The Southwest Express Library (SWX) and Walter Library have partnered with USCIS to help immigrants through the naturalization process. Citizenship Corners were created at both libraries to provide educational materials from USCIS. The libraries also promote citizenship classes on the citizenshipcorner.org website. USCIS representatives regularly visit the citizenship classes to directly communicate with applicants and provide information about the naturalization process. Students have attended open houses at the Houston USCIS office to learn about the naturalization interview. The partnership between the libraries and USCIS helps educate immigrants and bring the naturalization process to a local level.

1. USCIS – SWX/WAL
PARTNERSHIP
Working together on helping our international community

2. SWX/WAL and USCIS
• The SWX library is heavily used by immigrants that
settled in the Southwest area of Houston. Every month
SWX library offers series of 4 Citizenship classes that
educate the attendees about the naturalization process
and prepare them for the Citizenship interview. To
enhance and expand the existing Citizenship program,
partnership between SWX/WAL, USCIS and Mayor’s
Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs was established.

3. SWX/WAL and USCIS
• Citizenship Corners have been created at both SWX and
Walter. The Corner offers library visitors educational
materials provided by the USCIS. Our citizenship classes
were also promoted on the citizenshipcorner.org website
http://citizenshipcorner.org/attend-an-info-session .
• Regular monthly visits by a USCIS representative to the
Citizenship Classes were arranged. The visits provide
direct communication between the federal agency and
those who applied or plan to apply for US Citizenship.

4. SWX/WAL and USCIS
• During the class a USCIS representative speaks about
the naturalization process, documentations, conducts
citizenship trial interviews, distributes educational
materials at no cost (DVD’s, flash cards, and other). Very
positive feedback from the students is being received. The
fact that a representative from the agency that conducts
the citizenship interview and makes naturalization
decisions (USCIS) visits the class to educate the
students – is very significant for them and brings the
classes to a different level.

5. SWX/WAL and USCIS
• Students attend the Open House events at the Houston USCIS office, where the
students are introduced to the facility, visit the security pass, the waiting area, the
offices where the interviews take place. The Office Director greets the students
and talks to them about the interview process and answers their questions.
• On May 7th, Ms. Kate Syfert (USCIS Regional Lead for Community Relations)
visited Southwest Express Library to discuss collaborative activities between HPL
SWX and USCIS. Ms.Syfert commented on the exclusive partnership that had
been formed between HPL SWX and USCIS.
• SWX/WAL and USCIS attend Citizenship Forums organized by the Mayor’s Office
of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
• Currently SWX/WAL works on organizing a naturalization ceremony at SW Multi
Service center. There is support from USCIS, the community (CM Laster office,
Representative Wu’s office).

6. SWX/WAL and USCIS

7. SWX/WAL and USCIS

8. SWX/WAL and USCIS