LOUISIANA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

The following is from a brochure prepared by the Immigration and Refugee Services Program of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans: 

    How Do I Become A U.S. Citizen?

Getting information is an important first step. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a U.S. citizen. 

    Where Can I Get a Citizenship Application?

The citizenship application (Form N-400) is available at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) office at 701 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans as well as at community agencies, including Catholic Charities and the Hispanic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. 

    When Can I Apply?

You can apply for U.S. citizenship after you have lived in the U.S. for five years as a permanent resident or after three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen. Count five or three years from the date you became a permanent resident. In fact, you can apply for citizenship three months before you reach that date. Look on the back of your "green card" to find the date. 

    Who Can Become A Citizen?

You can become a U.S. citizen if you meet these requirements: 

You are a permanent resident. 

You have been a legal permanent resident for five years or three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen. 

You have lived in the U.S. for at least 2 1/2 years (50%) of the five-year period or 1 1/2 years (50%) of the three-year period if you are married to a U.S. citizen. 

You have lived for more than three months in the INS District in which you will submit an application. 

You are 18 years old or older. 

You have good moral character. 

    What Does "Good Moral Character" Mean?

Good moral character means: 

You did not lie to the INS when you got your permanent residence. 

You intend to be a good citizen, pay taxes and have registered (or intend to register) for the military if you are a male between your 18th and 26th birthdays. 

You have not committed certain crimes. If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime or have a pending criminal case talk to a lawyer or a community agency before filling out your citizenship application. 

You are not involved in illegal activity such as drug use and trafficking, prostitution or gambling. 

You are not a current member of the Communist party or Nazi party. 

If any of the above apply to you, get legal counsel before filling out your application. 

    Do I Have To Know How To Speak and Write English?

Yes, (unless you meet certain age and residency exemptions or you are physically unable to do so and are granted a waiver by the INS) your spoken and written English will be tested. You will also need to pass a basic test on U.S. history and government. However, if you are more than 50 years old and have been a permanent resident for 20 years OR you are more than 55 years old and have been a permanent resident for 15 years, you may take the test on U.S. history and government in your own language. 

If you are at least 65 years old and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, you may be permitted to take a simplified test on U.S. government and history in your own language. 

You may choose to be tested at your INS interview or before your interview at an approved English and citizenship test site. Call Catholic Charities at 523-3755, ext. 2608 for information on how to register for the English and Citizenship test in the New Orleans area. 

    What Do I Need To Fill Out The Citizenship Application?

You need the following information to fill out your citizenship application (Form N-400). In most cases you will not need an original copy of the document. Here's a checklist to help you prepare: 

Social Security Number 

"Green Card" 

Dates of any trips taken outside of the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident, including trips to Canada. 

Home address for the last five years. 

List of employers for the last five years. Include the name of the company, addresses, dates of employment, and your job positions. 

Information about your spouse (even if not a legal resident): Name, address, birth date, date and place of marriage, and social security number (if applicable). If he/she is a naturalized citizen, you will need the place and date of naturalization. You must give this information, even if your spouse or children are not legal residents, or you may have problems in the future. 

If you have been married before or if your present spouse has been married before, you will need the following information: Name of prior spouse, date of marriage, date marriage ended, how marriage ended, and immigration status of prior spouse. 

Children's information (including those from previous marriages even if they are not legal residents): Name, date of birth, place of birth, and residency number. 

Police records: If you were arrested for any reason, including drunk driving, you need the dates of arrest, charges, and court ruling of each offense. 

It is strongly recommended that if any of these charges resulted in a conviction, you should talk to someone with experience in immigration law. 

Selective Service Number: This applies to males only. 

If you have not registered and you are between 18 and 26 years old, you need to go to a U.S. post office or local library to register. 

If you were born after 1960 and lived in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 26 years old and did not register, you need to get an "information letter" excusing you. 

If you have registered but do not know your number or need an "information letter", call (708)688-6888. 

When you fill out your application with the INS office, you should also include: 

$95.00 personal check or money order to cover the costs of processing your application 

One fingerprint chart 

Two identical passport sized photos (2" X 2") 

A photo copy of both sides of your "green card". 

After you turn in your application, you will receive a letter notifying you of your interview date. This letter will tell you if you need to bring any other documents to your interview. You will, of course, need to bring your "green card" to the INS interview. 

If you haven't already passed a standardized citizenship test or the amnesty 312 test, the examiner will ask you questions about U.S. history and government and give you a short dictation - a spoken sentence which you must write down. If you do not pass the test, you will be sent a notice with a new date to retake the test. You can take the test two times and in some cases three. 

At the interview you will also be asked questions about your application and whether or not you have taken the English and Citizenship test. 

    Do I Need A Lawyer To Fill Out The Application?

No you do not need a lawyer to fill out this form unless your case is complicated. Complicated cases may, for example, involve arrests and/or convictions for crimes, questions about moral character, or questions about travel abroad. Many community organizations, churches and legal assistance organizations offer help filling out routine citizenship applications for little or no cost. In the New Orleans area Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (523-3755, ext. 2608) and the Hispanic Apostolate (486-1983) offer low-cost help to low income individuals who need assistance completing the N-400. 

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