Got a question about whether you qualify for U.S. citizenship? Get your questions answered during the 11th annual CUNY/Daily News Citizenship NOW! call-in. The Call-in runs from April 22 to April 26, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m with phone lines for English and Spanish callers. We will have speakers of other languages as well. You’ll find the phone numbers in the April 22 Daily News or online at nydailynews.com.
Today I continue our discussion of the rules for becoming a U.S. citizen by answering more common questions about naturalization qualifications. Q: I am receiving public assistance. Can I nevertheless naturalize? A: Yes. Naturalization applicants need not prove that ability to support themselves to become a U.S. citizen. Since you are receiving public assistance (sometimes called “welfare”) you qualify for a fee waiver. That means that you can naturalize without paying the $680 filing fee. To apply for a fee waiver, you file USCIS form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver with form N-400, Application for Naturalization.