Citizenship Program
Citizenship Classes
Gaining citizenship allows refugees and immigrants to achieve permanence and safety in the United States. With citizenship they can participate in our democracy by voting or even seeking political office.
Our free citizenship classes teach students English language skills and knowledge of U.S. history and civics needed to pass the citizenship exam. Classes are offered each week at different locations. We offer assistance with the N-400 Application for Citizenship, the Disability Waiver, Request for reduced fee and the Naturalization Application Fee Waiver.
Oregon Citizenship Classes
Citizenship classes for the Summer Term will be held October 3 through December 23. Please visit our class website and fill out the new student form. Please contact Annie at 503-731-9585 or aruonavaarakaras@lcsnw.org if you have any questions.
Our free Citizenship ESL classes are offered quarterly in the Portland Metro area. We can help prepare you for the exam and file your N-400 application too! To enroll in our classes, please bring your Green Card to the first day of class. Open enrollment during the first three weeks of class. For more information, please contact us at 503-731-9585.
Fall Term begins in early October 2023. All classes are ONLINE unless indicated otherwise:
Tuesday Class (begins Oct. 3)
6:00-8:30pm
Wednesday Class (begins Oct. 4)
6:00pm-8:30pm IN-PERSON ONLY (605 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd.)
Thursday Class (begins Oct. 5)
9:30am-12pm IN-PERSON ONLY (At Jubilee Hall, 12175 E Burnside St.)
Friday Class (begins Oct. 6)
10:00am-12:30pm
Saturday Class (begins Oct. 7)
10:00am-12:30pm
Washington Citizenship Classes
Our Vancouver Free Citizenship Classes are offered on a rolling basis at:
- St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mondays 6:30-8:00 p.m.
5607 NE Gher Rd. Vancouver, WA 98662 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Wednesdays 10:00-11:30 a.m. (partially taught in Russian)
309 W 39th St. Vancouver, WA 98660 - Online class, Mondays 09:00-10:30 a.m.
To enroll in Vancouver Area Citizenship Classes, contact Alla Brandt at abrandt@lcsnw.org or (360) 787-4727
For more information, contact us at (360) 694-5624
Citizenship Information
To become a citizen, a person must have resided in the United States as a legal permanent resident for at least 5 years or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen, have good moral character, and meet the physical presence requirements. The Naturalization process has 2 major components:
- The N-400 application
- The Naturalization Exam and Interview: N-400 questions interview, knowledge of 100 civics questions, and the English reading and writing test.
Citizenship candidates must complete and submit the N-400 application, answer all of the oral interview questions, pass the civics and history exam, and write one sentence and read one sentence in English. The Citizenship Exam and Interview is conducted in English unless the applicant meets an age requirement or can prove that they have a disability that hinders their ability to take the exam in English. If you have lived in the U.S. for 20 years and are 50 years old, or have lived in the U.S. for 15 years and are 55 years old, you are eligible to take the exam in your native language.
Resources and Other Links
Need a Citizenship Immigration Form?
These forms are from the USCIS website and are offered free of charge.
Need more information?