I recently had the pleasure of accompanying a client through the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen. A partner agency assisted Ricardo in preparing the paperwork at a citizenship workshop and then referred him to Taller de José for accompaniment to his citizenship test with USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Services).
When I first met with Ricardo to make arrangements for his exam, I asked if he had been studying the questions about U.S. history and government. He said that he daughter had been quizzing him, so even though he was a little nervous, he felt prepared. On the day of his exam, I accompanied him to 101 W. Congress and interpreted for his interview and exam with an immigration official. He was thrilled when the officer told him that he had passed!
A few weeks later, I was honored to accompany Ricardo to his swearing in ceremony, where he took the oath to become a U.S. Citizen with over 100 other individuals from nations across the world. Ricardo was extremely proud and shared that he appreciated my presence there. He said “I feel safe when you come with me.” It was a joy to provide Ricardo with the support he needed to take this important step!
All stories are based on real clients at Taller de José. Names and images have been changed to protect client privacy.
