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| APALC & elected officials urging eligible AAPIs to apply for citizenship. |
Joined by Congresswoman Judy Chu and Assemblyman Mike Eng, APALC announced today the launch of an ambitious statewide campaign to encourage AAPI in California to become US citizens (press release). According to APALC executive director Steward Kwoh, there are more than 800,000 AAPIs who can become a citizen in California, nationwide the number is even higher, about 2.9 million people!
"In LA alone, 245,000 AAPIs are eligible and many of them are right here in the San Gabriel Valley," Eng said. "We want to help answer their questions and help them to become new US citizens."
Why should you become a citizen? "Naturalization is a key entry point into full civic and political participation," Chu said. It is also important for citizens to register as voter, especially when California begins the "open primary" (also known as Top Two primary) voting system next year.
Besides that, as a US citizen, you can sponsor your spouse, parents, children (regardless of their marital status and age) and siblings to obtain their legal status here in the US. As oppose to as a green card holder, you can only sponsor your spouse and unmarried children.
Who is eligible for citizenship? According to Mark Yoshida, APALC's staff attorney, in order to naturalize, an individual must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a permanent resident (green card holder)
- have continuously resided in the US for at least 5 years as a permanent resident
- have been physically present in the US for at least 2.5 years
- demonstrate good moral character
- have a basic understanding of US government and history
- be able to understand, speak, read and writer basic English (exceptions: at least 55 years old and have been a green card holder for at least 15 years; at least 50 years old and have been a green card holder for at least 20 years; have a disability that prevents you from learning English)
The no-cost citizenship workshop series kicks off next Saturday (3/26) at the Rosemead Community Center at 3936 Muscate Ave., Rosemead (map) from 10am-4pm.
The free services include
- checking your eligibility for citizenship
- completing your citizenshiop application
- filing your application with USCIS
- helping you prepare for your interview
Be sure to
- make an appointment (calling 213-977-7500)
- bring 2 passport-style photos
- bring the $680 USCIS filing/fingerprint fee ($959 if 75 or older)
Future workshops will be held in Sacramento (April), Orange County (June), San Jose (September), Fresno (October) and San Francisco Bay area (November) co-host by APALC and its partner agencies.
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你是符合資格但卻又未申請歸化為美國公民者嗎？亞太法律中心與國會議員趙美心、加州眾議員伍國慶18日敦促加州80萬名符合資格的亞太裔民眾，盡早申請入籍美國，以享有公民的權益和福利。
據了解，全美有290萬符合資格卻未申請入籍的亞太裔人士，而在洛杉磯縣則有約24.5萬人。為了協助這些符合資格者早日完成「美國夢」、成為美國公民，亞太法律中心與其合作夥伴組織，今年裡在加州六個城市舉行免費公民入籍班，其中第一場將在下周六(3/26)上午十時至下午四時於柔似蜜社區中心（地址3936 Muscate Ave.,）舉行。
趙美心表示，取得公民權能享有公民的福利，其中包括投票權。此外，公民也可以申請配偶、父母、子女及兄弟姐妹來美合法定居，相對的，綠卡持有人只能申請配偶及未婚子女。
針對一些華裔擔心一旦入籍後會被抽中作陪審員，伍國慶指出，據他了解當局是按照車管局的檔案去召募人選，而不是公民或選民登記表。
哪些人符合資格申請入籍？
- 屆滿18歲
- 擁有合法永久居留證（持有綠卡）
- 綠卡持有人必須在美國連續居住至少5年（或在美國連續居住滿3年，並且和一位美國公民結婚至少3年；或在美國連續住滿3年，並且是以家庭暴力倖存者身份拿到綠卡）
- 過去5年裡在美國實際居住時間滿2年半（或是與美國公民結婚=力並且在過去3年裡有至少1年半實際居住在美國）
- 具有良好的品德
- 可以說、讀、寫簡單的英語（除非：年滿55歲，並持有綠卡至少15年；年滿50歲，並持有綠卡至少20年；擁有令你無法學習英語的殘疾狀況）
- 了解關於美國政府和歷史的基本知識（除非擁有令你無法學習這方面知識的殘疾狀況）
免費公民入籍班提供的服務包括
- 確認你的入籍資格
- 填寫你的入籍申請表
- 向美國公民及移民服務局遞交你的申請
- 幫助你準備面試
有意參加者請務必
- 打電話預約（213-977-7500）
- 準備2張護照證件照
- 準備$680入籍申請費／採指紋費（年滿75歲只需$595）
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