Announcement
The IRC can help you to petition to bring your family members to the U.S., apply for citizenship, green cards, work authorization, travel documents, and more.
IRC now offers online legal services
Please note: Most client services, workshops, and information sessions are being provided via Zoom, Teams, or phone unless otherwise stated.
Quick Links
Photo: IRC / Harkin
Click on any of the links below to be directed to more information on those topics.
- Citizenship
- Citizenship Workshops
- Immigration Consultations
- Green Cards
- Family Sponsorship
- Volunteer or Intern With Us
- Community Partnerships
- Contact Us
Who We Are
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein. The IRC is at work in more than 40 countries and each year our programs serve 23 million people worldwide. The American Institute of Philanthropy CharityWatch gives the IRC an A+ rating and Charity Navigator awarded the IRC its highest rating.
The IRC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide immigration legal services. Our comprehensive immigration services are available in 23 U.S. cities and are provided by accredited immigration staff. We can provide eligibility consultations, full case management services, and legal representation.
Apply for U.S. Citizenship
Are you ready to become an American citizen? The IRC can help all eligible legal permanent resident to apply for naturalization. You do not have to be a refugee or asylee client to take advantage of our services. To get started with a case, make an appointment online.
Learn more about
- Benefits of U.S. Citizenship
- Eligibility for Citizenship
- Citizenship Workshops
- Documents & Information Needed to Apply
- Preparing for the Test
- Fee Waivers & Reduced Fees
Benefits of Naturalization
Becoming a U.S. citizen opens the door to many new opportunities. Start your naturalization application today so you can have access to all the privileges and protections that come along with being an American citizen including:
Forced to flee violence in Iraq, Bushra Naji and her family came to the U.S. in 2008. Five years later with the help of IRC, Bushra became an American citizen.
Photo: IRC / Donna Alberico
- Voting and running for office
- Security against deportation
- Bringing more family to the U.S.
- Increased job opportunities
- Traveling with a U.S. passport
- No more paperwork and fees
- Access to public benefits
Ready to apply?
Register to attend a citizenship workshop online. At workshops, IRC will prepare your N-400 application, fill out your fee waiver or reduced fee form if applicable (I-912 or I-942), and provide you study materials for the naturalization test. At most workshops, legal service fees are waived.
Eligibility for Naturalization
In general, individuals may be eligible for citizenship if they:
- Are at least 18 years old;
- Have had lawful permanent resident status (“Green Card”) for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen;
- Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the last five years;
- Have continuously resided in the U.S.;
- Have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you're applying;
- Are able to pass the English proficiency and American civics test (See exceptions);
- Demonstrate good moral character;
- Are willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Depending on your situation, there may be different requirements that may apply. Not sure if you are eligible? Make an appointment.
Naturalization Through Military Service
The naturalization requirements may be diminished or waived for qualifying U.S. military service members and certain veterans. Qualifying service is generally in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. Spouses and children of military members may also be eligible for expedited or overseas naturalization. Get detailed guidance on naturalization through military service on the USCIS website or contact your local IRC office to receive an eligibility screening.
Citizenship Workshops
Take the hassle and worry out of applying for citizenship: get legal review from IRC's DOJ Accredited Representatives. Registration is required. Use the link below to sign-up.
- Every 1st Wednesday of the month, 3:30pm - 6:30pm, VIRTUAL (IRC San Jose), Register
- Every 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10am - 5pm, IN-PERSON, IRC Sacramento, 2020 Hurley Way #420, Sacramento, CA 95825 Register
- Every 3rd Monday of the month, 1pm - 5pm, VIRTUAL (IRC San Jose), Register
- Every 4th Tuesday of the month, 1pm - 5pm, IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL (IRC Turlock), Register
What You Need to Apply
Below is a list of documents and information that you will need for your naturalization appointment with the IRC. Most of this information, you will fill out on Citizenshipworks.
- Your Legal Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card")
- Your Social Security Card (or a copy)
- Your Driver's license or State-issued ID
- List of all trips you took outside of the U.S. since you became a permanent resident
- List of all your addresses for the last 5 years (with dates of move in and out)
- List of all your employers or schools for the last 5 years (with addresses and dates of starting and ending)
- List of all your children (including adopted, missing, deceased, and step children) with current addresses, Alien numbers (if applicable), dates of birth, and countries of birth
- List of all your marriages and your current spouse's prior marriages (if applicable), including names of spouses, dates of marriage, and dates of termination of marriage
- Information about your parents, if they are U.S. citizens
- If you've ever been arrested, been to court, had a conviction, had immigration problems, or traffic violations, bring a list of incidents and obtain your Certified Court Dispositions (or DMV records for traffic offenses)
- Payment to USCIS in the correct amount depending on your circumstances and filing type. Calculate your USCIS fees.
- For Fee Waiver or Reduced Fee requests, bring proof of low income (an IRS tax transcript, recent tax returns and pay stubs for all working members of the household). If you receive a means-tested benefit such as Medi-Cal or Cal-Fresh, bring a Verification of Benefits Letter from the county social services department.
Fee Waiver & Reduced Fee Requests
Fee waivers and reduced fee options exist for naturalization applicants. To get help from IRC to determine if you are eligible to apply for a Fee Waiver or Reduced Fee, register for a citizenship workshop.
On April 1, 2024, USCIS expanded the reduced naturalization fee eligibility from 200% of the poverty income level to 400%. Learn more about poverty guidelines.
