Chinese Encouraged to Take Up US Citizenship
February 22nd, 2012 by Abby Keane
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct first-ever national Chinese-language public engagement forum at San Francisco. US immigration officials will be present to answer questions about the US naturalization process. This event will also be held in Mandarin and Cantonese, with a belief that it will encourage more Chinese immigrants to become US citizens.
The forum is called “Jiao Liú” (Chinese for Engagement) and officials from USCIS and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be a part of it. Persons who are not able to attend the event in person have to option to participate via teleconference or on the internet. USCIS also plans to concentrate on other areas of immigration benefits in the forthcoming months.
Per the recent US Homeland Security figures, around 220,000 Chinese permanent residents qualify for naturalization.
These forums are the initiative from the USCIS, aimed at providing information for the different communities it serves. There are many reasons why one has to go for citizenship. US Citizens can vote, petition for certain family members from other countries, qualify for certain social benefits and can also run for office. There is also a fee-waiver form available for those who are not able to afford the naturalization application fee.
There are many different eligibility requirements that has to be fulfilled US naturalization. In most cases, the applicant should:
- Be 18 years or older;
- Have continuously resided in the US for five years after becoming a US permanent resident(green card holder) or three years if he/she is married to a US citizen;
- Have spent at least half of the permanent residency period physically in the US;
- Have lived for at least three months in the jurisdiction where he/she files the application;
- Reside continuously within the US from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of receiving the naturalization certificate;
- Be able to read, write, and speak English and also have knowledge and understanding of the US history and government.