Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada helps with all kinds of immigration services, but the focus right now is on those applying for citizenship.
"We're trying to push those services," said Annie Allen, Director of Immigration Assistance. "We have a grant through Homeland Security which allows us to provide those services free of charge. In August, the Department announced fee increases, including naturalization, which will increase drastically starting October 2."
That means the fee to file for naturalization will go up from $725 to $1200 next month. Truckee Meadows Community College has been offering free classes to help potential applicants with the process.
"Part of the process with naturalization is every individual has to appear for an interview and take a test related to United States history and government," Allen said. "There are 100 questions, and this class helps people prepare for that."
Those that think they're ready to start the process are encouraged to get in touch with Catholic Charities.
"We start everything with a consultation," Allen said. "So they should call (775) 393-3877, that's our program line here. We will do our best to get them set up with a consultation and screen for eligibility. We always make sure that we feel confident in our clients' eligibility before we file the application."
Local cases are taking seven to nine months to process right now.
For more information on the Catholic Charities Immigration Assistance, click here.
