USCIS Fee Increase and VOA

I use Voice of America (VOA) frequently in my Senior (multi-level) ESL class. My advanced students are devoted listeners and always share the latest news with the other students. Here is the VOA story on the USCIS fee increase:

Advocates Debate Rise in Fees for US Residency, Citizenship
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-30-voa19.cfm (audio)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-30-voa59.cfm (video)

I plan to keep my eye on the VOA page at ManyThings.org. Hopefully they will follow-up with an activity on this story.

USCIS Fee Increases and ESL1

I tried to explain the fee increase to my ESL 1 students. The students are familar with calendar terms: dates, today, tomorrow, etc. I usually give a five term dictation after warming up with the alphabet, number chart, prices, and calendar. I feel that tapping a student's numeric literacy is crucial to developing fluency.

I drew a T diagram on the whiteboard and labeled it Before 05/31/07 and After 07/30/07 and added the N-400 (US Citizen) $400/$675, I-130 (Bring Family to US) $190/285, and I-485 (Get Green Card in US) ($325/$1010). The classroom began to buzz with translations.

I followed up with a picture of check for $400 going into an envelope going into the mail with a "postmark" of July 29, 2007, 11:59pm (I stamped the picture for emphasis) and added a happy face. I then pointed the picture, pointed at the at the clock and we watched the second hand sweep for 1 minute as I "ticked" and made a circular arm motion like a clock. I then made a loud "Ding!" and then turned around, crossed out July 29, 2007, 11:59pm, with a July 30, 2007 12pm and "Dong!" twelve times as I crossed out the $400 with $675. I added a sad face. I then erased the board.

Then I followed up with a standard dictation: three price $400, $675, $1010, 1-800-375-5283, and July 29, 2007 11:59pm. When we corrected it, I prompted the class with "How much does it cost?" and "What costs $XXX??" I added the Form number next to the price and "old" or "new". I drew a cell phone next to the USCIS Info number with a Flag & USCIS sign, and I wrote "Before" and donged "After" with three dollar signs and an arrow going up.

Then I passed out bilingual interview mateial in English/Vietnamese, English/Chinese, and English/Spanish. It was ripped from my hands. Many of my students may be actually elligible to apply for citizenship.

USCIS News 2007-05-30: New Fees Start July 30, 2007

New Fees

Today we will listen to a quick update about the new USCIS fees starting July 30, 2007.

The fee increase begins July 30, 2007. That means that your forms must be postmarked no later than July 29, 2007 11:59pm to take advantage of the lower fees.

The N-400 will increase to $675. For all the new fee information, go to www.USCIS.gov.

1. Building an Immigration Service for the Twenty-First Century (Start Here!).
2. USCIS Fee Schedule - Effective July 30, 2007 (How Much? New Fees!).
3. Questions and Answers: USCIS Sets Final Fee Schedule to Build an Immigration Service for the 21st Century.
4. USCIS Fee Waiver Guidance (For those who have no income).
5. Class Handout: Summary of the New Fees.
6. Class Handout: Sending Your N-400 to the USCIS.
   For Class Handout: Sending Your N-400 to USCIS--please note that there are four pages: one page for each USCIS Service Center in California, Texas, Nebraska, and Vermont. Please confirm that you are using the correct page for your state. Originally, I put the information for all four USCIS Service Centers and their assigned states on a single sheet of paper. When I gave the single sheet of paper to my students, they became confused. The print was too tiny and there was too much information.
   

I re-formatted the information and printed the Summary of the New Fees on the first side and Sending Your N-400 to USCIS on the second side. I printed the information on color paper so they can find this paper quickly and easily. Many students took extra copies home for their family and friends.

Q09-11: USCIS 96 Questions 09-11: 4th of July, Independence, England, Revolutionary War

USCIS 96 Questions 09-11

Today we will listen to Questions 09-11 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q09-11 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for Q09-11:

1. 4th of July
   
2. Independence
   
3. England
   
4. Revolutionary War
   

You can get more info about Independence Day and the Revolutionary War from

ElCivics.com: Fourth of July
Wikipedia: Independence Day
US State Department: July 4 (Check out Additional Resources on the sidebar--Wow!)

Q08: USCIS 96 Question 08: States

USCIS 96 Questions 08

Today we will listen to Questions 08 plus M-638 comments and the list of US States by Date of Statehood. You can download the Class Handout 08 to deepen your knowledge of US Geography, History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms. Note the key words--these words will help you remember questions and answers. The key word for Q08 is:

1. States

Because we have only one question today, we have included extra information about the dates the states. Most people memorize the names of the states alphabetically by name, but today we will list the states in the order that they were admitted into the Union. You can use this information two ways: first, practice date information; second, use a map and follow the growth of the United States.

You can get more info about the US States from

Wikipedia: List of US States by Date of Statehood
US Mint State Quarters Program
50states.com

On this Memorial Day Weekend, we would like to remember all those who gave their life for their country as combatants and non-combatants. We would also like to remember all those who are graduating this weekend, especially my fellow students in San Jose StateUniversity's MA TESOL Program.

Q05-07: USCIS 96 Questions 05-07 with Explantions from the M-638

USCIS 96 Questions 05-07

Today we will listen to Questions 05 to 07 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q05-07 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idoms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember Q01-04's questions and answers. The key words for Q01-04 are:

1. Flag
2. Stripes
3. States

You can get more info about the US Flag and the First 13 States from

1. Enchanted Learning's US Flag (Appropriate for children & adults!)
2. USflag.org flags & websites of the first 13 states)
3. Boston1775 (A fascinating blog of the American Revolution)

Q01-04: USCIS 96 Questions 01-04 with Explantions from the M-638

USCIS 96 Questions 01-04

Today we begin a new series based on USCIS M-638 Quick Civics Lessons.  Every podcast, we will listen to two to five of the USCIS 96 questions plus the commentary provided by the M-638. 

