US Citizenship Podcast

Ahmed Khan is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is practicing for his naturalization interview this week.  We included extra civics and dictation practice.  Let's get started! 

Hung went to his interview in Santa Ana, CA. Before the interview began, they gave him an iPad. The officer then went to another office, took off his mask, and talked to Hung via the iPad. Hung was able to see and hear the officer clearly. Also Hung answered questions in Vietnamese in a separate video. Videos Hung Do talks about his U.S. Citizenship Interview (English) https://youtu.be/T_IaF6qTuiA...

USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization with a filing date on or after Dec. 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. For more information, visit The 2020 Version of the Civics Test page. Applicants for naturalization with a filing date before Dec. 1, 2020, are required to take the 2008 version of the civics te...

All Saints and Day of the Dead are part of a 3-day festival that remembers the lives of those who passed before us. We honor the following list of Americans who passed before us: Jan 24 Pete Stark, member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973–2013). Feb 23 Ahmaud Arbery, jogger, shot. Feb 24 Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician, Mar 2 Charles Trimble, Native American advocate. Mar 13 Barbara...

Dr. Hernandez describes how her student found time to study for and pass her Citizenship interview. Super quick review of some Part 12 Vocabulary plus many interview tips! A mother with a newborn reports back about her Citizenship Interview video: https://youtu.be/b3bD3QxSIlE Una madre con un recién nacido informa sobre su entrevista de ciudadanía video: https://youtu.be/JYM5mJs7F-8 Examples of Dr...

Teacher Patricia Hernandez and Teacher Jennifer Gagliardi talk about getting organized for your U.S. Citizenship Interview. These tips are for everyone, especially those whose eligibility is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen. We also talk about recent immigration news, encourage everyone to complete their Census, and advocate for alternative funding for USCIS. UPDATED VISA INFO IN SHOW NOTES! Yo...

USCIS responds to a judge's order to stop the increase of the citizenship fee from $725 to $1170 on October 2. CNN reported Tuesday night that a Federal judge blocked attempt to hike naturalization fees by 80%. The fee hike was supposed to go up on Oct.2. See the details at https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/politics/naturalization-fees-judge/index.html USCIS Response to Preliminary Injunction of Fee...

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Teacher Jennifer Gagliardi get together for a practice interview plus interview tips. This video is based on report-backs from recent Citizenship interviews in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. You can watch the zoom video with sub-titles here:

Download the PDF and take the quiz: Twenty-seven N-400 & Civics Qs for US Constitution & Citizenship Week https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/Const-Week-Quiz-2015.pdf Then listen to Teacher Jennifer's comments. Citizenship Resources for Constitution Day and Citizenship Week are available at http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/09/citizenship-resources-for-constitution.html

Good News from USCIS! News Alert Aug 25, 2020 No furlough!   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ uscis-abandons-furloughs- 13000-employees-us- immigration-system/ Biometrics fee included in new N-400 fee Oct 2:  https://s3.amazonaws.com/ public-inspection. federalregister.gov/2020- 16389.pdf  pg 277 No New DACA Applications (This is bad news, but we think this will change soon because the Supreme Court...

Good News from USCIS! News Alert Aug 25, 2020 No furlough!   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ uscis-abandons-furloughs- 13000-employees-us- immigration-system/ Biometrics fee included in new N-400 fee Oct 2:  https://s3.amazonaws.com/ public-inspection. federalregister.gov/2020- 16389.pdf  pg 277 No New DACA Applications (This is bad news, but we think this will change soon because the Supreme Court...

The new fee structure, unveiled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is expected to take effect October 2. The cost of online naturalization applications is increasing from $640 to $1,160. There will also be a $50 fee for asylum-seekers. USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusts-fees-to-help-meet-operational-needs Incr...

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi discuss 20 basic USCIS N-400 Part 12 vocabulary terms. Includes a quiz, an exploration of the new USCIS.gov website, news about the Furlough, and so much more! What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 7 Video with audio (1 hour!) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-7 Video with slides only, no audio (9 min) (Posted 7/26/2020) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-07-n...

