By FPL_Sheri
Becoming an American citizen is a huge deal! It’s a process that very few people could even consider making a reality. Preparing for the citizenship test can be daunting for anyone! Not to fear, we’ve got plenty of resources here at the library to help you pass with flying colors (red, white, and blue, that is!). We’ll cover all of the resources at your disposal, as well as some of the barriers you may face in our challenging times.
USCIS Online Materials
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency responsible for lawful immigration services. The USCIS website provides a vast array of materials that can be accessed in a variety of languages. Their website also provides the most up to date information on test questions, as some questions on the civics portion of the test can change. To see the resources available visit the link below:
USCIS.GOV: Citizenship, find study materials and resources, opens a new window
For test updates, visit the test updates page on the USCIS website here:
USCIS.GOV: Check for test updates, opens a new window
If you need study resources in a language other than English, visit the Multilingual Resources page on the USCIS website here:
USCIS.GOV: Citizenship, multilingual resources, opens a new window
Library Items for Checkout
Here's a list of books to help you study for the exam. (Keep in mind that some of the policies and requirements on this topic change regularly by the U.S. government.)
U.S. Citizenship Resources, opens a new window
Practice Tests with Learning Express
Learning Express is an online database that contains various test prep courses and resources. Learning Express has practice materials for the civics portion of the citizenship test in both English and Spanish. In order to use this resource, create an account with Learning Express. To check out the course, flashcards, eBooks, and more, click on the link below:
Learning Express: Become a U.S. Citizen, opens a new window
ESL Resources @ the Frisco Public Library
We offer English language learning classes in person and Mango Languages for online learning. These are great for brushing up on your English, if needed. Please go to the website below to view our class calendar.
Friscolibrary.com/ESL, opens a new window
On-going Issues facing USCIS
With immigration being at the forefront of national politics, USCIS faces some difficult challenges. These are issues to keep in mind if you file for naturalization. To see news updates directly from USCIS, visit the link below:
USCIS.GOV: News, opens a new window
Application Processing Times
Different factors affect the processing time for naturalization applications. Check the website below to see current processing times for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
EGOV.USCIS.GOV: Processing times, opens a new window
We would like to underscore that the processing wait times are quite long. Dallas-Fort Worth is a large draw for immigrants coming to the United States. As more immigrants apply for naturalization, the Dallas USCIS office in Irving will continue to be overloaded with the number of cases it needs to process.
Filing Fees
There are fees associated with filing for naturalization. The website below breaks down the fees. There is a fee reduction for applying online.
Fact Sheet on Naturalization Filing Fees.pdf, opens a new window
Avoid Scams
Unfortunately, there are people who try to take advantage when people are working through complex processes. The USCIS provides information for avoiding some common scams.
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