College sponsors help with citizenship applications

MOSES LAKE - People who have permanent resident status but want to become U.S. citizens will have a chance to talk with volunteers experienced in immigration issues at Citizenship Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, April 27, at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE.

Four Citizenship Days are planned in the state by the Washington New Americans Program (WNAP), but the Moses Lake event is the only one in Eastern Washington. Citizenship Day is for people who have already obtained permanent resident status, not for people without documents, said Sandy Cheek, the college's director of adult basic skills.

The naturalization process is dynamic and not static, Cheek said, meaning there are frequent changes in the rules and everyone, applicants and consultants alike, must keep up.

The college sponsors citizenship classes which prepare people to take the test, Cheek said, but no one at the college gives advice on the naturalization process. "That's why this is a great add-on," she said. This is the third year BBCC has hosted the event, she said, and it has experienced good participation.

"I'm optimistic that every year we do this, it's going to grow," Cheek said.

Immigration attorneys and paralegals, interpreters and other volunteers help people navigate the naturalization process. They provide information about the process and the requirements, help with the application and legal review of completed applications.

Translators will be available, but it might speed up the process if applicants bring their own translators, Cheek said. Volunteers are being sought, especially to help with translating, she said. Potential volunteers can get more information on the WNAP website.

Applicants should bring their permanent resident card (commonly called a green card), their 2012 tax return and W-2, and a list of names and ages of spouses and children and their documentation. Applicants also should bring a list of residences in the last five years, a list of employers in the last five years, and documentation of any time the applicant has spent outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident.

Other documents may be required depending on individual circumstances. Those include marriage or divorce, family not living with the applicant and whether or not applicants have been charged with or convicted of crimes. A complete list of required documents can be found on the WNAP website.

The process includes a $680 fee, which can be waived for low-income applicants. More information will be available at Citizenship Day.