15 USCIS Civics Questions in Honor of African-American History Month

Happy African-American History Month! During the month of February, US Citizenship Podcast explores the connection between the USCIS History and Government questions and African American History. Let's get started!

New for 2014: 15 USCIS Civics Questions in Honor of African-American History Month.

• USCIS 100:60 Slaves, Slavery, and Olaudah Equiano mp3
• USCIS 100:61 Colonists, Taxes, Crispus Attuks, Lemuel Haynes, and the American Revolutionary War mp3
• USCIS 100:62 the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, and Sally Hemings mp3
• USCIS 100:69 George Washington, Phillis Wheatley, and Columbia mp3
• Feb 05 USCIS 100:65 The Constitutional Convention, the Great Compromise, and Slavery mp3
• USCIS 100:94 Washington DC, Benjamin Banneker, and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson mp3
• USCIS 100:71 Louisiana Territory, Missouri River, and York mp3
• USCIS 100:09 Life, Liberty, and La Amistad mp3
• USCIS 100:77 Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Civil Rights mp3
• USCIS 100:99 July 4th, Slavery, and Fredrick Douglass mp3
• USCIS 100:74 Slavery, the Supreme Court, and Dred Scott mp3
• USCIS 100:75 Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad mp3

Washington Week: In Election Year, Congress Unlikely to Tackle Tough Issues

VOANews: Washington Week: In Election Year, Congress Unlikely to Tackle Tough Issues

The U.S. Congress gets back to work Monday after a weeklong break. VOA's Michael Bowman reports, despite recent action to pass a federal budget and raise the nation's debt ceiling, expectations are low that the politically-divided legislature will tackle momentous - and contentious - legislation to reform America's immigration system and facilitate new international trade pacts.

Economics of Immigration Reform

VOAVideo: Economics of Immigration Reform

Economics. Despite near unanimous agreement that the U.S. immigration system is broken, it appears doubtful that Congress will take up the issue this year. Republicans say they don't trust the president to enforce new rules - a charge many Democrats says is simply a political excuse to deny a Democratic president a legislative victory in an election year. But some say lawmakers are missing the bigger point that immigration reform is not a political issue but an economic one. Mil Arcega has more.

West Wing Week 02/21/14 or "Don't Make Small Plans, Make Big Plans"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 02/21/14 or "Don't Make Small Plans, Make Big Plans"

This week, the President traveled to the North American Leaders Summit in Toluca, Mexico, to California to address the current drought and to meet with the King of Jordan, and to Upper Marlboro, Maryland to announce an increase in fuel efficiency standards for heavy trucks.

Happy Birthday George Washington!

More Vintage Presidential Postcards

• USCIS 100:69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
• ___________________ was the “Father of Our Country.”
• USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?*
• _____________________ was the first president of the United States.

USCIS SF N600 Citizenship Ceremony

Teacher Jennifer--here is a slightly edited transcript of my live tweeter feed during the USCIS SF N600 Citizenship Ceremony.  These young adults (YAs) acquired citizenship through their parents.  

• Children under 18 automatically acquire US citizenship when their parents naturalize. 
•  Although the Certificate of Citizenship (N-600) is optional (cost: $600!), it is useful for college apps, military, etc. 
• Better to get early because citizenship derived through parents is more difficult to prove later.

Note: I will be posting my note from the USCIS Building and Maintaining a Comprehensive Adult Education Program Day 1 and 2 later.

1:43 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 #Citizenship Ceremony for Children of #Naturalized  #newUScitizen. YAs have been filing in w/ parents, checking ID. Ready!

1:49 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 Officer Pham introduces the teachers, festivities, and 63 YAs

1:50 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 Presentation of USCIS video: Faces of America.

1:52 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 "America is my peaceful refuge." --Faces of #America video

1:53 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 "Whatever I have dreamed, #America has fulfilled." USCIS Faces of #America video

1:56 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · Be generous; Vote; Make your dreams come true!

1:58 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 teachers lead the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. (Ok, we need to practice).

2:00 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 link between Citizenship, Valentine's Day, and marriage: more privileges and more responsibilities. --USCIS Officer

2:01 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 YAs are the future of the country: “You form what our identity will become.”

