Please leave no ID!

1. Please leave no ID! We do not wish to be compelled by some provision of the Patriot Act to reveal your status.

2. Citizenship Information Workshop 17 April 2010 Sockwell Center Sponsored by Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable

3. JOINT EVENTS TODAY! • In this room, we will be holding informational seminars on the citizenship application process. • Next door, immigration attorneys will help those who have brought their applications and need help with them. • You may attend either or both. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

4. Citizenship Program • Welcome • Citizenship & Immigration Service • Using Immigration Attorneys • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Local Resources • Conclusion MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

5. Welcome مرحبـا欢迎 Bienvenido • Chris Parr, MCOR Web Master of Ceremonies • Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable • An advisory group to the Plano City Council dedicated to the advancement of the interests of all cultural groups in the City. • Open to all. • Meeting 2nd Tuesday of each month. • 7:00 pm in the Plano City Hall http://www.PlanoMCOR.org MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

6. MCOR at Work • PLANOINTERNATIONALFESTIVAL • Haggard Park, Saturday, 2 October 2010 • Cultural Community Forums • Partnering with Plano City Council • Table Tennis, Kite, Cricket Tournaments • Citizenship Programs • National Day of Prayer • Your Choice Here! MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

7. The Naturalization Process Becoming a United States Citizen MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

8. Naturalization Process General Eligibility Requirements • Filing an Application for Naturalization • The Interview • Naturalization Oath Ceremony *For a list of eligibility requirements and to obtain an Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, go to www.uscis.gov/citizenship. Eligibility requirements for members of the military can also be accessed at www.uscis.gov/military. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 8

9. General Eligibility Requirements • 18 years old at the time of filing • Time as a Permanent Resident • Continuous residence in the United States • Physical presence in the United States • Time living where the application is filed • Good moral character • Understanding of the English language • Knowledge of U.S. civics • Attachment to the U.S. Constitution MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 9

10. General Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of filing the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, and must be lawfully admitted as a Permanent Resident of the United States. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 10

11. General Eligibility Requirements In most cases, applicants must be a Permanent Resident of the United States for a certain number of years prior to filing for naturalization. Time as a Permanent Resident MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 11

12. General Eligibility Requirements Continuous Residence “Continuous residence” means that the applicant has maintained general residence within the United States for a required period of time. Extended absences outside of the U.S. may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence. • Absences between 6 months and 1 year, may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence unless the applicant can prove otherwise. • Absences in excess of 1 year or more during the period when continuous residence is required may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 12

13. General Eligibility Requirements Physical Presence “Physical presence” is the actual time the applicant has been present in the U.S. It measures the total number of days applicants are in the U.S. during the period physical presence is required. • The “physical presence” requirement changes dependingon how the applicant qualifies. • Since “physical presence” is cumulative, trips outside the U.S. count against this requirement. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 13

14. General Eligibility Requirements Time Living Where the Application is Filed • Applicants must live in the USCIS district or State where they apply for naturalization for at least 3 months before filing. • Students who are 18 and older may apply for naturalization within their school’s jurisdiction or, if they are financially dependent upon their parents, where their parents reside. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 14

15. General Eligibility Requirements Good Moral Character • Applicants must demonstrate “good moral character” throughout the statutory period and up to the administration of the Oath of Allegiance. • Commission of certain crimes during the statutory period is an example that demonstrates a lack of good moral character. • The statutory period changes based on how the applicant qualifies for naturalization. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 15

16. General Eligibility Requirements Knowledge of English and Civics Applicants must demonstrate: • An ability to understand, read, write, and speak English • A knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as “civics”) Note: Certain applicants, because of age and time as a Permanent Resident, or because of a medical condition, have different English and civics requirements. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 16

17. General Eligibility Requirements Exemptions from the English Requirement At the time of filing the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400... Lived as a permanent resident in the U.S. for: The applicant is: Applicant does not take the: Applicant must take the: Age 50 20 years English test civics test in their language Age 55 15 years English test civics test in their language Age 65 20 years English test simplified civics test in their language MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 17

18. General Eligibility Requirements Disability Exceptions Applicants with a medical condition that prevents them from acquiring or demonstrating the required knowledge of English and civics may file for an exception to the educational requirements for naturalization. • A doctor must determine if the applicant qualifies for an exception based on a medical condition that prevents the applicant from learning. • A completed Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, should be submitted when filing the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 18

19. General Eligibility Requirements Attachment to the U.S. Constitution • Applicants must show a willingness to support and defend the principles of the Constitution and the laws of the United States. • Applicants declare their “attachment” or loyalty to the United States and its Constitution by taking the Oath of Allegiance at an oath ceremony. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 19

20. Filing an Application for Naturalization Form N-400 • Download the application at:http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf • To order forms by mail, call 1-800-870-3676 or visit: http://www.uscis.gov/forms FOR THE MOST CURRENT FORMS AND FILING FEES, GO TO: http://www.uscis.gov/fees Study materials and practice tests are available for free at: http://www.uscis.gov/newtest MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 20

21. Click “Education and Resources” at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/ MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

