Staff noticed a need to expand citizenship education beyond simply assisting patrons in obtaining necessary forms and study materials. Individuals seeking to apply for citizenship face multiple challenges. These challenges include wide misinformation and unauthorized practitioners of immigration law that charge steep fees for filling out simple paperwork or providing unauthorized legal advice.

By providing the community with a “one-stop shop” to study civics content, ask procedural questions and improve their English skills, the citizenship program has become immensely popular. Past activities have included a visit from Google for a virtual reality tour of Ellis Island. The highlight for most students is the tour of the USCIS regional office, after which many report that they feel ready to take the next step in their citizenship journey.

The citizenship program at SAPL covers all facets of the citizenship process, from eligibility and filling out paperwork to what to expect at the naturalization ceremony. In particular, the behind-the-scenes look at what to expect at the interview helps demystify the experience, calm fear about the process and prepare participants for what’s to come. The goal of the program is to ensure participants are prepared to advance through the process of obtaining citizenship.