2:02 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N-600 Roll call of the home countries. Everyone is standing up when their country is called.

2:04 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600  #newUScitizen YAs reciting the Citizenship Oath pic.twitter.com/qif9n8SWh4

2:05 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600  #newUScitizen parents are so happy.   Cameras go crazy!

2:07 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600  #newUScitizen Brother and sisters lead the crowd in the #Pledge of #Allegiance pic.twitter.com/YJn1UVvNce

2:08 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600  #newUScitizen An invitation to get a passport.

2:11 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600  #newUScitizen USCIS video: "I am Proud to be an American!" GOD BLESS THE USA!

2:12 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 GOD BLESS THE YA #newUScitizen and their parents!

2:13 PM - 20 Feb 2014 · #USCIS SF #N600 GOD BLESS THE USCIS! Thanks Rosemarie Fan, Natasha Lester, and Paul Kim!

USCIS Workshop in SF Day 2

I am live-tweeting the USCIS SF Workshop on Twitter @uscitizenpod. Later this evening, I will edit the tweets and post the edited tweets to uscitizenpod.com. Day 2 Highlights: in depth discussion of the new N-400 and the N-600 Citizenship ceremony

Hello from the SF USCIS Office! I am here for the Building and Maintaining a Comprehensive Adult Education Program. Yay!

USCIS Workshop in SF

I am live-tweeting the USCIS SF Workshop on Twitter @uscitizenpod

Hello from the SF USCIS Office! I am here for the Building and Maintaining a Comprehensive Adult Education Program. Yay!

#newUScitizen

Presidents Day celebrates the birth of our nation’s first president, George Washington, and all presidents who have led this country. USCIS marks this occasion each year by holding special naturalization ceremonies across the country.

This year, we will welcome approximately 17,800 new citizens during 148 naturalization ceremonies between Feb. 14 and 22, 2014. Check out inspirational Naturalization tweets, photos, and videos on Twitter, using the hashtag #newUScitizen. 

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Facebook (/uscis), Twitter (@uscis),YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

Happy Presidents' Day from USCitizenPod

Presidents' Day Resources from USCitizenPod

• The Presidential Valentine's Day Quiz 2014
• This year, Valentine's Day kicks off an extra-long Presidents' Day weekend. Practice for your "special day" (ie your citizenship interview) with a quiz celebrating the Presidents and their beloved First Ladies.
• A Presidents' Day Quick Interview Quiz 2013           
• This test is based on USCitizenPod’s Citizenship Interview 15--Angelica Mendoza
• Presidents' Day Quiz 2012
• Presidents’ Day Quiz 2011 Part A: Washington and Lincoln
• Presidents’ Day Quiz 2011 Part B: Executive Branch and Federalist Period
• Presidents’ Day Quiz 2011 Part C: The 1800s
• Presidents’ Day Quiz 2011 Part D: Recent History
• Presidents' Day Quiz 2010
• The Founders Quiz
• Coin Quiz
• Listen to Interview 15: Angelica Mendoza (recorded on Presidents' Day 2011) or watch the video
• Pictures of the Lincoln Memorial from Teacher Jennifer's trip to Washington DC, April 2013

Learn more at

• USCIS Citizenship Resource Center: George Washington - Beginning Level
• USCIS Citizenship Resource Center: Abraham Lincoln - Beginning Level
• SI: Preparing for the Oath: Famous Citizens

West Wing Week 2/14/14 or, "The Red, White, and Blue -- and the Blue, White, and Red"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 2/14/14 or, "The Red, White, and Blue -- and the Blue, White, and Red"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, the President hosted the first State Visit for the French President in 20 years, signed the farm bill and raised the minimum wage for federal contractors. That's February 7th to February 13th or, "The Red, White, and Blue -- and the Blue, White, and Red."

Happy Susan B. Anthony Day!

USCIS 100:77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Susan B. Anthony, 1820-1906: She Led the Fight to Gain Equal Rights for Women, Including the Right to Vote

ISusan B. Anthony was born in Massachusetts on February 15, 1820. She is known for campaigning for the right of women to vote. She spoke out publicly against slavery and for equal treatment of women in the workplace.

In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony died 14 years before the adoption of the 19th Amendment, but it was still widely known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.

