Citizenship Now!

Corps members are responsible for staffing Citizenship Now! events, held throughout New York City on weekends.  At these events, volunteers work one-on-one with applicants, helping them complete the N-400 Application for Naturalization. Filing the N-400 is the final step towards citizenship for many residents who have spent years navigating through the difficult immigration process.

The Volunteer Corps grew out of a longstanding partnership between CUNY Citizenship Now! and the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). It was created to harness the tremendous energy and enthusiasm of participants in the annual CUNY/Daily News Citizenship Now! Call-in. Today, the program allows volunteers to develop their interests and engage in service to the immigrant population year-round. Corps members are also invited to attend free training programs and have the opportunity to network with immigration attorneys, advocates, and community leaders.

The Corps is open to anyone who is interested in
immigration-related issues. Among its current members are attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other immigration service providers. Volunteers are encouraged to attend events on a regular basis, especially those who may be considering a career in immigration services. Our events are a great way to learn, and are an exciting complement to any curriculum in immigration law.

CUNY Citizenship Now! holds about two events each month in partnership with elected officials and community organizations. Our partners have included New York City Council members, New York State senators, New York State Assembly representatives, borough presidents, local unions, libraries, and educational institutions.

We offer the folowing services at our events:
     • Evaluation of eligibility for naturalization.
     • Free assistance in completing the N-400 and legal advice on
       supporting documents.
     • Assistance with the USCIS fee waiver application.
     • Free photos required for the application.
     • Review of the completed application by an attorney or other
       legal expert.

By joining the Volunteer Corps, you will become part of a
team of committed individuals that thrives on helping others. Those new to immigration will acquire hands-on experience and become familiar with the work of an immigration counselor. More experienced professionals will have the opportunity to share their skills with others.

In addition, volunteers have the opportunity to:
     • Network with fellow Corps members and Citizenship Now!
       staff.
     • Meet many of New York's influential public officials who
       co-sponsor events.
     • Receive Citizenship Now! communications, including our
       volunteer newsletter and e-mail invitations to events, free
       webinars and trainings, and other initiatives
     • Assist immigrants in overcoming barriers to naturalization
       and help them become U.S. citizens.
     • Connect with a diverse group of people from all over the world.

If you have questions about volunteering, contact Kymete Gashi at (212) 568-4679, or kymete.gashi@mail.cuny.edu.  We look forward to your participation.

The Corps is open to all interested individuals, among them attorneys, paralegals, law students and immigrant service providers.  If you would like to volunteer, please visit the registration page to express your interest in volunteering.

CUNY/Daily News Citizenship NOW! Call-in

Since 2004, the annual CUNY/ Daily News Citizenship
NOW! Call-In has provided nearly 100,000 callers with free, confidential information on immigration issues ranging from U.S. citizenship to residency to family petitions. For one week each spring, we open the phones to take calls from anyone seeking immigration information or resources.

Hundreds of volunteers participate in this week-long event, many of them trained by CUNY Citizenship Now! At the 2011 Call-in, over 350 volunteers assisted 12,526 callers in over 40 different languages. As a Corps member, you will be invited to take part in this exciting event.

Immigrant Heritage Week

Immigrant Heritage Week was established by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2004 to commemorate the day in April 1907 when more immigrants arrived at Ellis Island than any other day in history. CUNY Citizenship Now! and the Volunteer Corps join the celebration each year by holding a massive, city-wide citizenship application assistance event where we aim to assist over 400 people in a single day.