Today we will listen to Questions 01 to 04 plus M-638 comments.  You can download the Class Handout Q01-04 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idoms. 

Note the key words--these words will help you remember Q01-04's questions and answers.  The key words for Q01-04 are:

1. Flag


2. Red


3. White


4. Blue


5. Stars

You can get more info about the US Flag from

1. Ben's Guide to the Flag (good for ESL Students)


2. US Senate's Guide to the Flag (official US gov't document)


3. Wikipedia's article on the US Flag (includes images of the US Flag as each new state's star is added.

Citizenship Podcasts via iTunes

There are several Citizenship Podcasts.

1) US Citizenship Podcast via iTunes
Prepare for the USCIS Citizenship Interview. Includes practice interviews based on the USCIS N-400, recordings of the USCIS 96 History & Politics Questions (soon!), and basic tips for interviewees. This podcast is appropriate for teachers and all levels of ESL/Citizenship students. US Citizenship Podcast RSS feed.

2) US Citizenship Practice via iTunes (Malena Copeland, Santa Ana College)
U.S. Citizenship students at the Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education have worked hard to bring you some podcasts to practice for the INS Test including the 100 questions and dictation sentences. This podcast is appropriate for teachers and all levels of ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

3) Immigration Fridays via iTunes (in English)
The first podcast dedicated to US Immigration news and information. Each week our expert immigration attorneys discuss current topics and respond to listeners' questions submitted via e-mail, fax or phone. Subscribe to our podcast to learn more about living, working, studying, investing, establishing or expanding a business in the US. This podcast is appropriate for lawyers, teachers, or advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

4) Viernes de Immigracion via iTunes (en Espanol)
El primer podcast dedicado a informacion, noticias y comentarios sobre como emigrar a los Estados Unidos legalmente. Cada Viernes, nuestros abogados especialistas en inmigracion y sus invitados expertos, discuten sobre temas de actualidad y responden a sus preguntas sobre como estudiar, vivir, invertir, establecer presencia o expanderse en los Estados Unidos. Envie sus preguntas por correo electronico, fax o via el sitio de web www.ViernesDeInmigracion.com y tenga la oportunidad de ganar un iPod nano cada Viernes. This podcast is appropriate for lawyers, teachers, or advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

5) Visalaw via iTunes (Greg Siskind)
The Visalaw Podcast is from immigration lawyer Greg Siskind and covers immigration law developments and the latest news from Congress. This podcast is appropriate for lawyers, teachers, or advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

6) Immigration Tales via iTunes (Vicor Cajiao)
Welcome to the Immigration Tales Podcast, with your host Vitor Cajiao. Every immigrant has a story, and on this podcast we will tell your immigration story, through narratives and interviews. This podcast is appropriate for lawyers, teachers, or intermediate/advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

7) CUNY's Citizenship Now! via iTunes (Allan Wernick)
Immigration lawyer, Daily News columnist and author Allan Wernick tackles immigration and citizenship questions. This podcast is appropriate for lawyers, teachers, or advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

8) Nolo Press Podcasts
What's the Difference Between a Green Card and Citizenship? (transcript is available). Nolo Press Articles about Immigration & Green Cards . This podcast is appropriate for teachers, or advanced ESL/Citizenship students.

9) Adult Learners Succeed: Citizenship (OTAN)
Using ESL as a method, classes offer students instruction in history, geography, and government and prepare students for the oral and written citizenship tests. Although not a podcast per se, you can download a video of Angelica Padilla and Jose Rodriguez's story. This video is appropriate for teachers, or intermediate/advanced ESL/Citizenship students. Website.

Interview-06: Basic Citizenship Interview--Pari Akibari

Interview-06

Today we will listen to our sixth practice interview from Pari Akbari (Esfahan, Iran).  This interview includes questions based on the N-400, two dictation sentences, and  ten questions from the USCIS 96 US History and Government questions.  You can get a pdf. of the Basic Citizenship Interview here and a copy of the USCIS 96 questions  in the "fan" format here.  Thanks! 

Interview-05: Simple Citizenship Interview--Gerte Mueller

Interview-05

Today we will listen to our fifth practice interview from Gerte Mueller (Frankfurt, Germany).  These are simple questions are based on the N-400.  You can get a pdf. of the Simple Citizenship Interview here. Thanks! 

Interview-03: Simple Citizenship Interview

Interview-03

Today we will listen to our third practice interview from Guadalupe Garcia (Sonora, Mexico). These are simple questions are based on the N-400. You can get a pdf. of the Simple Citizenship Interview here. Thanks!

USCIS 96 Questions

Here is a copy of the USCIS History and Politics questions (USCIS 96 Questions) in a convient "fan" format.

Interview-02: Advanced Citizenship Interview

Interview-02

Today we will listen to our first practice interview from Nam Van Nguyen (Saigon, Viet Nam). Nam answers the interview questions in detail, and defines the terms in Section 10 of the N-400. The interview questions are based on the USCIS N-400 form, which you can download from www.uscis.gov. Here is the .pdf of the Advanced Citizenship Interview. Thanks!