Citizenship Skills

Overview

Elgin area citizenship services offer programs and information to help immigrants learn more about immigration. ECC's Adult Basic Education Center offers citizenship classes to enhance your understanding of the U.S. government. These classes also help prepare for the citizenship interview and test. To take the citizenship class, students must be co-enrolled in an ESL class in the Adult Basic Education part-time program.

Are you prepared to apply to the USCIS?

Prepare for the citizenship interview and learn the information needed to pass the citizenship test. ECC's Citizenship classes help students learn about U.S. history and government, the U.S. Constitution, and civics. It also prepares students to answer questions asked during the citizenship interview. For ECC citizenship classes, call 847-214-6975.

Guide For Immigrants

US Citizenship

A citizen of the US can be a person who is native-born, foreign-born, or naturalized. A citizen is a person who owes allegiance to the US and who is entitled to its protection. As a U.S. citizen, you have rights and privileges, such as voting in elections and running for public office. You can also travel outside the U.S. and hold federal government jobs. Naturalization is the way immigrants become US citizens. For more information, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Website.

Eligibility Requirements

To become a US citizen, you must meet these requirements:

• Valid permanent resident card.
• Five years of residency in the US or three years if you are married to a US citizen.
• Knowledge of the English language.
• Knowledge of the US government and its history.

Stevens Amendment (FY24):
Stevens Amendment: Approximately $718,727 (40%) of the Illinois Adult Education and Literacy Program cost at Elgin Community College is federally funded under Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.