Community-Based Organizations

Community-based organizations play an important role in supporting immigrants through the naturalization process, which is a community service that strengthens our nation. Organizations can get involved in local citizenship preparation efforts in a variety of ways, such as offering classes or providing space for citizenship and English classes, participating in a naturalization ceremony, or holding an event to promote and celebrate the meaning and importance of U.S. citizenship. Below are ways we can work together.

Outreach Events and Community Engagement

  1. Coordinate with USCIS to offer an information session on naturalization for aspiring citizens and invite a local USCIS representative to present on immigration topics relevant to your community. USCIS sessions are free of charge and open to the public. To invite USCIS to attend an event in your area, contact Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.

  2. Get involved in a naturalization ceremony. The naturalization ceremony is a pivotal milestone in the naturalization process. USCIS aims to make naturalization ceremonies meaningful events in the lives of the participants. If you are interested in participating in or attending a ceremony, please contact Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.

  3. Post naturalization information on your organization’s website to direct users to USCIS web-based resources. To assist you, we have sample web page content (PDF, 44.83 KB) with helpful links to key USCIS resources and information.

  4. Add a widget to your website to easily link to USCIS naturalization information and resources. The widgets are small online applications in English and Spanish that can be embedded on social media sites, blogs, or other web pages to direct users to USCIS web content.

  5. Combat immigration scams. Immigration scams and the unauthorized practice of immigration law pose a serious threat to immigrant communities. A variety of public educational tools are available for distribution on our Avoid Scams web page.

  6. Order one free copy of the Civics and Citizenship Toolkit. The Toolkit contains immigration and citizenship publications designed for organizations with experience working with immigrant communities as well as those who are just getting started. Additional copies are available for purchase through the U.S. Government Bookstore. 

Training and Technical Assistance

  1. Attend a USCIS training event. We offer free citizenship-focused training seminars for adult educators, volunteers, and teachers. These seminars are designed to enhance the skills needed to teach U.S. history, civics, and the naturalization process to immigrant students. 

  2. Download a program development guide (PDF, 8.19 MB) that provides a step-by-step process to create or maintain a high-quality adult citizenship education program. It also includes USCIS products and resources that you can use at each step of the process.

  3. Engage volunteers in adult citizenship education classrooms with a series of training modules developed by USCIS. These training modules are designed to equip adult citizenship education volunteers in community programs with a basic understanding of adult second language acquisition and the naturalization process, including the interview and test. 

Citizenship Education and Naturalization Preparation Grants

Apply for federal funding under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program. Public schools, local public education agencies, and state and local governments can apply for competitive grant opportunities as long as they have demonstrated experience providing citizenship education and/or naturalization preparation services to permanent residents. Future funding opportunities are dependent upon congressional action.

Other USCIS Information

  1. Visit and link to the Citizenship Resource Center at www.uscis.gov/citizenship. This website provides comprehensive naturalization information, study materials, and resources for adult learners, teachers, and organizations that serve immigrants.

    The Citizenship Resource Center also includes downloadable posters and flyers promoting the rights, responsibilities, and importance of U.S. citizenship. You can hang posters and distribute flyers at your organization.

  2. Visit and link to Settling in the U.S., which provides new immigrants with basic information about living in the United States.On this page, you will also find the Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants (PDF, 3.57 MB). This guide contains practical information to help immigrants settle into everyday life in the United States, as well as basic civics information that introduces new immigrants to the U.S. system of government. We offer the guide in 14 languages online or you may purchase it in English, Spanish, and Chinese through the U.S. Government Bookstore.

 

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