Becoming a citizen is a monumental achievement for Louisiana immigrants. However, it is not always an easy path, and many find they are met with unexpected hurdles. The U.S. government recently announced that it will spend as much as $10 million to make the process a little smoother for immigrants hoping to obtain citizenship.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to provide grants through the Citizenship Assimilation Grant Program. The agency says it has up to $10 million in grants to help subsidize the cost of citizenship preparation programs. These programs take place all across the nation and help immigrants prepare for the process ahead of them. The agency also addressed concerns about where the money would come from, saying fees and other funds it collects through regular operation are sufficient for supporting the grant program.
The goal of the grants is to make sure that every immigrant has access to a high-quality program. The USCIS is targeting two specific categories which are apparently lacking, one of which is Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Applications Services, which provides application services and citizenship education for legal residents. The Refugee and Asylee Assimilation Program will also see some grants coming in.
Getting the right help when seeking citizenship is essential. Immigration law is extremely complicated and even small mistakes can derail an application. Louisiana immigrants who choose to seek guidance from someone experienced in this area of law may feel as though they are better prepared when starting down the path to become a U.S. citizen.