How Ana Became a US Citizen

Five years in the making. At last, all's well that ends well.

Ana: I am born and raised in the Philippines so when I got here in the US and got married to Russell, who is an American citizen, we have to process my documentation to make my stay legal.

First step is to get a Permanent 

residence Card or Green Card. The best website to check is the USCIS Website

In here, you'll find answers to every questions you may have. You may call them anytime during their office hours. Be patient. They will answer.

There are forms that you can file online or print out to fill out manually. Just navigate their page and you'll find tons of vital information about Permanent Residency and US Naturalization.

My tips:

1. When you fill out the forms, make sure to sign and date the document on the appropriate box before sending them in so your documents won't be returned.

2. Together with the USCIS forms, you need to also send them the original copy or photocopies of other documents needed for your application. A cheque or money order filing fee is also required. In my case, I didn't have to go to UPS or FEDEX. I just sent them via USPS (United States Postal Service) and my parcels were safely delivered.

3. The waiting process is the thing. Whether you're applying for a PRC (Permanent Resident Card) or Naturalization, be patient. It will take a while. But it will come sooner or later. First, you will get a confirmation letter. Then, a biometrics (fingerprint taking) appointment. Then, the most awaited interview. This can take several months or years (especially when COVID hits), so be patient. It took me five years to accomplish all these, from getting the PRC to being naturalized.

4. While waiting, be productive. If you can't work yet, try to volunteer. There are many places you can go to and be a blessing. In my case, I volunteered in the Unuversity of Washington and eventually got hired when I got my PRC. Once you have your card, you can now apply for US Citizenship.

5. Once you received the letter for your US Naturalization interview, start to review the 100 questions for the Civics test. You need to answer 6 out of 10 questions. In the video, I made a shout out to the       

ESSA Group because I watched their video almost everyday and look where it got me. :)

6. Once you got naturalized, the first step is to book your appointment with the Social Security Administration to get a card or update your information with them if you already have one. Secondly, schedule an appointment with the DOL (Department of Licensing) to get an Enhanced Driver's License so you can drive to Canada or Mexico. Finally, get a US passport so you can travel anywhere in the world. That's now your ticket to explore different places once it's safe to travel again. This is the last step because they will get your original Naturalization Certificate. But don't worry, it will be returned to you after they send you the passport. Unless you resquested for it to be expedited, the waiting time is between 3-4 months.

If you have more questions or more tips to share, feel free to comment down below. Thank you and stay safe! 

Our Encouragement to You:

    We want to encourage you to keep on dreaming and to keep on reaching for the stars. It may come easy and fast, but it may also come tedious and slow. For us, waiting makes us become more patient. Our characters are tested, sometimes to its limits. Keep on waiting. Don't give up. Dreams can come true.