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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!
Tuan Nguyen (Vietnam) - July 26, 2023 (tutors: Nancy Hunter and Carine Seeve)
Elan Yi (China) - February 15, 2023 (tutor: Cindy Martinez)
Indiana Estoruno (Nicaragua) - January 22, 2023 (tutor: Evan O'Neill)
"Thanks to Lynne and Cindy's help, I was able to pass the test and become a citizen of this great country. I feel proud, honored, and grateful. You helped me to achieve this milestone in my life. In this free country, I can freely express myself, I have the power to vote, without worrying about renewing my green card every 10 years, and I am able to visit many countries with a landing visa. This is amazing!" ~Elan Yi
Leony Romero Garrido (Colombia) - January 19, 2023 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Felicidade Oliveira (Cape Verde) - August 30, 2022 (self-prepared)
Fatemeh Oyar Hosseini (France) - August 4, 2022 (tutor: Audrey Bulger)
Alberto Antonio Maradiaga (El Salvador) - February 18, 2022 (tutor: Linda Barca)
Hong Yan (China) - October 27, 2021 (tutor: Sarah Marshall)
Huiyu Ye (China) - October 25, 2021 (tutor: Ann Finley)
"I thank the ESL-Citizenship program that helped me become a citizen. I also thank the USA for giving me the opportunity to be an American citizen. I am happy that my status in the US is better now. I don’t have to renew my papers all the time, I have more opportunities and I can vote." ~ Alberto Antonio Maradiaga
Lang Phu (Vietnam) - October 1, 2021 - (tutor: Kurt Adams)
Ugochukwu Reginald Clement Ononibaku (Nigeria) - August 2, 2021 (self-prepared)
Kroeusna Kry (Cambodia) - June 25, 2021 (tutor: Peggy Tibbett)
“I am happy to be an American citizen and I am going to do my best to contribute my quota to make America great." ~ Ugochukwu Reginald Clement Ononibaku
Brian Pham (Vietnam) - September 30, 2020 (tutor: Bonnie Vigeland)
Tran Nguyen (Vietnam) - August 17, 2020 (tutor: Tim Logan)
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)
"Becoming a U.S. resident was my first success. Becoming a U.S. citizen was my second success. Pursuing the opportunities that this country has offered me is my third success. I cannot thank this country enough for all of these successes! I have completed my dream of becoming a U. S. citizen. I am proud of myself but also appreciative of all that this country has given to me." ~ Brian Pham
Jingxin Xu (China) - May 14, 2019 (tutor: Kurt Adams)
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)
Mahendra Sapkota (Nepal) with tutor Dexter Eldridge - December 20, 2017
Muhammad Ramzan Paracha (Pakistan) - December 20, 2017 (tutor: Mustafa Onur Yildirim)
Nafie Diopsane (Senegal) - December 20, 2017 (tutor: Dimi DeRose)
"Thank you United States for considering me a citizen of the free world. I really feel that since many doors are open for me now, I will try my best to use them for good and to serve the country."
~ Mahendra Sapkota
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)
"When I became USA citizen, I felt so proud. Because we can vote to choose good leadership in our country to make the USA better. Now I have so many opportunities for employment. My son also became a citizen. Now he also has opportunities for a bright future. Our family is safer now we are all citizens." ~ Sabita Lamichhane
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)
Prabin Sapkota (Nepal) - December 2, 2015 (tutors: Chris Hurn and Ellen Silverberg)
"I am so thankful to the United States for granting me citizenship. I’ve been a refugee my whole life, so becoming a citizen means a lot to me. I am grateful for all the opportunities given to me from learning English for the first time at Jones Library to having freedom to do anything and go anywhere I want. This country opened its arms and took care of me and my family when we immigrated, which I will never forget. I am proud to call myself an American." ~Tashi Choden
"On the day I became a Citizen, I felt a thousand pounds was lifted from my shoulders. After so many years in exile, I finally felt that the ground under my feet was safe to put my feet down and walk my life. I finally felt a sense of belonging. The feeling of belonging to the mightiest country, to the land of opportunity and to the land of freedom was indescribable. I feel very blessed. America gave me a home away from home with plenty of rooms called freedom, safety, opportunity and human rights for which I am forever grateful. God bless The United State of America!" ~ Becky Lexial
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)
Becoming American… means a lot to me. I am free here and my son has a chance for a good life. I have a happy life here. I have free speech and free religion here. ~ Dekyi Paldon
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)