Sample letter requesting due consideration on the citizenship test

Information for Applicants

Flyer on red flag problems

Information sheet about how to protect yourself from immigration fraud

Information from the Selective Service on how to register

Explanation of English test exemptions based on age and long-term residence

100 Civics Questions for the New Naturalization Test

Translations of the test questions

Vocabulary list for the English reading test

Vocabulary list for the English-writing test