Point Reyes Light- November 5, 1998

Fair encourages immigrants to become citizens

West Marin residents interested in becoming US citizens can attend a "Citizenship Fair" from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Dance Palace.

Volunteers fluent in Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Farsi, and Chinese will help people prepare their citizenship applications, Welcome Fawcett, citizenship coordinator at Canal Community Alliance of San Rafael, said last week.

Applications will be carefully reviewed at the fair by citizenship experts and lawyers familiar with immigration issues before the papers are forwarded to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, Fawcett said.

The privacy of all applicants will be safeguarded, Fawcett said. "We absolutely observe confidentiality," she noted. "No controversial information will be given to the INS, and if someone tells us something of concern, we would not report it."

In order to qualify for citizenship, people must have been legal permanent residents for five years or be married to American citizens for three years; have a green card; be able to speak and understand simple English, pass an exam on US government and history; and demonstrate that they have behaved with "good moral character" while residing in the US, she said.

People who wish to complete their citizenship applications at the fair should bring a photocopy of both sides of their green card, and a personal check or money order for $120 payable to the INS. In addition, she said, they should call her office beforehand at 454-2640 and speak with either Lilian Jara or Efrain Chavaria to find out if they need to bring more information.

Those who aren't able to fill out their applications completely will receive followup help after the fair, she said.

Why should folks begin applying for citizenship now? "The timing is important because on Jan. 15, 1999, the application fee will increase to $250. People will save money be applying now."

There are many advantages to becoming a US citizen, she noted. "One of the advantages is that you can leave and re-enter the US freely if you're a citizen. And you can bring in relatives more quickly as a citizen than if you're a legal permanent resident."

In addition, she said, citizenship means security. "If you're an immigrant, rather than a citizen, you have less security in maintaining benefits and rights. I don't mean to scare people, but government benefits such as Food Stamps and SSI [Supplemental Security Income] were almost taken away from some legal residents a couple of years ago.

"Also, immigrants can be deported. Right now that's not happening very much, but if you're a citizen, you can't be deported."

Last but not least, she said, citizens can vote. "This is important. Over the past few years, government candidates have had to pay more attention to immigrant issues because more immigrants have achieved citizenship. It's good to be able to vote, so you can support the candidates and the issues that you believe in."

People who complete their applications at the fair will probably be able to vote in the presidental election scheduled for November, 2000, she said.

Besides the Canal Community Alliance, other sponsors of the fair will include Catholic Charities, Legal Aid of Marin, and the Marin Senior Coordinating Council (Whistlestop), all of which belong to the county Citizenship Services Network.

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