Free cultural training for US immigration

August 13 2009 by Rebekah Nahai

US immigration help for pending citizens

A Texas-based non-profit program is helping immigrants applying for citizenship to learn about US culture and get involved in their communities.

Academia America gives pending citizens free English lessons, teaches civics and community involvement, and assists students with US immigration procedures. The organisation is only its fourth semester, but is already turning away applicants.

Activist Mario Compean founded the school and employs full-time volunteers to run its programs. The volunteers are ‘rated’ by the students, receiving high marks for things like taking personal interest in their situations and referring them to US immigration experts when needed.

The school, whose classes are held between local libraries several nights a week, are proving popular. It started with 24 students in summer of 2008 and is now over-enrolled with 187 students.

Officials estimate the program will need $200k annually in operations funding.

See the latest Immigration News