1. Find out if you are eligible for naturalization.

2. Fill out the application, prepare all supporting documents, and send them to USCIS with payment for the fee.

3. Wait for the USCIS Notice for a biometrics appointment. The appointment will be at a USCIS “Application Support Center” near you.

4. Go to the Naturalization Interview and take the Civic and English exams.

5. Take the Oath.

To qualify for citizenship, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a permanent resident (have a green card) for at least:
  • 5 years, or
  • 3 years if you are married to a US citizen.
• Read, write and speak basic English; and
• Understand basic US civics.

You have to be able to read, speak, listen and write English, but you don’t have to worry about being perfectly fluent.

You are exempt from the English test (but must take the civics test) if you are:

• 50+ years old and have lived as a Permanent Resident (aka green card holder) in the US for 20+ years, or
• 55+ years old and have lived as a Permanent Resident in the US for 15+ years.

You may take the civics test in your native language, but you must bring an interpreter fluent in both English and your native language with you to your interview.

Permanent Residents who are 65+ years old and have lived in the US for 20+ years will get special consideration regarding the civics test. See this webpage for more information about exemptions.

We do not have staff or volunteers available to provide interpretation during naturalization interviews.

If you are looking for English classes, see question in the “Other” section: “Where can I take English classes?”

US citizenship application fee: $760 (biometric fee included)

See the question below to see how you can qualify for reduced fees and fee waivers for the application.

The full fee of $760 is waived if your household income level is less than 150% of the federal poverty line.

If your household income is between 150% and 200% of the federal poverty level, you may be eligible to get $380 off your application fee.

For more information on the reduced fee request and fee waiver, visit the USCIS site.

You must submit an application to request a fee waiver. Check your eligibility for a full or partial fee waiver on this webpage.

Check this webpage to find out the processing time for your case.

We cannot provide you with an exact timeline of when you will be notified; we only assist with the application and do not directly have control over approvals/rejections. If your application is rejected, we can discuss next steps.

We check for eligibility for citizenship. Our services include:

• Application Assistance– We can help guide you to retrieve missing information or documents, but you must provide all required information and materials so that we can help you complete your application.
• Legal review of citizenship applications– Immigration lawyers or DOJ-accredited professionals will review your application.

We will help you to register your application with the Immigration Bureau after completing the above steps.

Services can be provided in person, over the phone or virtually. If you would like to request our virtual services, you must have an active email account.

Before we can assist you in filling out your application, you must complete with us an intake form and an eligibility screening, and sign a “Limited retainer for naturalization application legal assistance via the New Americans Campaign”.

Once we receive that information, we will request scanned copies of your green card, passport, and ID. If you are eligible for a fee waiver, we may also ask you to send a copy your tax refund from the previous year.

All applications must be submitted directly by the applicant.

Yes, we charge $25 for each individual we assist with the application.

Our services include a legal review of your applications, but we don’t provide direct legal assistance.

Our Immigration Legal Services Coordinator  is our DOJ/BIA-accredited legal representative.

Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

Medicaid covers in-patient and out-patient hospital services, physician services, laboratory and x-ray services, home health services, dental services for adults and children, and more.

Optional benefits include services such as prescription drugs, case management, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

Enrollment in health insurance will not impact future immigration statuses or applications

Public charge ONLY impacts people applying for green card/LPR status or a visa to enter the U.S.

Public Charge does NOT apply when an immigrant applies for:

• Citizenship
• Green card renewal
• Asylum, DACA, DED, or any other statuses not listed above.

Public benefits that are part of the Public Charge Test are:

1. Monthly Cash Support
2. If you use Medicaid/ACA to cover institutional long-term care (ex. nursing home/mental health hospital).

Benefits received by other family members cannot affect your test. Public charge is only one part of the immigration review.

For more information about Public charge, you can visit this website.

If you’re worried about Public Charge, talk with your immigration lawyer. You can use this site to find a lawyer near you.

You must be ALL of the below:

• a resident of the Virginia
• a U.S. citizen, legal  permanent resident, or a person with a lawful residing status
  • Legal Permanent Residents and Parolees must have their status for 5 years
  • Most other lawful residing statuses will lose eligibility after 7 years or when they become an LPR
• be low income (have a household income less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level)

You are enrolled in Medicaid for as long as you are eligible, but you must renew every year (see next question for more information).

Medicaid must be reviewed at least once every 12 months to determine your eligibility for coverage. If this annual review is not completed, coverage may be canceled.

Sometimes, your eligibility may be reviewed for without the worker contacting you. If the local DSS is able to renew  with information known to the agency or available from electronic sources, you will receive a notice telling you the coverage has been reviewed and the date of your next renewal deadline.

You can renew your coverage online by visiting the CommonHelp website, over the phone by calling Cover VA at 1-855-242-8282. You can also contact Hamkae Center (services@hamkaecenter.org or 703-256-2208) to request help with your renewal.

Not every doctor accepts Medicaid; contact them to ask before making an appointment.

Assistance with health insurance applications and referrals to most health resources is free.

