Become an American Citizen
Apply for U.S. citizenship with free, individualized support from Project Citizenship
Step 1: Basic Eligibility
Review the basic eligibility requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship. If you meet these base requirements, proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Reach Out to Us in One of Three Ways
Call Our Office
Call 617-694-5949 during our office hours to begin your application with Project Citizenship. If we don’t pick up the phone, please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and express your interest in an eligibility screening.
Schedule a Phone Call
Schedule a phone call with a staff member, where we will ask you some basic screening questions to determine your eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
Complete An Online Eligibility Form
Answer a few questions through our online eligibility form to help us determine whether you may qualify for U.S. citizenship.
Step 3: Attend a Citizenship Workshop
If our team determines you are eligible, we will schedule you for one of our citizenship workshops. Our workshops have three stages: (1) application assistance, where you will complete the application with a trained volunteer, (2) quality control, where the application will be reviewed by a pro bono attorney, and (3) checkout, where you’ll meet with a Project Citizenship team member to discuss next steps.
Step 4: We Finalize & Submit Your Application
After a citizenship workshop, our legal team reviews your application to identify inconsistencies and missing information. A member of our team will follow up to collect missing information and/or clarify application content. When your application is complete, it is reviewed once more by our legal team before we submit it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf and as your attorney of record.
Step 5: Attend a Biometrics Appointment
If applicable, you may need to attend a biometrics appointment, in which USCIS will take your fingerprints and your photograph. This only applies to some applicants. Learn more about biometrics appointments here.
Step 6: Attend a Naturalization Interview
Attend a naturalization interview with USCIS, in which you will take an English and civics test,* and an officer will review your application.
*Unless you have a language or medical exemption.
Step 7: Participate in a Naturalization Ceremony
If your application is approved, you will complete the naturalization process and become a U.S. citizen by participating in a naturalization ceremony and by taking the Oath of Allegiance.
You may be able to participate in a naturalization ceremony on the same day as your interview. If a same-day ceremony is unavailable, USCIS will mail you a notice with the date, time, and location of your scheduled naturalization ceremony.
Interested? We'd Love To Work With You!
The majority of eligible immigrants in New England do not apply for citizenship given several barriers: cost, complexity, legal challenges, and more. Project Citizenship aims to remove these barriers and provide support for immigrants such that they can gain the benefits and protections that come with U.S. citizenship.
Why Become a Citizen?
HERE ARE 10 BENEFITS OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP:
Direct participation in democratic elections is one of the most important privileges that this country offers its citizens. Only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in federal elections and to be candidates in most local, state and federal elections.
U.S. citizens can petition for overseas family members to receive Green Cards and immigrate legally to the United States. Relatives of citizens are given priority by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Children of citizens receive automatic citizenship if they are under 18 years of age and have a Green Card. In most cases, this includes children born abroad to U.S. citizens.
In the United States, U.S. citizenship is the strongest possible protection against deportation.
U.S. citizens can travel outside of the country for unlimited periods of time and to any country they wish, without any fear of this affecting their immigration status.
You may qualify for certain government benefits that are only available to citizens.
The U.S. federal government is one of the biggest employers in the world and offers many job opportunities in a wide range of industries. However, the vast majority of federal jobs are available only to U.S. citizens.
The federal government has different types of financial assistance for students, including scholarships and grants that are available exclusively for U.S. citizens.
The United States protects its citizens abroad through its embassies and consulates. The U.S. government assists citizens who are victims of crimes overseas and provides aid to U.S. citizens abroad in the case of international disasters or emergencies.
Only U.S. citizens can run for Federal office and most State and local offices.
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward U.S. Citizenship?
Becoming a U.S. citizen can provide greater security, new opportunities, and a stronger voice in your community. While the naturalization process can seem complicated, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Project Citizenship provides free, individualized support to help eligible immigrants complete the citizenship process with confidence. From determining your eligibility to post-submission support, our team is here to help every step of the way.