Beginning Jan. 15, Alliance San Diego will hold a series of naturalization educational forums and assessment workshops in the South Bay to assist community members in becoming citizens before 2020 elections.
Alliance San Diego is a community organization that aims to empower diverse people and organizations through work in civic engagement, human rights, educational equity and tax and fiscal policy.
“Really the time is now and waiting any longer wouldn’t allow them to participate in this upcoming election if they want to have the opportunity to vote in local, state and federal elections… you can’t wait any longer,” Immigrant Integration Manager Itzel Maganda Chavez said.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, the average processing time for naturalization applications during the 2019 fiscal year in the U.S. was about 10 months. In San Diego, the estimated time for naturalization application processing is seven to 11 months, according to the website.
“2020 is going to be a big year, it already started as such with national news and there is an election that is right around the corner. We wanted to focus on naturalization because it is something that people can do proactively,” Chavez said.
The educational forum will provide attendees with information about eligibility requirements, fees and what the entire naturalization process looks like. Chavez said language is a common hurdle for those who wish to begin the naturalization process, and Alliance will help people overcome that hurdle.
Ideally, Chavez said people will attend an education forum first, then an assessment workshop and then make an application assistance appointment. No registration is necessary for the educational forums or the assessment workshops.
At the assessment workshops, Department of Justice accredited representatives and immigration attorneys will be present to evaluate whether individuals are eligible for naturalization.
Chavez said attendees do not have to bring any documentation with them to get assessed, but it is helpful for them to know if they have some kind of immigration history or criminal history.
NATURALIZATION ASSESSMENT FORUMS
Saturday, January 22, 2020 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Casa Familiar, Civic Center (212 W Park Ave, San Diego, CA 92193) Street parking only.
Saturday, February 1, 2020 from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Southwestern College, Library/Learning Resource Center (900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910) Free parking is available in Lot C.
Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Mercado Apartments, Community Room (2001 Newton Ave, San Diego, CA 92113) Street parking only.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Casa Familiar, Civic Center (212 W Park Ave, San Diego, CA 92193) Street parking only.
Naturalization Educational Forum
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Southwestern College, Academic Success Center: Dreamer Center (900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910) Free parking is available in Lot C.
Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Mercado Apartments, Community Room (2001 Newton Ave, San Diego, CA 92113) Street parking only.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Southwestern College, Cesar E Chavez Students Services: EOPS Office (900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910) Free parking is available in Lot C.