The exception is referrals to the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic (NVDC). This referral fee is $50, which allows us to hold and pay for your first appointment at NVDC.

FAMIS, a.k.a. “child Medicaid”, is Virginia’s health insurance program that makes health care affordable for children from eligible families. It covers all the medical care that growing children need to avoid getting sick, plus the medical care that will help them if they do get sick or get hurt.

FAMIS Plus provides medical coverage for low-income children who may have other health care coverage.

FAMIS Moms provides health care coverage for pregnant people and newborns. FAMIS Moms provides full health care benefits during your pregnancy and for one year after birth, even if your income changes during that time.

Your baby will qualify for coverage for the first year after birth.

You can enroll your baby by phone with CoverVA (1-8555-242-8282), contact local DSS or ask the hospital.

FAMIS Prenatal is health care coverage for pregnant individuals who can’t get other coverage due to their immigration status.

You will get full Medicaid benefits for pregnant people until 60 days after birth.

To be eligible, you need to:

• live in Virginia
• meet income rules
• be uninsured.
• be prepared to share your estimated due date and how many children you are expecting.

When you are enrolled in Medicaid for pregnancy, you get full health care benefits during your pregnancy and postpartum coverage for 12 months after childbirth.

Coverage after the birth (postpartum) will be extended to those who have given birth more than 60 days but not more than 12 months; if you are eligible for postpartum coverage, you may enroll in Medicaid or CHIP to receive the extended postpartum coverage from the time you enroll to 12 months after you had given birth.

You also receive dental benefits during your pregnancy coverage. Dental services are administered through the CardinalCare Smiles program.

Emergency Medicaid is limited health coverage for people who can’t get full Medicaid coverage because of their immigration status, but meet other eligibility requirements.

It covers care received when the person’s life/ health is in serious danger or there is a risk of permanent disability. It does not cover ongoing services, except for regular outpatient dialysis.

You can have Emergency Medicaid at the same time as your primary health insurance.

Hamkae Center is a referral partner for the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic (NVDC).

To sign up this service you have to:

1) Be eligible for their services. Our staff will reach out to make sure you can receive NVDC services.

2) After we check your eligibility,  we will help you make your first 30 minute appointment with the clinic, which will require a $50 deposit. This first appointment will include NO TREATMENT- ONLY an x-ray and a general check up on your dental health to create a treatment plan.

3) After the 1st appointment-you will be responsible in creating future appointments with the clinic. These will include treatment.

If you are experiencing a “dental emergency” (ex. a toothache that keeps you up at night despite taking medicine, severe long term swelling), we may be able to help you get immediate treatment, if the Clinic has openings.

Note: The Clinic, not Hamkae Center, has the final say on what is considered a “dental emergency” and has the right to reject the referral request.

The clinic provides the following:

• Diagnostic: x-rays, exams
• Preventive: cleanings
• Restorative: fillings
• Endodontics: root canals
• Periodontics: gum-related treatment
• Prosthodontics: crowns, partials, dentures
• Oral surgery: extractions and other oral surgeries
• Adjunctive general services: all covered services that do not fall into specific dental categories

Bridges and orthodontic services (including braces) are not included.

Eligibility requirements for an appointment at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, include all of the following:

• 18 years or older
• Family income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
• No dental insurance
• A resident of:
  • Arlington County
  • Fairfax County
  • Loudoun County
  • City of Alexandria
  • City of Fairfax
  • City of Falls Church
  • Prince William County
•  Able to speak and understand English or has someone who can translate for you who is 18+ years old

If under 21 years old:

• Regular dental checkups
• X-rays
• Cleaning and fluoride
• Sealants
• Space maintainers
• Braces
• Anesthesia
• Extractions
• Root canal treatment
• Crowns

If pregnant:

• X-rays
• Exams
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Root canals
• Gum related treatment
• Crowns, Partials and Dentures
• Extractions and other oral surgeries

If over 21 years old:

• X-rays
• Exams
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Root canals
• Gum related treatment
• Dentures
• Extractions and other oral surgeries

Anyone enrolled in Medicaid or FAMIS qualify for dental benefits.  Find a dentist that accepts Medicaid/FAMIS at https://www.dentaquest.com/en/members.

Wait for the letter – Medicaid will send out a letter and give you the date you can expect coverage to start. You should receive this notice within 45 days of submitting your application.

Check your online CommonHelp account – When submitting your application online, the website will create an account. Log into your account to check your status.

Call the local Department of Social Services (DSS) – The paperwork that you receive from the local DSS office will have a phone number that you can call to check the status of your application. You may ask for interpretation during the call, free of charge.

Go to your DSS – It can be helpful to visit your local office since you can make any corrections to your application in person . Note that they may be busy and may have long wait times.

Your local DSS decides whether to approve or deny your application.

If your application is denied or you do not get information about your application after 45 days of submission, let us know. We can discuss next steps on how to connect with the Medicaid office, especially if you have concerns about any language or if you believe the DSS has made the wrong decision.