Free Citizenship Clinic

Free Citizenship Application Assistance in Jamaica Plain on Saturday

WHO:  The MIRA Coalition, Project Citizenship, and dozens of volunteers

WHAT:   Free Citizenship Application Clinic

WHERE:    St. Thomas Aquinas Church
97 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

WHEN:    10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m, Saturday, February 28, 2015

REGISTRATION:  Pre-register HERE  Phone: 617-500-5998

BOSTON— From 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Jamaica Plain will host a free "Citizenship Clinic," at which  lawyers and specially trained volunteers will help qualified immigrants fill out all the paperwork required to become United States citizens.

"Many people pay hundreds of dollars and more to private attorneys and organizations to get the help we offer for free," said Eli Pimentel, Citizenship Program Coordinator at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). "If you have a green card, can communicate in basic English, and meet a few other requirements, we can have your application completed, sealed and ready for mailing that day. It's a great opportunity."

Coordinated by MIRA and sponsored by Project Citizenship, the clinic offers eligible applicants the opportunity to work one-on-one with volunteers who speak English, Portuguese and Spanish, among other languages. Volunteers will also help those who meet means-tested requirements fill out waivers for the $680 application fee charged by the government.

Massachusetts enjoys higher rates of naturalization than most states, but groups like MIRA and its partners are working to improve those rates even more. Of the state's 320,000 Legal Permanent Residents (or holders of a green card), 180,000 are eligible to become naturalized citizens but haven't yet undergone the process.

"As a naturalized citizen myself, I can attest to the profound benefits of citizenship," said Eva Millona, Executive Director of MIRA. "For families, it allows easier travel and derivative citizenship for children. For individuals, it opens job opportunities and grants the right to vote. But the most important benefit is just becoming a full and equal member of this great nation — it's a transformational step."

Register at:  or call 617-500-5998

To be eligible for citizenship, attendees MUST:

• Have been a legal permanent resident for 5 years or 3 years if married to US citizen
• Have NO problems with the law
• Speak, write, and read basic English (some older or impaired clients may be eligible for an exemption)

Attendees should bring:

• Green card
• Passport(s)
• List of your addresses AND employers for the past five (5) years
• Marriage and divorce certificates
• Two passport photos
• Social Security Card (optional)
• Money order in the amount of $680.00 (unless eligible for fee waiver)

To check eligibility  for a fee waiver, attendees should call 617-500-5998 BEFORE the clinic

Special thanks to sponsorship and support of:

ABCD (Roslindale/Jamaica Plain)
The Dominican Development Center
Fazenda Coffee Roasters
Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz
Jobs with Justice