Citizenship Preparation Programs
Citizenship Classes
HIAS Chicago offers volunteer-led evening and daytime citizenship classes available in convenient locations throughout the city and suburbs. Our evening classes attract working applicants who are interested in a more structured preparation experience than self study. Our daytime classes are tailored to the needs of seniors, and are conveniently located in community centers, synagogues, and residential buildings.
The nine-week classes are taught in small groups to allow for more individualized attention and help to overcome language barriers. Particularly for the elderly learner, the small group offers a more interactive style, accommodating hearing and vision limitations and provides the opportunity for a more personal experience that fosters social bonds among students and between teachers and students.
In addition to helping you prepare for the test on U.S. civics and history and the written dictated sentence, all classes provide training for the USCIS interview. This part of the class focuses on a review of information on the citizenship application, including a practice interview at the end.
Check our Calendar of Events for upcoming citizenship classes in your community.
Individual Bilingual Intensive Tutorial Program
One-on-one home-based citizenship preparation assistance is available for those who are unable to participate in citizenship group classes. This nine-week intensive program pairs our frail, elderly and disabled clients, as well as those with limited English, with trained bilingual volunteers.
This individualized, intensive program fosters lasting relationships between students and tutors and, in addition to being highly successful in preparing the student to pass the citizenship test and interview, proves to be an extremely gratifying cross-cultural and cross-generational experience for all involved.
Mock Interview Program
Anyone applying for citizenship through HIAS Chicago may participate in a mock interview. A carefully trained volunteer will meet with you and conduct a practice interview, to allow you to go through the process in a formal, yet safe environment. You will then receive valuable feedback on your performance and have an opportunity to prepare further for the interview if necessary. Additional preparation and supportive services are provided and a second practice interview may be conducted. This program has proven to be extremely valuable to those interested in becoming more familiar with the citizenship test and interview process before they are actually scheduled at USCIS.
Self-Study Materials
Each HIAS Chicago citizenship applicant is offered extensive self-study materials for the citizenship test and interview.
A new citizenship preparation CD and manual, “Preparing for Citizenship” is available for purchase. It incorporates both the English and civics testing materials as well as interview practice material based on the N-400 application.” Please contact HIAS Chicago at 312-357-4666 to purchase a CD and manual.