In 1979, she became the first woman whose image appeared on a circulating U.S. coin. The coin is called the Susan B. Anthony dollar and is worth one dollar. (source: USCIS M-638)

See also:

• ListenAndReadAlong: Biography - AS - Susan B Anthony - Leader of Womens Rights Movement
• America's Story: Susan B. Anthony
• EL Civics: Susan B. Anthony
• Rutgers: Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
• The Susan B. Anthony House
• Susan B. Anthony Amendment (Video)
• Wikipedia: Susan B. Anthony
• Wikipedia: The Susan B. Anthony Dollar
• Wikipedia: (International) Timeline of Women's Sufferage
• uscitizenpod: USCIS 100:77 Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Civil Rights mp3
• VOANews: Susan B. Anthony, 1820-1906: She Led the Fight to Gain Equal Rights for Women, Including the Right to Vote

USCIS 100:77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

          ▪ fought for women’s rights

          ▪ fought for civil rights

A Presidential Valentine's Day Quiz

This year, Valentine's Day kicks off an extra-long Presidents' Day weekend. Practice for your "special day" (ie your citizenship interview) with a quiz celebrating the Presidents and their beloved First Ladies.

Download The Presidential Valentine's Day Quiz 2014

USCIS Training Seminars

USCIS offers free training for adult educators, program directors, volunteers, and representatives from immigrant-serving organizations. These seminars are designed to enhance the skills needed to teach U.S. history, civics, and the naturalization process to immigrant students and to administer comprehensive adult citizenship education programs. (more info)

Teacher Jennifer's note: Today is the last day to sign up for the  USCIS San Francisco workshop on Feb 19-20. Hope to see you there!

US Immigrant Families Push for Reform

VOANews: US Immigrant Families Push for Reform

Advocates for immigrant rights are calling on President Barack Obama to suspend deportations of otherwise law-abiding residents who are undocumented while Congress considers reforming the nation's immigration laws. Allies of the president are criticizing the Obama administration for deporting more than 1.9 million undocumented immigrants. VOA's Cindy Saine spoke to two women who are fighting their husbands' deportations.

US Prayer Breakfast Draws World Leaders

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?

VOANews: US Prayer Breakfast Draws World Leaders

Several world leaders were among more than 3,000 guests at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, held Thursday in Washington. As VOA's Kent Klein reports, leaders often see the gathering as an opportunity to encourage the use of religious values as a basis for political leadership.

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?

▪ You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

West Wing Week 02/07/14 or "POTUS Cam!"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 02/07/14 or "POTUS Cam!"

This week, the President urged action on long term unemployment, hung out on Google for his first virtual road trip, announced major private sector commitments to expand broadband internet for students, spoke with both House and Senate Democrats, and joined the First Lady for the National Prayer Breakfast, while she helped students get a leg up with filing for financial aid, and the Vice President unveiled Amtrak's new Cities Sprinter electric locomotive.

USCIS Revises Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

For a quick overview of the new N-400 and its comparison to the old N-400, download uscitizenpod: New USCIS N-400--a quick overview!

USCIS: USCIS Revises Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

For more info, see http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-revises-form-n-400-application-naturalization

• Form N-400 (1.20 MB PDF)
• Instructions for Form N-400 (424 KB PDF)
• Document Checklist, Current Fees, Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet (608 KB PDF)
• Naturalization Requirements Information (220 KB PDF)
• Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (239 KB PDF)

As part of its form improvements initiative, USCIS is today releasing a revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Through the Federal Register, USCIS received numerous comments from the public that helped inform this revision.

The revisions to Form N-400 provide USCIS with additional tools to make important eligibility determinations, present customers with clearer instructions, and incorporate technology that improves efficiency and accuracy for both USCIS and our customers. Although the form is now revised, the eligibility requirements for naturalization have not changed. For information on the requirements, see A Guide to Naturalization.

The revised Form N-400 (see an introductory video here) now includes:

• Additional questions to conform with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 and Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007. The additional information is important for USCIS to make a complete and informed determination of an applicant's eligibility for U.S. citizenship. The questions relate not only to concerns surrounding good moral character but also to issues relating to the security of the United States.

• Clearer and more comprehensive instructions now highlight general eligibility requirements and help customers understand the naturalization application process by providing specific instructions on how to complete each part of the application.

