Michigan Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Will Hold Citizenship Day 2010 On April 18

Detroit – Prescreening Process Going on Now
TROY, MICH. April 13 2010 —The Michigan chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (MI-AILA) will present Citizenship Day 2010, a workshop providing assistance to non-U.S. citizen state residents eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. The event is taking place on Sun., April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy, MI 48083.

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from all corners of the globe embrace the ideals of freedom and democracy and become U.S. citizens,” according to Scott Cooper, event coordinator. “While the process to become a legal citizen has been greatly improved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, many applicants need assistance to recognize whether they are eligible to apply for citizenship, as well as to prepare the application required of prospective U.S. citizens. That is why we have this assistance event.”

This year, in an effort to streamline the application process, the MI-AILA is conducting a prescreening procedure by phone. The MI-AILA is asking prospective applicants to call 313-638-2249 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. While prescreened individuals will be given appointments and priority, walk-in applicants to the workshop will also be accepted.

Cooper continued, “We are placing further importance on the event this year by adding the prescreening process. Those applicants who go through the prescreening will not only save a great deal of time, but will know beforehand whether or not they are eligible to become a U.S. citizen.”

Those eligible for citizenship include Lawful Permanent Residents who have been permanent residents for four years and nine months, or for two years and nine months if the spouse of a U.S. citizen. Individuals must be able to speak, read, and write English and pass a civics test or qualify for a waiver of those requirements. If these requirements are met, applicants will receive information and an appointment on April 18.

Applicants are charged $20 to cover costs of the program. Those whose cases require referral to an immigration specialist attorney outside of the program may be charged a fee.

Partners for the event are the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, New Detroit, Inc., La Sed, Archdiocese of Detroit — Catholic Charities, Chaldean Federation of America, Freedom House, Association of Chinese Americans, and Polish American Congress.

AILA-Michigan is working in partnership with the Immigration Law Clinic of the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and associate organizations. This event is held in cooperation with USCIS.

David Stoyka
Marx Layne & Co.
dstoyka@marxlayne.com
248-855-6777

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