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- Our New Citizens
For adults without prior schooling in the United States, it's a long road to citizenship. Our students work one-to-one with a volunteer tutor to learn civics, literacy, and interview skills. This can take several months to several years, depending on the student's skill levels at the outset. Students submit a 10-page application, pay a hefty application fee (currently $680), go through an FBI criminal records check, and finally, appear for a personal background interview (in English) at the USCIS office. If the examiner determines that the student can speak, read, and write English, knows the fundamentals of U.S. history and government, and meets the legal qualifications for citizenship, the student is scheduled for an oath ceremony.
The ESL Center prioritizes services for students we consider to be "at risk" (low literacy, low English proficiency, elderly, with test anxiety or disabilities), and we keep at it until we are sure that they will be able to pass the test when the time comes. Since 1985, 100% of our students have succeeded at their naturalization tests.
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a life-changing event for immigrant students. They can now vote in elections (often for the first time in their lives), sponsor family members to live in the United States, qualify for federal assistance (like social security or financial aid for college), and travel with a U.S. passport (for refugees, this may be the only way to visit relatives in the home country with any degree of safety). Minor sons and daughters of US citizens automatically become citizens when their parents do, so this accomplishment will often have life-changing implications for the entire family.
View our photo gallery of our newest citizens (below) just after their naturalization ceremonies. Congratulations to all of our new citizens and to the dedicated volunteers who helped to ensure their success. Well done!
Brian Pham (Vietnam) - September 30, 2020 (tutor: Bonnie Vigeland)
Jingxin Xu (China) - May 14, 2019 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Mikea Chhan (Cambodia) - May 14, 2019 (tutor: Victoria Dowling); Estrella Subayno (Philippines) - May 14, 2019 (independent study); Leangheng Pok (Cambodia) - May 14, 2019 (tutor: Victoria Dowling)
Nguyet Tran (Vietnam) - May 14, 2019 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Gilberto Cruz (El Salvador) - January 29, 2019 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Yang Dafu (China) with tutor Kurt Adams - October 24, 2018
Laura Moreno (El Salvador) - July 25, 2018 (tutors: Molly McCabe and Lucy Pulitzer)
Huy Tan (Cambodia) - March 14, 2018 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Nafie Diopsane (Senegal) - December 20, 2017 (tutor: Dimi DeRose)
Mahendra Sapkota (Nepal) with tutor Dexter Eldridge - December 20, 2017
Muhammad Ramzan Paracha (Pakistan) - December 20, 2017 (tutor: Mustafa Onur Yildirim)
Chomanee Phongrerk (Thailand) - November 12, 2016 (tutor: Claudia Rhodes)
Carmelina Rosa (El Salvador) - September 18, 2016 (tutor: Emma Lynch)
Sabita Lamichhane (Nepal) - July 4, 2016 (tutor: Nina Weyl)
Prabin Sapkota (Nepal) - December 2, 2015 (tutors: Chris Hurn and Ellen Silverberg)
Tashi Choden (Tibet; center) with son Jamyang & daughter Norzom - May 21, 2015 (tutors: Betsy Mullins & Claire Howard)
Becky "Tina" Lexial (Tibet) - December 2, 2015 (tutor: Dexter Eldridge)
Louis Ryu (Korea) with tutor Dexter Eldridge - October 24, 2014
Dekyi Paldon (Tibet) & son Tenzin with tutor Valerie Gracechild - July 4, 2014
Thavy Be (Cambodia) - March 16, 2015 (tutor: Marilyn Hebert)
Benny (Jianxin) Zhu (China) - March 20, 2014 (tutor: Ruth Melnick)
Lily Loh (Taiwan) - July 4, 2013 (tutor: Jane Braaten)
Cristobal Espinoza (El Salvador) with tutor Claudia Rhodes - July 4, 2013
Sumaiya Sharmin (Bangladesh) - June 12, 2013 (tutor: Karina Borowicz)
Susana Jimenez (Mexico) - March 20, 2013 (tutor: Bette Abrams Esche)
Maria Harris (Cape Verde) - February 7, 2013 (tutor: David Lambert)
Phalla Huon (Cambodia) - October 10, 2012 (tutor: Chanti Chantaval)
Annette Ouch (Cambodia) - September 27, 2012 (tutor: Marilyn Herbert)
Tenzin Tsewang & Tashi Palyan (Tibet) - September 19, 2012 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Maria DeBuri (El Salvador) - September 1, 2012 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Elyin Valenzuela (Nicaragua) with tutor David Lambert - July 4, 2012
Sieng Khun (Cambodia) - May 30, 2012 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Thutop Lobsang (Tibet) - May 30, 2012 (tutors: Valerie Gracechild & Kurt Adams)
Bose Temuwo (Nigeria) - April 18, 2012 (tutor: Carol Fairchild)
Det Sam (Cambodia) - February 29, 2012 (tutor: Stephanie Coy)
Kelsang Caiwengongbao (Tibet) with tutor Dexter Eldridge - October 26, 2011
Ngawang Lobsang (Tibet) & wife Tsultrim - October 26, 2011 (tutor: Bill Holladay)