Help with citizenship in Seattle
If you are looking for help with citizenship in the Seattle area, there are many affordable and free resources available. Every year, OneAmerica and other organizations offer Citizenship Day workshops around the state. In these free events, legal permanent residents can get help from immigration lawyers, paralegals, and translators to help them apply for U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Citizenship: Understanding the Basics
Naturalization is the process most immigrants must complete to become U.S. citizens. To be eligible to naturalize, an immigrant must have lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, also known as a “green card,” be at least 18 years old, meet durational residency requirements in the U.S., demonstrate good moral character and knowledge of English and U.S. civics as well as an attachment to the principles of the U.S. constitution, and take an oath of allegiance to the United States. The naturalization process involves submitting a 20-page application form, paying a $725 fee, passing an English and civics exam, undergoing background checks and a review of one’s entire immigration history, and completing an interview with the United States Citizenship and immigration Services (USCIS). The final step in the process is the naturalization oath, after which an immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen.
The application and naturalization process can be time-consuming and complicated. It’s VERY important to get advice from an accredited nonprofit legal services organization or a trusted immigration attorney before applying.
Call or text OneAmerica’s citizenship hotline at 206-926-3924, or find out when our next Citizenship Day is, where we offer free legal advice and citizenship application help.
Facts About Citizenship in Seattle
Seattle’s immigrants hail from a range of countries and are essential to the well-being of the state’s economy. 18% of Seattle’s residents – more than 110,000 people – are immigrants who work, live, and pay taxes in the city. Between 2000 and 2014, Seattle’s immigrant population grew 20%, and immigrant-owned businesses generated $2.4 billion in net income in Seattle alone.
Why OneAmerica Believes in the Power of Citizenship
OneAmerica is a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to building power in immigrant and refugee communities. We believe our democracy is stronger when everyone gets to vote and participate.
Since 2008, OneAmerica has operated the Washington New Americans program, with funding from the State of Washington and the help of volunteer attorneys from the American Immigration Lawyers Association of Washington. We organize approximately a dozen Citizenship Day events every year, in different cities in Washington State, to connect residents with high quality legal advice to help them apply for citizenship. Our Washington New Americans program partner organizations offer assistance in their offices year-round by appointment.