“The contributions that donors give to this program are worth much more because they are educating people to be better citizens – that helps our country be better. The wealth of a country is their education. If people are educated, they are better citizens.”  - Iris 

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During challenging times – our Citizenship Program continues to support and prepare students 

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Iris came to the US from Venezuela in 2019 to help care for her sister who was battling cancer. After her sister passed away, Iris was not able to return to Venezuela because of COVID travel restrictions. By the time travel opened up, she felt unsafe going back because of the political situation in Venezuela. She decided to stay in the US because "this country is one of the leaders in democracy and freedom." But even with a green card, Iris did not feel safe. Earning her US Citizenship would offer the safety Iris was looking for.   

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Iris enrolled in Literacy Source's Citizenship Class last fall. Her naturalization test / interview was originally scheduled for December 2025. Then, without explanation, the appointment was cancelled, and Iris' citizenship application was put on hold. It was another nine months before Iris' test and interview were rescheduled. Iris was not alone. Nationwide, wait times that used to be seven months are now over a year, denials are up, and naturalizations are expected to decrease by two-thirds in 2026. At Literacy Source, only one student naturalized during the first half of 2026.  

 

Citizenship Class  

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After her interview was cancelled, Iris continued in Citizenship class at Literacy Source. This class helps eligible students prepare for the US naturalization interview and test. During the class, students develop their conversation skills to prepare for the interview while also learning the vocabulary, civics, and history needed to pass the test. Students can start the year-long class any quarter and may stay until they complete the naturalization process. Iris felt lucky to be able to take the class. She learned what to expect in the interview and worked hard to master the course material. Outside of class she listened to audio recordings of the test questions while riding the bus, studied flash cards at home, and even had friends from church quiz her.   

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With federal processing pauses and delays, a number of students in the Citizenship class, like Iris, have been waiting a long time for their interviews. With so few students naturalizing, and new students looking for support, the Citizenship class keeps growing.  

 

When fall quarter classes start, we will welcome our largest ever Citizenship class – with 25 enrolled students! Fortunately, experienced instructors and volunteers can accommodate the group, but we cannot take any more new students until others complete their naturalization.     

 

Practice Interviews & Tutoring 

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When current or former students and clients are finally given a date for their interview and test, Literacy Source continues to support them. Trained volunteers administer practice interviews, simulating what can be an intimidating environment. Through that process, they identify areas where students may need additional work and help them prepare.  When Iris finally received a new date for her interview, she prepared with practice tests and extra tutoring. She said she was so nervous to meet with the practice interviewer, even though she knew she was a Literacy Source volunteer, but the practice interview helped her a lot.