Page 4 - Us Citizenship

US citizenship agency eyes improved service without plan to pay

Less than a year after being on the verge of furloughing about 70 per cent of employees to plug a funding shortfall, the U.S. agency that grants citizenship, green cards and temporary visas wants to improve service without a detailed plan to pay for it, including granting waivers for those who can't afford to pay fees, according to a proposal obtained by The Associated Press. The Homeland Security Department sent its 14-page plan to enhance procedures for becoming a naturalised citizen to the White House for approval on April 21. It involves U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is part of Homeland Security and has been operating entirely on fees, without funding from Congress. The plan describes short- and long-term changes that reflect a realistic assessment of our aspirations and limitations, including more video instead of in-person interviews with applicants, authorising employees to administer citizenship oaths instead of having to rely on federal judges, and ...

US: Biden administration reverts to 2008 version of citizenship test

On December 1 last year, USCIS implemented a revised naturalisation civics test, called the 2020 civics test, as part of a decennial test review and update process

Biden rolls back Trump-era citizenship test, reverts to 2008 version

The Biden administration has announced the reversal of the stringent Trump-era policy by reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalisation test module to make the path to US citizenship more accessible to all eligible individuals. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Monday that it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalisation civics test beginning March 1, 2021. The previous Trump administration had introduced some changes to the naturalisation civics test, called the 2020 civics test, which increased the number of questions from 100 to 128 and the correct answers in the multiple-choice questions had political and ideological overtones. Announcing the reversal, the USCIS said the agency has determined that the revised civics test, applicable for individuals who had applied on or after December 1, 2020, "may inadvertently create potential barriers" to the naturalisation process. "This action is consistent with the framework of the Executive Order

Under President Trump, citizenship and visa agency focuses on fraud

The head of the agency handling citizenship and visa applications was surprised when he faced blowback for cutting a reference to the US being a nation of immigrants

Indian software engineer becomes US citizen in rare ceremony at White House

President Donald Trump has presided over a rare naturalisation ceremony at the White House where five immigrants, including a software developer from India, were sworn in as American citizens

Visa politics

New H1-B ban would also hurt US companies

Indians launch SOS campaign to fly home with minors having US citizenship

Travel to India by a non-Indian citizen, except for certain categories of those having Overseas Citizens of India card, is barred due to strict travel restrictions due to Covid-19

No relief for aged-out kids in US: F-1 visa, deportation their only option

In US, once the children of H-1B work visa holders turn 21, they can no longer continue with their H-4 visas, which are typically meant for dependents

'Seriously looking' to end US birthright citizenship, says Trump

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump had said that he will end the birthright citizenship

Indian tries to obtain US citizenship by fraud, faces 10 years imprisonment

Harpal Singh charged with one count of attempted naturalization fraud, faces up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for August 5

Trump faces widespread criticism for his US birthright citizenship proposal

Senator Lindsay Graham said that he intends to introduce a legislation in the Senate to bring a constitutional amendment in this regard

How US birthright citizenship emerged in 1868, endured over the years

Here is a look at the US birthright citizenship clause and how citizens worked to be included in it throughout US history: The 14th Amendment

50,000 Indians took US citizenship in 2017, second only to Mexicans: Report

In all, 707,265 foreign nationals took the oath of American citizenship in 2017, as against 753,060 in 2016 and 730,259 in 2015

Trump open to citizenship for 'dreamers', says deal could take 10-12 years

Over some 700,000 immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children face deportation as early as March

India posts biggest increase in immigrants becoming US citizens: Pew study

By 2015, as many as 80% of eligible immigrants from India opted to become American citizens, as against 69% in 2005