naturalization services and mexican consulates:...
TRANSCRIPT
Naturalization Services and Mexican Consulates:
Partnering to Serve the Community For audio, dial 1.800.920.7487 and enter 5525 7191#
Webinar will begin at 12pm Pacific / 3pm Eastern
Welcome!
• To hear audio, dial 1.800.920.7487 and enter
5525 7191#
• Attendees are on mute; Use the chat box.
• Question & Answer period after presenters.
• This webinar is being recorded.
NewAmericansCampaign.org
Naturalization Services and Mexican Consulates: Partnering to Serve the
Community
New Americans Campaign Webinar October 14th, 2015
Mexico has the largest consular network of one
country in another: 50 consulates in the United
States.
There are 33.7 million people of Mexican origin in the United States, 11.5 million of them born in Mexico.
The Mexican Consular Network in the United States
Main Services
• Consular protection and assistance to Mexican nationals
• Document services to Mexican and foreign nationals
• Community outreach programs
6
• Paperless process for passports and Matrícula applications.
• Birth certificate service.
• New and improved Matrícula.
• Information tools: MiConsulmex App and Centro de Información y Asistencia a Mexicanos (CIAM).
• Mobile Consulates and Consulates on Wheels
7
Modernizing and Expanding Our Consular Services
MiConsulmex
• Free consular services app.
Centro de Información y Asistencia a Mexicanos (CIAM)
• 24/7 toll free number staffed by trained personnel.
8
Information Tools
Dual Citizenship Awareness
•The Mexican Embassy and consular network are strenghtening their actions to inform Mexican nationals about dual citizenship. This includes the naturalization process.
9
• 2.67 million Mexican LPR are eligible to become US citizens.
• Mexican Consulates are a plattform to provide services and disseminate information to the community.
Partnership Ideas
• Display and disseminate printed materials at the consulate.
• Host events and information sessions.
• Participate in outreach events (phone banks, information sessions, legal clinics, etc).
10
• Include citizenship information in other outreach opportunities: health fairs, radio shows, information sessions at the consulates, etc.
Our Goal: More
naturalized citizens
and greater local
capacity. The New Americans
Campaign is paving a
better road to citizenship,
so that greater numbers
of qualified lawful
permanent residents take
the critical step to
become American
citizens.
When new Americans gain the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of
citizenship, they contribute more fully to the vitality of our communities
and our democracy as a whole.
STABILITY & SAFETY
Naturalization leads to
more stable, cohesive
families and
communities.
Value of Citizenship
ECONOMICS
Naturalization can
boost individual
earnings by 8 to 11
percent.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Naturalized individuals
contribute more to society,
including the right to vote
and be civic participants,
serve on juries and become
officers in the U.S. military.
EMPLOYMENT
New Americans have
greater access to
education and employment
opportunities.
Since July 2011, NAC has achieved:
Naturalization
applications
Savings to LPR
communities
Citizenship
events
Fee waivers
Diverse Applicant Pool
Male 42% Female
58%
NAC Applications by Gender (July 2011 - June 2015)
9%
15%
20%
23%
19%
14%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 andolder
NAC Applications by Age (July 2011 - June 2015)
Oceania 0%
Europe 2%
Africa 3%
Colombia 4%
Other South America
7%
Iran 3%
China 4%
Phillipines 4%
South Korea 4%
Vietnam 5% Iraq
6% Other Asia 6%
Cuba 3% Guatemala
3%
Dominican Republic
4%
El Salvador 6%
Mexico 31%
Other North/Central
America 8%
NAC Applications by Country of Origin (July 2011 - June 2015)
NAC Collaborations
*NAC partners such as IRC and NPNA also
operate in over many additional sites, making
this one of the largest naturalization
collaborations in the United States.
San Jose, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX Miami, FL
Charlotte, NC
Detroit, MI
New York, NY
East Bay, CA
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Inland Empire, CA
Orange County, CA
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
San Francisco, CA Baltimore, MD Napa, CA
DC Metro Area
newamericanscampaign.org
Avoiding
UPIL
Connect with NAC Partners http://newamericanscampaign.org/partners
Connect with Non-Profits outside of NAC Cities Immigration Advocates Network directory:
http://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/
Contact
Melissa A. Rodgers
Director of Programs
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
New Americans Campaign
415-255-9499 ext. 763
www.ilrc.org
www.newamericanscampaign.org
#newamericans - @newamericans
OVERVIEW OF
NATURALIZATION
Benefits to U.S. Citizenship
ECONOMIC Naturalized immigrants are likely to see a boost in their family incomes
On average naturalized US workers make 48% more than non-citizen immigrants
from Mexico
EMPLOYMENT
Better access to public sector and/or federal jobs
STABILITY
Family reunification
Protection from changes in immigration law
CIVIC PARTICIPATION Right to vote, travel with a US passport, run for public office and serve on a jury
Who Is
Eligible to
Naturalize?