English and Civics Exceptions
Individuals are exempt from the English language requirement if they are age 50 or older and have lived as a lawful permanent resident in the United States for 20 years (“50/20” exception),or if they are age 55 or older and have lived as a lawful permanent resident in the United States for 15 years (“55/15” exception). If an applicant is age 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, they may also be given special consideration regarding the civics test.
Applicants may also qualify for an exception from the English language or civics requirements if they have a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment that prevents them from being able to learn English or demonstrate knowledge of civics. We encourage applicants interested in this exception to receive a legal consultation before applying.
Community Partnerships
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) partners with many schools, libraries, labor unions, and other community organizations across Northern California to provide accessible immigration services. Request a free training or educational event about immigrant rights, naturalization, family petitioning, and other immigration processes by emailing Ketaki.Srivastava@Rescue.org.
The IRC is a nationwide partner of the New Americans Campaign (NAC), a diverse nonpartisan national network of respected immigration organizations, legal services providers, faith-based organizations, immigrant rights groups, foundations and community leaders. The Campaign transforms the way aspiring citizens navigate the path to becoming new Americans. In Santa Clara County, the NAC collaborative members include: Asian Law Alliance; Center for Employment Training (CET); International Rescue Committee (IRC); International Institute of the Bay Area; and Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN). In the East Bay, the NAC collaborative includes API Legal Outreach; Catholic Charities of the East Bay; East Bay Sanctuary Covenant; Filipino Advocates for Justice; International Rescue Committee; Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay; and Korean Community Center East Bay.
The IRC in San Jose is also a member of SBLISN (South Bay Legal Immigration Services Network) which includes: Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), Asian Law Alliance, Catholic Charities of SCC, Center for Employment Training, International Rescue Committee, Step Forward Foundation, Pangea Legal Services, and Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto.
Consultations
**IMPORTANT NOTE: Most consultations are still virtual.
For our Oakland, Sacramento, and Turlock offices, consultations can be booked on our booking website. The Sacramento IRC office also has walk-in consultation hours in-person every Wednesday between 11am - 4pm.
For the San Jose office, prospective clients must email the team at SanJoseImmigration@rescue.org to request to be added to the waitlist.
Apply for a Green Card
Photo: IRC / M Cohen
The IRC helps individuals to apply for legal permanent residency (green cards) through the adjustment of status process. To determine if you or a family member are eligible to apply for an adjustment of status, book an appointment.
Petition for Family Members
Photo: IRC / Goncalves
U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) may bring their eligible family members to live in the United States by filing an immigrant visa petition on behalf of their qualifying relative. Among other requirements, petitioners must show that the relationship with their family member satisfies immigration law and that they are able to financially support their relative in the United States. To receive an eligibility consultation and detailed guidance on sponsoring your family member, make an appointment.
Which family members can I bring to live in the United States?
U.S. citizens may petition to bring children, spouses, parents, and siblings. Legal Permanent Resident may only petition to bring spouses and unmarried children.
How long will the process take?
Processing times vary based on a number of factors, including the beneficiary's legal/family relationship to the petitioner, status of the petitioner (U.S. Citizen vs. Legal Permanent Resident), and the beneficiary's country of origin.
Volunteer and Intern Opportunities
If you are a student or recent graduate looking for an internship opportunity, please explore our opportunities below. If you don't see an opportunity listed, please contact your nearest office by email (see "Contact Us" section).
In Northern California, the International Rescue Committee helps refugees, asylees and immigrants to become permanent residents, apply for citizenship, and petition on behalf of family members, and volunteers are needed in all locations to support immigration caseworkers and ensure the effective management of our offices. To learn more about how you can help IRC provide high quality, low cost immigration services while gaining experience with casework, client follow-up, database management, and community outreach and education, click on your local office below:
- Volunteer or Intern in San Jose
- Volunteer or Intern in Oakland
- Volunteer or Intern in Sacramento
- Volunteer or Intern in Turlock
Contact Us
To get in touch with an IRC immigration team member, reach out directly to us using the contact information below.
Ketaki Srivastava
Immigration Manager for Northern California
Emmir Escorcia
*Se habla español
DOJ Accredited Representative in San Jose
Grecia Sandoval
DOJ Accredited Representative in Oakland
Monica Contreras
*Se habla español
DOJ Accredited Representative in Turlock
Julissa Salcedo
*Se habla español
DOJ Accredited Representative in Turlock
Assadullah Hanif
*Speaks Farsi/Dari & Pashtu
من فارسی/دری صحبت میکنم
زه پشتو خبری کولای شم
DOJ Accredited Representative in Sacramento
Ahmad Zaki Qurbani
*Speaks Farsi/Dari
من فارسی/دری صحبت میکنم
DOJ Accredited Representative in Sacramento
Gitty Shah
DOJ Accredited Representative in Sacramento
Ricardo Velazquez
*Se habla español
DOJ Accredited Representative in Sacramento
(209) 884-2959
Other Resources
- ImmigrantInfo.org: A collaborative project, sponsored by the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations and the South Bay Consortium for Adult Education (SBCAE) to support successful integration of immigrants and refugees into the community. The website contains a searchable database of current ESL and citizenship classes, public events, and government as well as non-profit educational resources in Santa Clara County.
- Have friends or family living outside of Northern California? Visit the general IRC Immigration Website to find an immigration specialist in another U.S. city!
- The International Rescue Committee is a member of the New Americans Campaign, a nonpartisan, innovative and unprecedented effort led by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center that brings together a coalition of funders, leading national immigration and service organizations, and over 100 local service providers to help aspiring Americans reach their dream of citizenship. Visit the NAC events site to find nationwide citizenship and immigration workshops near you!