Taking the Journey to Citizenship

On a drizzly Wednesday morning, the scene at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center in Grand Rapids was anything but dreary. On that day, CADL Library Assistant Paola joined other 195 community members, from 51 countries, to take the Oath of Allegiance. They emerged together as new citizens of the United States.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports that over 16,000 people have applied to become U.S. citizens in 2018. The application process has many steps – After determining your eligibility and being accepted, you must prepare for the Naturalization Interview and Test.

“Eric (CADL Okemos Librarian) was a great help!” said Paola, “He gave me the materials to study for the exam and did a great mock interview that made me aware of things I had to pay attention to for my interview.”

Interested in Obtaining U.S. Citizenship?

If you are looking for help filling out the N-400: Application for Naturalization, check out these resources:

• Michigan Immigration Rights Center (MIRC): The MIRC is a legal resource center for Michigan's immigrant communities. If you are seeking legal assistance, please call (734) 239-6863 for all immigration-related questions and matters.
• St. Vincent Catholic Charities Immigration Law Clinic: 517-323-4734, ext.1800
• Michigan State University Immigration Law Clinic: 517-432-6880
• Citizenshipworks: Citizenshipworks is a free online service that helps you apply for citizenship, step-by-step. They will tell you about any potential problems with your application and connect you to the expert help you need, either online or in person. They also tell you what other documents you need to submit, and what to expect after you apply.

Already preparing for the Naturalization Interview and Test?

CADL is happy to help!

“What makes someone American isn’t just blood or birth but allegiance to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone – from anywhere – can write the next chapter of our story.” – Former President Barak Obama