New Americans Welcomed on a Green Carpet
Posted by @Admin on September 30, 2015 | Featured | No Comments
Becoming a U.S. citizen could be the highest milestone for an immigrant living in the United States of America. Every year hundreds of thousands of residents, apply for naturalization in hopes to become an official citizen.
Try to imagine how can an individual could feel after not only being granted to become part of the U.S. Nation, but being welcomed by a green carpet as a ceremony in your honor takes place in an astonishing incomparable venue.
Well, that's exactly the intention of the renewal partnership signed last September 17th between The National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The idea is to host naturalization ceremonies at some of the nation's most iconic national park sites. These historic and picturesque places provide an ideal backdrop for citizenship ceremonies, where new citizens can learn about and reflect on American identity and the responsibilities of citizenship.
The partnership was first signed in 2006. Since then, NPS has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, and at the foot of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial.
According to the USCIS, the U.S. welcomes approximately 680,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States and around the world. Most of them usually take place at a courthouse or a state building, but with the partnership, the ceremonies can be hosted at natural venues that can truly reflect what this magnificent Nation and its citizens are all about.
By introducing new Americans through the Nation's most valuable treasures, new citizens cannot only understand the importance and significance of being an U.S. citizen, but their responsibility to serve and protect our natural resources.
Naturalization Requirements
Before any individual that is seeking to become part of the U.S. Nation, fills the application of naturalization, he or she must fulfill the eligibility requirements such as:
Be at least 18 years of age;
Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder);
Have resided in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years;
Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months;
Be a person of good moral character;
Be able to speak, read, write and understand the English language;
Have knowledge of U.S. government and history; and
Be willing and able to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Workforce Contribution
It is important to never forget, that this great Nation has historically built on immigration. This rich cultural mixture is what makes the U.S. the magnificent Nation we are today. Only in workforce contributions, immigrants accounted for nearly 17 percent (26.2 million) of the 158.6 million workers in the civilian labor force in 2013. According to the USCIS statistics.
30 percent worked in management, professional, and related occupations; 25 percent in service occupations; 17 percent in sales and office occupations; 15 percent in production, transportation, and material moving occupations; and 13 percent in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.
During 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalized a total of 654.949 people.
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