22. The Interview • Applicants are placed under oath. • A USCIS Officer reviews Form N-400 and determines if the eligibility requirements are met. • The English and civics tests are administered. If applicants fail either/or both portions of the test, they are afforded a second opportunity to be tested. Applicants receive 2 opportunities to pass the test. • If additional information is required to establish eligibility, the case is continued and a written request for additional documentation is issued to the applicant. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 22

23. Naturalization Oath Ceremony Oath of Allegiance • If the N-400 is approved, applicants will be scheduled for an oath ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. • After taking the oath, applicants become U.S. citizens. • Certificates of Naturalization are prepared and issued as proof of citizenship at the oath ceremony. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 23

24. Questions? MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center 24

25. Using Immigration Attorneys Ann Massey Badmus, Attorney Badmus Immigration Law Firm Dallas, Texas MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

26. What An Immigration Attorney Should Do for You Advise you of the law and your options Recommend your best course of action Represent and defend you before the government Prepare or review all legal documents Monitor the status of your case MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

27. How to Choose a Qualified Immigration Attorney Focused on immigration law Reputation for excellent service (seek referrals) Experience in immigration cases like yours Well-established practice Conducts thorough review of your case MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

28. To Protect Yourself Do not sign blank application, petition, etc. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand! Do not sign false statements. Always get a receipt for payment. Don’t use NON-attorneys. Obtain copies of all submitted documents. Verify representative’s eligibility. Report any unlawful activities. MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

29. National Name Check Program Aaron K Covey Special Agent – FBI: Dallas Field Division Unclassified

30. National Name Check Program Background Authorized in Executive Order 10450 issued April 27, 1953 during the Eisenhower Administration. Addressed personnel security issuesand mandated National Agency Checks (NACs) as part of the pre-employment vettingand background investigation process. Unclassified 30 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

31. National Name Check Program Background Who needs an FBI Name Check: Federal employment - clearances White House functions Admission to Bar Foreign visitors Visa/Green Card or Naturalization Unclassified 31 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

32. National Name Check Program Background Mission: Disseminate information from the FBI’s files in response to requests from our customers. Customers include: Federal agencies United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) Congressional committees Federal Judiciary foreign police and intelligence agencies state and local criminal justice agencies Unclassified 32 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

33. Largest CustomersIncoming FY-09 Name Checks Unclassified 33

34. Name Check HistoryVolume of Incoming Name Check Requests FY01 2,771,241 FY02 3,288,018 FY03 6,309,346 FY04 3,884,467 FY05 3,346,435 FY06 3,616,505 FY07 4,071,020 FY08 3,566,199 FY09 3,327,999 FY10 est. 3.1 Million Unclassified 34 34 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

35. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES 9/11 caused a review of background check procedures used by the INS, resulting in the need for a more detailed, in-depth clearance procedure 35 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

36. The Name Check Process Batch Processing Name Searching File Review Dissemination Unclassified 36 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

37. USCIS – Largest Customer (cont’d) Majority of names submitted via magnetic tape. Each tape can contain up to 10,000 names. Computer processing provides immediate evaluation. “No Records” are immediately identified and downloaded onto a tape returned to USCIS. A “No Record” indicates that the FBI’s index of records contains no record of an individual’s name. Names relevant to FBI investigations are indexed allowing the efficient retrieval of information. Unclassified 37 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

38. Backlog FactorsFY03 Volume of Incoming Name Checks FY96 2,939,521 FY97 2,850,769 FY98 2,148,993 FY99 2,957,525 FY00 2,449,981 FY01 2,771,241 FY02 3,288,018 FY03 6,309,346 FY04 3,884,467 FY05 3,346,435 FY06 3,616,505 FY07 4,071,020 Unclassified 38 38 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

39. Backlog Factors (cont’d) Previously, only “main” hits were checked. Hits where a name is the subject of the file Now, “reference” hits are also reviewed Hits where a name merely appears in a file, but is not the subject of the file 39 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

40. Backlog Factors (cont’d) Factors that may cause a delay in processing a Name Check are:  (1) The volume of incoming name checks (2) The number of hits on a name (3) The processing of common names (4) The accessibility of the FBI record Unclassified 40 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

41. Backlog Factors (cont’d) Unclassified 41 Between Fiscal Year ’07 and Fiscal Year ‘08, the NNCP eliminated a backlog of approximately 544,000 pending name check requests 98% of all incoming name check requests are completed correctly in 30 days or less, with the remaining 2% in < 90 days MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

42. Checking Status of a Name Check The National Name Check Program is a service program dedicated to meeting the name check needs of its customers (the submitting Agency). Because the submitting Agency dictates the order in which name checks are completed, all public inquiries should be directed to the organization that received an individual’s original application. 42 MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

43. QUESTIONS? 43 Unclassified

44. Local Resources • Adult Basic Education: Information and Referral • Eileen Turner, President • Collin County Adult Literacy Council • Citizenship Classes • Gloria Granados • Baptist Immigration Center MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center

45. Conclusion • Please join us in thanking our presenters. • Please pick up brochures and other information from the tables next door. • Please take advantage of bilingual immigration attorneys to ask questions. • Please leave no ID. • Take business cards to contact later. • Join MCOR at www.PlanoMCOR.org MCOR Citizenship; Sockwell Center