Must be 18 years of age or older
Be a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and
have lived continuously in the United States
for at least 5 years (3 years of LPR status
acquired through marriage)
Ability to read, write and speak basic English
Physically present in the United States for half
the time
Continuous presence in the United State, without absences of more than 6 continuous
months
Knowledge of U.S. history
and government (civics)
Be a person of good moral character
Exam and Interview
The applicant must show the interviewer that they:
• continue to meet the eligibility requirements for citizenship
• can speak, read, and write basic English, and
• know basic facts about civics, that is, U.S. history and government.
• are willing to swear allegiance to the United States
The applicant must get 6 questions out of 10 right on the civics test. The applicant
will be required to study from a list of 100 possible questions.
English exam exemptions:
• Those at least 50 years old and have been a LPR for at least 20 years.
• Those at least 55 years old and have been a LPR for at least 15 years.
Civics exam adjustment:
• If the applicant is 65 and has been an LPR for at least 20 years, he can study
from a designated list of just 20 questions.
Medical exemption from one or both exams
• Under certain medical reasons (Form N-648)
Steps to Become a U.S. Citizen
Take the Oath
of Citizenship
Pass Exams
at an Interview
Fingerprints and
photo appointment
(biometrics)
Complete application
(N-400) and
mail it to USCIS
NATURALIZATION SERVICES
OVERVIEW
Service Models
ONE-ON-ONE APPOINTMENTS
Applicants with complex cases
Need legal representation
SMALL-SCALE WORKSHOPS/CLINICS
Self-filing cases, may require follow up
Small community events
LARGE SCALE WORKSHOPS
Self-filing cases
Community events
PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
Partnership Opportunities
Outreach and Promotion
Volunteer and Attorney Recruitment
Community Events
Sponsorship
Elisa M. Sequeira
Director of National Civic Engagement Programs
(213) 747-7606 ext. 4429
Thank You.
Collaboration Between the Consulate General of Mexico in New York and
CUNY Citizenship Now!
Presented by Alexia Núñez and Andrés Lemons
31
Space
32
1. Information Sessions
2. Trainings
3. On-site assistance
Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico
Training on Immigration and Nationality
33
Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico
Outreach
1. Awareness campaign
2. Flyers
3. Social Media
4. Radio
5. Announcements
6. Consulate on Wheels
7. Reaching out to CBOs
34
Promoting Citizenship at Consulate
35
Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico
Volunteering and Training
1. Call-in
2. Call-in training
3. Naturalization Events
4. Deferred Action Events
5. Application Assistance Trainings
36
Staff from Mexican Consulate at Call-In
37
Sharing Resources
1. Referral Lists
2. Flyers
3. Informational Handouts
4. Call-In Manual
38
39
Brooklyn Citizenship Event
40
21% of people assisted were Mexican
Brooklyn Citizenship Event
Photo provided by Consulate General of Mexico
41
Brooklyn Citizenship Event
Sponsoring
Council Member Carlos Menchaca speaking at the Naturalization application assistance event in Brooklyn
42
Alexia Núñez
Consul for Community Affairs
Consulate General of Mexico in New York
27 East 39th Street New York, NY 10016
212-217-6427
Andrés Lemons
Staff Attorney
CUNY Citizenship Now! at CUNY Express
560 W 181st St, Ground Fl New York, NY 10033
646-664-9365
43
Contact Us
Information and Outreach at
the Mexican Consulate
Information sessions on Citizenship, Executive Actions,
and other updates
One-on-one consultations
Information on Citizenship & Immigration Forums
44
Outreach Opportunities at
Neighborhood Centers events
Mexican Consulate representatives at a Health Fair at Cleveland Ripley
Neighborhood Center on October 6th, 2015
45
Phone Banks
46
Help with Outreach to
Other Consulates
47
Immigration and Citizenship Program
Contact: Alex Triantaphyllis or Marisol Valero
Phone: 713-273-3707
Email: [email protected] or
Website: www.immigrationforgood.org
48
Questions?
• Julian Escutia-Rodriguez, head of the Consular Coordination and Hispanic Affairs Section at the Embassy of Mexico; [email protected]
• Melissa Rodgers, Director of Programs at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Project Director for the New Americans Campaign; [email protected]
• Elisa Sequeira, National Director of Civic Engagement Programs at NALEO Educational Fund; [email protected]
• Alexia Núñez, Consul for Community Affairs at the New York City Consulate of Mexico, and Andrés Lemons, Staff Attorney at CUNY Citizenship Now! in New York, NY; [email protected]; [email protected]
• Alex Triantaphyllis, Director of Immigration and Economic Opportunity at Neighborhood Centers in Houston, TX;
NewAmericansCampaign.org
Thank you!
NewAmericansCampaign.org