We are extremely proud to announce the newest progressive step in our ongoing commitment to build stronger communities: A partnership between a labor-supported immigrant advocacy organization and the country’s biggest union-owned bank to offer loans to cover the cost of applying for U.S. Citizenship.
For tens of thousands of legal immigrants, the financial costs of finishing the citizenship process are prohibitive. Here in New Jersey, 1 in 3 legal immigrants point to the $680 U.S. citizenship application fee as the main deterrent to becoming a U.S. citizen.
This unique, labor-initiated program will offer short-term, low-interest loans to residents who are living in the United States legally but are unable to afford the U.S. citizenship application fee. Loan applications will be available at We Are One New Jersey centers located in Jersey City and Elizabeth.
We are grateful to our community partners, We Are One New Jersey and Amalgamated Bank, for helping us remove this financial hurdle for New Americans pursuing their dream of American citizenship. Amalgamated bank was founded by working-class immigrants, and we are thankful its leaders are investing in this country’s future by investing in this program.
We Are One New Jersey provides citizenship, education and advocacy services at low- or no-cost. Hundreds of legal immigrants living in Hudson and Union counties are already utilizing We Are One New Jersey’s many services, including citizenship application assistance and preparation classes, translation, notary and other services.
The U.S. citizenship application fee loan program is another bright example of what labor can accomplish when we work in concert with progressive community partners like We Are One New Jersey and Amalgamated Bank.