U.S. Citizenship Preparation Program
Preparing refugee students; protecting freedoms
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
About Our Program
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ free Citizenship Preparation program includes course work that is focused on the English language, American history and civics knowledge that is needed to pass the United States’ USCIS naturalization interview and exam. We provide classroom instruction to any eligible immigrants and refugees who want to become United States citizens.

Course Information
Students attend classes twice a week; each class is two hours in length. The 10-week class sessions begin in January, April, July and October. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday, with flexible options to attend in the morning, afternoon or evening. Program participants may apply for the course in person at the Wyandotte County, Kansas, Family Support Center (WyCo FSC) or at South Branch Library, an affiliate of the Kansas City Public Library. Or, they may call 913-391-0256 and complete an application over the phone. Prior to attending the course, participants are required to attend a two-day screening/assessment session to determine their English reading, writing and comprehension levels.
Catholic Charities staff and volunteers lead the classes. A variety of locations are offered, including: the WyCo FSC, the Catholic Charities Administrative Office in Overland Park and South Branch Library. Program volunteers also provide tutoring to students who need extra assistance with their studies.
Once a demonstrated competence of the material is exhibited, students are referred to La Luz Immigration Clinic. Clinic staff assist students in completing the N-400 application which is sent to the USCIS for processing. The legal assistance is provided at no cost to the student. The N-400 application fee and USCIS exam is paid for by the student, but clinic staff can identify when students are eligible for reduced application fees.
Program Requirements:
- A student must be a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen
- Must reside in either Kansas or Missouri
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be able to read, write and speak basic English (classes are taught in English; students who are not ready for English classroom instruction will be referred to one of our partner agencies in the community for English Language Learning courses. Once students have improved in their ability to understand and communicate in the English language, they are welcome to reapply for classes.

Benefits to Becoming a Naturalized U.S. Citizen
- Becoming a U.S. citizen protects both you and your children from deportation
- Minor children are granted U.S. citizenship
- You have a greater chance for family reunification
- You are eligible to apply for government job
- You are granted the freedom to travel with a United States passport
- You are eligible to vote in elections
We also assist undocumented immigrants who have no legal options by making them aware of their legal rights. This information empowers them to avoid predatory legal services that offer fraudulent permits for large amounts of money.
Are you interested in becoming a U.S. citizen? If so, you must adhere to these qualifications below.
- You must demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years immediately before you file an application form to the USCIS.
- You must prove that you have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before the date your application is filed.
- You must prove you are of good moral character.
- You must demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution.
- You must demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles and form of government of the U.S.
- You must take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Please note: The USCIS interview/test can be modified for certain individuals because of their age and time as a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) in the U.S.
Contact Us
Use the form below to contact the Citizenship Department.
Please submit other questions to our general Contact Catholic Charities page.