IRC Launches Free Citizenship Classes

In February 2012, the IRC in Boise began a free class twice a week for all individuals interested in becoming a U.S. Citizen, to prepare them to take the civics exam that is part of the application for naturalization with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  The class is very interactive, featuring partner exercises practicing expected exam questions, critical conversations comparing government structures in the United States to our students’ home countries, games based on pictures and maps, video excerpts of Congressional debates and hearings and lots of questions and answers.

In January, the IRC in Boise immigration staff screened 29 potential citizenship civics students, assessing English and knowledge of basic civics.  Twenty of the 29 candidates scored sufficiently high to participate in the class, and began meeting every Monday and Wednesday night.  We referred nine of the candidates to English classes to prepare for the second civics class cohort (starting in May 2012).  For those nine students, IRC Boise is recruiting mentors to work with them individually outside the class to increase their likelihood of success when they begin the class in May.  Interested volunteers please contact Shannon Davis-Jones at Shannon.davisjones@rescue.org! 

Now, in March, IRC Boise is beginning to accept clients for immigration representation services, specifically helping clients complete citizenship applications and applications for lawful permanent residence (green cards).  All of these services are offered under the supervision IRC Boise’s Executive Director Julianne Donnelly Tzul, who is a licensed immigration attorney, barred in the state of California.  The IRC in Boise opens our immigration classes and services to refugees and non-refugees alike.  Anyone needing immigration services please contact Rabiou Manzo at Rabiou.Manzo@rescue.org.