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi start with a shortened USCIS N-400 interview which focuses on difficult Part 12 vocabulary. 07/18/2020 Agenda: Practice Interview Don't just say NO! 7 simple definitions for some new Vocabulary New Citizenship Resource: Voices of Freedom ebook USCIS San Jose Webinar (and more info about USCIS outreach) More info about immigration scams Migration Policy...

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi talk very briefly about video comments and then move on to a practice USCIS N-400 interview and much more. 07/11/2020 Agenda: 1. Quick Comments and Request 2. Practice Interview 3. New Citizenship Resources--(Sorry, we skipped it. See below) 4. 2020 Calendar—before and after COVID-19 5. USCIS Webinar Seattle plus Migration Policy Institute Webinar 6. I...

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi talk very briefly about USCIS Outreach events and then move on to simple definitions to complex USCIS N-400 Part 12 vocabulary. Download Dr. Hernandez's USCIS N-400 Part 12 worksheet, watch the video, and write in the N-400 vocabulary. Watch video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-04 worksheet: https://bit.ly/ez-n400-part12 Upcoming National Engagements USCIS...

Dr Hernandez and I talk about the good news and bad news from USCIS June 18-26: DACA victory, Visa bans, Civics Pilot, SF/SJ re-opening, possible new procedures, impending furlough, participating in democracy, DC statehood and more! What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 3 The video with full audio is about 40 minutes long. Watch it at https://bit.ly/uscis-week-03 QUICK TAKE: USCIS Opening...

Dr Hernandez and I talk about the June 18 USCIS Webinar. We summarize and comment on USCIS info about case backlog priorities, Oath Ceremonies, requirements to enter USCIS facilities, citizenship interviews, fingerprint appointments, translators, and much more! One big concern: a possible USCIS furlough in August. Please contact the White House and Congress to fully fund USCIS! The President 1600...

Dr Hernandez and I compare notes about what is happening in Los Angeles and Northern Californian USCIS office re-opening. We talk about Oath Ceremonies, citizenship interviews, office openings and closings, fee increase (no date yet), travel, summer citizenship classes via zoom (email uscitizenpod@gmail.com ), and much more! Video of this zoom call with closed captions: https://youtu.be/MdVzv5Ei43...

video: USCIS Offices Preparing to Reopen on June 4   USCIS: USCIS Offices Preparing to Reopen on June 4 https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-offices-preparing-reopen-june-4   On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)...

Our seventh daily Citizenship lesson features: a. the B-2 Citizenship interview b. USCIS 100:58, 100:64 (European colonists, Thanksgiving) For all the links, please go to: U.S. Citizenship 07, COVID-19 Break, Milpitas Adult School http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/03/us-citizenship-07-covid-19-break.html Daily U.S.Citizenship Lessons 07 summary video https://youtu.be/B2uPd_j4qBQ N-400 Easy Intervie...

Our sixth daily Citizenship lesson features: a. the B-1 Citizenship interview b. USCIS 100:59, 100:87 (Native Americans) For all the links, please go to: U.S. Citizenship 06, COVID-19 Break, Milpitas Adult School http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/03/us-citizenship-06-covid-19-break.html A video summary is available at https://youtu.be/w7idHmunGOw  

Our fifth daily Citizenship lesson features: a. the A-5 Citizenship interview b. a grammar tip about your Permanent Residence Card c. N-400 and Civics quiz (geography and symbols) d. a reading and dictation sentence e. All of the above! For all the links, please go to: U.S. Citizenship 05, COVID-19 Break, Milpitas Adult School http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/03/us-citizenship-05-covid-19-break.ht...

Our fourth daily Citizenship lesson features: a. the A-4 Citizenship interview b. USCIS 100:99-100 (Symbols part 2) For all the links, please go to: U.S. Citizenship 04, COVID-19 Break, Milpitas Adult School http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/03/us-citizenship-04-covid-19-break.html The summary video for this lesson is available on the uscitizenpod YouTube channel as uscitizenpod:  Daily U.S.Citizen...

Our third daily Citizenship lesson features: a. the A-3 Citizenship interview b. USCIS 100:88-90 (Symbols part 1) For all the links, please go to: U.S. Citizenship 02, COVID-19 Break, Milpitas Adult School http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/03/us-citizenship-03-covid-19-break.html The summary video for this lesson is available on the uscitizenpod YouTube channel as Daily U.S.Citizenship Lessons 03 h...