Get free legal help with your citizenship application
BOSTON – Thursday, March 17, 2022 – Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA), and Project Citizenship are hosting Citizenship Day on March 26, 2022 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The annual event is an opportunity for people who are eligible for naturalization to get free legal help with their citizenship application. People must first call 617-694-5949 to make an appointment. On the day of the event, no walk-ins will be allowed and COVID-19 protocols will be in place.
“Becoming a U.S. citizen is an important milestone for many immigrants,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It opens more opportunities, reaffirms a sense of belonging, and empowers residents to become more active in their communities. I want to thank Project Citizenship and everyone in the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement for their partnership in helping thousands of residents become U.S. citizens.”
On Citizenship Day in Boston, volunteers will help people fill out their citizenship application for free. Applicants still need to pay the USCIS application fee, but those who are low-income may qualify for a fee waiver.
“Citizenship allows people to participate in our democracy and be civically engaged,” said Mitra Shavarini, Executive Director of Project Citizenship. “By providing free legal help, we make sure citizenship isn’t just for people who can afford it.”
The City of Boston has partnered with nonprofit Project Citizenship for this event since 2014. It is the largest citizenship workshop in New England, serving more than 2,300 people to date. Because of COVID-19, social distancing and capacity limits will be in place this year. But in previous years, more than 400 community volunteers, law students, and pro bono attorneys helped hundreds of people with their citizenship applications in a single day.
About 30,000 Boston residents are eligible for U.S. citizenship. Applicants must be at least 18 years old; a permanent legal resident for five years or three years if married to a U.S. citizen; read, write and speak basic English (some exceptions apply); and not travel extensively outside the U.S. in the past five years. Project Citizenship will tell people if they qualify when they call 617-694-5949 for an appointment.
To learn more about Citizenship Day in Boston, visit boston.gov/calendar/citizenship-day. The website also has information for those who would like to volunteer for this event in various ways.
About the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement
The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen the ability of immigrants to fully and equitably participate in economic, civic, social, and cultural life in Boston. MOIA also promotes the recognition and public understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the City. To learn more, visit boston.gov/immigrants.
About Project Citizenship
Project Citizenship is a nonprofit agency that provides free, high quality legal services to permanent residents to help them become U.S citizens. Project Citizenship offers free workshops, eligibility screening, application assistance, legal referrals and all materials needed to apply for U.S. citizenship.
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