“Not every process is this simple,” says Jim Hodges, Citizenship coordinator. The Appadolos were fortunate to have a strong network of support from their family and Seattle’s sizeable and closely-linked Cham community. Many immigrants are on their own until they become involved in ESL
 organizations, where more than just English language instruction is available.

The application for citizenship is a complicated series of forms to complete and requests for documented proof of one thing or another. If the 10-page application has not been properly filled in or a USCIS agent does not understand what has been submitted, the forms are returned and the process must begin again, resulting in weeks, or sometimes months, of delay.

Since 2000, when he began his work with St. James ESL, Jim has learned how to identify ways in which the process might be made less complicated and lengthy for his students. Through trial and error, and consultation with lawyers at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and Northwest Justice Project (NWJP) he has been able to more effectively serve his students while (sometimes) avoiding the frustration that often comes from dealing with the federal government.

To decrease miscommunication and stamps wasted on returned documents, he has drafted a cover letter, which is sent with the paperwork he routinely assists his students in gathering. The cover letter clearly lists all required items as present and provides USCIS-reasonable explanations when an expected document does not exist or is not available.
 

Jim’s students, low-income according to the state Human Services Department, sometimes qualify for the fee waiver. When completing the fee waiver form, several documents are required in order to demonstrate the financial need of each individual. Included in this is a detailed list of monthly expenses subtracted from monthly income. Jim’s students are rarely able to indicate a remaining balance of any more than $50 each month after expenses such as rent, utilities and childcare have been paid.
 

The fee is not the only obstacle Jim’s students encounter. Exceedingly lengthy background checks (one Russian-speaking student has been waiting since February of last year), the vague information needed for disability waivers and the tenuous establishment of permanent residency have all caused delays and frustration.
 

One student, a woman from India, had been establishing her 5 year permanent residency as required by before applying for citizenship. Before her five years were complete she and her husband, already a U.S. citizen, flew back to India to settle their estate. While overseas, her husband sustained damage to his heart and was instructed by his physician not to travel . Their stay extended beyond the six months that USCIS considers acceptable for visitation and was considered “abandonment of permanent residency.” They were devastated. She would have to begin the process all over again.
 

Jim was able to help the couple prove her intent to return using records of her active bank account and a letter from the treating physician in India who advised her husband not to travel with his heart condition. “She had her test last year.” Jim said., “and passed.”
 

“Most people are not aware of their options to what look like insurmountable obstacles.” ▪