U.S. Citizenship and Integration Grant Programs

U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND INTEGRATION GRANT PROGRAMS

In an effort to promote integration and help lawful permanent residents prepare for U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the availability of two different grants. The grant programs for the Fiscal Year 2010 will make nearly $7 million available for citizenship education across the United States. The money can only be used to provide direct citizenship services to legal permanent residents. Permissible programs under the program include (1) citizenship or civic focused English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction; (2) citizenship instruction; (3) providing educational resources such as textbooks, language software, computers, etc); and naturalization application assistance (including legal services).

Attaining U.S. citizenship is the ultimate goal of a foreign national looking to permanent settle in the United States. The naturalization process can be daunting and should be taken very seriously. Many important rights and privileges are attached to citizenship including the right to vote in local and federal elections, U.S. citizens receive priority placement in bringing certain family members (i.e.marriage based I-130 immigrant visas) to the United States permanently; ability to travel with a U.S. passport; and eligibility for federal jobs.