September 17th is Citizenship Day, recognizing everyone who is working to become a U.S. citizen. To help them prepare, USCIS provides free, online study resources for the Naturalization Test in multiple languages. The path to citizenship can be long and complicated, but local organizations like Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), World Relief Quad Cities, and Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice are here to help. You can also find the following resources on immigration and citizenship at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)
Becoming a U.S. Citizen, 10th Edition by Ilona Bray
Everything you need to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. The sooner a green card holder becomes a U.S. citizen, the sooner he or she gains a host of benefits: the right to vote and apply for certain federal jobs, faster immigration for family, protection against deportation or new anti-immigration legislation, and more. But the application process itself can be long and confusing—and at worst, create a risk of deportation. With Becoming a U.S. Citizen, you can save months, or even years, and avoid complications. Becoming a U.S. Citizen also shows you how to ask for a reduced fee or take advantage of special exceptions if you have a disability, are in the military, or are the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
How to Get a Green Card, 16th Edition by Ilona Bray
The U.S. immigration system is an enormous bureaucracy, so it’s vital that you understand it before attempting to apply for a green card. Making a mistake can lead to delays and hassles or even ruin your chances for success. How to Get a Green Card provides everything you need to know about qualifying for permanent U.S. residence if you don’t have an employer sponsoring you. Find out how to work with U.S. officials and prepare and present the right documents at the right time to get a green card through: parents, siblings, or adult children, a U.S. spouse or fiancé, green card lotteries (diversity visa), political asylum or refugee status, a U visa for crime victims, or another category you might qualify for. The 16th edition covers the latest income requirements for family-based green card applicants, additions to the list of countries whose citizens may obtain Temporary Protected Status, and more.
Fiancé and Marriage Visas: A Couple’s Guide to U.S. Immigration, 12th Edition by Ilona Bray
The book that’s helped thousands of couples live in the U.S. together. You’re engaged or married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and all you want is the right to be together in the United States. Should be simple, right? It’s not. The pile of application forms can be overwhelming, the bureaucracy isn’t helpful, and delays are inevitable. This book will help you succeed. Discover the fastest and best application strategy. Avoid common–and serious–mistakes. Prepare for meetings with officials. Prove your marriage is real–not a fraud. Deal with the two-year testing period for new marriages. The 12th edition covers the latest, higher fees and income requirements as well as new policies under the Trump administration, and provides handy checklists and illustrative sample forms.
Residencia Americana: Guía para Obtener tu Residencia Legal en Estados Unidos by Inglés en 100 días
Residencia americana te ofrece una visión detallada y completa del proceso de solicitud de la residencia legal en los Estados Unidos. Desde los criterios de elegibilidad hasta la documentación necesaria, te guía paso a paso en cada etapa del camino. Y con acceso a recursos online, ¡siempre está actualizada! Además, explora las diferentes opciones para obtener la residencia, desde aquellas patrocinadas por familia o empleo, hasta la lotería de visas de diversidad y categorías especiales. También aborda aspectos importantes como las entrevistas, cómo mantener tu estatus legal, cómo enfrentar posibles retrasos o negaciones, y cómo buscar apoyo legal cuando lo necesites. Tanto si eres un inmigrante en busca de una nueva vida en este país, como si eres un familiar o un consultor de inmigración, este libro se convertirá en tu recurso indispensable. No importa cuál sea tu situación, esta guía te brinda una visión clara, concisa y organizada para alcanzar tu sueño de establecerte legalmente en los Estados Unidos. ¡Prepárate para dar el primer paso hacia tu futuro lleno de oportunidades!
Learn about the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
American Government: In the United States, the government gets its power to govern from the people. We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Citizens in the United States shape their government and its policies, so they must learn about important public issues and get involved in their communities. Learning about American government helps you understand your rights and responsibilities and allows you to fully participate in the American political process. The Founders of this country decided that the United States should be a representative democracy. They wanted a nation ruled by laws, not by men. In a representative democracy, the people choose officials to make laws and represent their views and concerns in government. This book will help you understand the principles of American democracy, the U.S. system of government, and the important rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
During the month of September, look for the “Constitution and Citizenship Day” displays at all three branches for more recommendations.
Learning Chinese opens doors to understanding a rich and ancient culture and a language that is increasingly relevant in our globalized world. Mandarin Chinese, the most widely spoken language in the world, boasts over 1.1 billion native speakers, primarily in China, Taiwan, and Singapore, along with Macao, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia (worlddata.info). Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in at least 21 other countries as a mother tongue by a part of the population. The Wu and Min dialects of Chinese each have upwards of 80 million native speakers, and both languages are only spoken in Taiwan and some regions of China. There are many vibrant Chinese-speaking communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Madagascar (worldpopulationreview.com).
The history of the Chinese language dates back over 4,000 years, with the earliest written records found on oracle bones from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). Over centuries, the language evolved through various stages, including Old Chinese, Middle Chinese, and Modern Standard Chinese. The development of a standardized written form, based on the Beijing dialect, was a significant step in unifying the languages spoken in China – a family of dialects with significant regional variations. Mandarin, the official language of China, is the most widely spoken, with approximately 70% of the population using it as their primary language. Other major dialects include Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong province and Hong Kong), Wu (including Shanghainese), Min (including Hokkien), and Xiang. Each dialect has its own unique phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features, and many are not mutually intelligible (fluentu.com). Other than in China, the Chinese language is spoken in 21 other countries as a mother tongue by at least a part of the population including many neighboring countries in Asia and surrounding regions (listed above), but also further south to Australia and New Zealand and parts of Oceania. The language is also spoken in Chinese communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and other locations in Europe, along with a small number of countries in Central and South America as well as some African nations like Nigeria and Madagascar.
