USCIS Opens Applications for Citizenship Grant Program

USCIS Opens Applications for Citizenship Grant Program

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the opening of the application period for its Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. Now in its 16th year, the program will distribute up to $10 million in grants to support legal immigrants in their journey toward naturalization. The initiative focuses on enhancing participants’ understanding of English, U.S. history, and civics, fostering civic integration across communities throughout the nation.

USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou highlighted the importance of the program, stating, “The launch of the application period for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is always an exciting event at USCIS. This program empowers organizations to assist legal immigrants in their quest for citizenship.” This year’s outreach efforts are particularly aimed at ensuring that organizations serving remote, underserved, or isolated communities are aware of these funding opportunities, helping to extend the program’s reach into historically underserved areas.

This year, the program expects to award up to 40 organizations with grants of as much as $300,000 each over two years. These grants are available to public or nonprofit organizations that provide both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to lawful permanent residents.

Since 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded $155 million through 644 grants to organizations that help immigrants prepare for citizenship. These grants have supported citizenship preparation services for more than 300,000 immigrants across 41 states and the District of Columbia. With the backing of Congressional appropriations for fiscal year 2024, USCIS anticipates announcing the recipients of this year’s grants in September 2024.

Organizations looking to apply for this year’s grants should visit www.grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged to access the site well before the June 21 deadline to complete the necessary registration steps required for the application process. This funding is a vital component of USCIS’s mission to support the integration and naturalization of immigrants into American society.

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