• 2D barcode technology at the bottom of each page that greatly enhances USCIS's ability to more efficiently scan data for direct input to USCIS systems. This feature results in improved data quality, efficiency in processing, and overall integrity of the naturalization program. USCIS now has a dedicated Web page for vendors so that third-party software products may also share in the benefits of this technology.

The revised form is now available at www.uscis.gov/n-400. Customers may continue to use previous versions of the form for a 90-day transition period. On Monday, May 5, 2014, USCIS will no longer accept older versions of Form N-400. USCIS will reject and return previous versions of Form N-400 submitted after May 5, 2014.

Customers are encouraged to access the revised form at www.uscis.gov/n-400, fill it out electronically, print, sign and then mail it to USCIS according to the form instructions. Individuals who are unable to fill out the revised Form N-400 electronically may instead print the form and complete it by hand in black ink. Customers can also call 1-800-870-3676 to order the revised form by mail.

USCIS has additional resources online at www.uscis.gov/n-400 to introduce the revised form. USCIS will also hold a national stakeholder engagement on February 20, 2014 to inform the public about the revised Form N-400 in more detail. For information on how to participate in these events, please visit www.uscis.gov/outreach.

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Fours"

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Fours" 04 USCIS Remix: 04, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94

Happy Lunar New Year! Prepare to become a US Citizen with a new REMIX of the audio recording of the USCIS 100 question plus dictation.

First, you will hear USCIS 100:04, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94 questions only; then you will hear the questions and all of the possible answers plus 2 dictation sentences.

Download mp3: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/2014-04s.mp3

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Threes"

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Threes" 03 USCIS Remix: 03, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93

Happy Lunar New Year! Prepare to become a US Citizen with a new REMIX of the audio recording of the USCIS 100 question plus dictation.

First, you will hear USCIS 100:03, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93 questions only; then you will hear the questions and all of the possible answers plus 2 dictation sentences.

Download mp3: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/2014-03s.mp3

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Twos"

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014-- USCIS "Twos" 02 USCIS Remix: 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92

Happy Lunar New Year! Prepare to become a US Citizen with a new REMIX of the audio recording of the USCIS 100 question plus dictation.

First, you will hear USCIS 100:02 USCIS Remix: 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92 questions only; then you will hear the questions and all of the possible answers plus 2 dictation sentences.


Download mp3: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/2014-02s.mp3

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Ones"

New Year, New Citizen, New Remix: Citizenship 2014--USCIS "Ones" 01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91

Happy Lunar New Year! Prepare to become a US Citizen with a new REMIX of the audio recording of the USCIS 100 question plus dictation.

First, you will hear USCIS 100:01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91 questions only; then you will hear the questions and all of the possible answers plus 2 dictation sentences.

Download mp3: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/2014-01s.mp3

President Obama's Lunar New Year Message

wh.gov: President Obama's Lunar New Year Message

The President and First Lady send their best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year. In this Year of the Horse, we hope that all of us can pursue opportunity and success. We wish you and your loved ones happiness, prosperity, and good health.

Text:

Michelle and I join millions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent – here in the United States and around the world – in welcoming the Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year reminds us that this country has always drawn strength from the rich cultures and traditions of people from all different backgrounds.  It’s at the heart of who we are.  It’s why we’re fighting to make sure everyone has a chance to get ahead.  And it’s why we’ll continue to make sure that new ideas and new people are always welcome in America.

Today, my Administration is working harder than ever to fix an immigration system that doesn’t serve America as well as it should.  We’re committed to a comprehensive plan that will continue to strengthen border security and reunite families, while creating a pathway to earned citizenship and a stronger system moving forward.  We’ve already taken an important step by lifting the fear of deportation from young people, DREAMers, who are Americans in every way but on paper – kids who just want a chance to study and serve and contribute to the nation they love.  And if you’re a young person who feels like you’re living in the shadows, take advantage of this opportunity.  Because America needs your talent. 

It’s the aspiration and optimism of the next generation of New Americans that inspires us – and gives us hope for this Year of the Horse.  So, I want to wish everyone celebrating a Happy New Year.  May this be a year of prosperity for you and your families, and a year of progress for this country that we love.