by Alicia Atteberry Imagine this: every day, you leave your house and look off into the distance at a high mountain. You desperately want to climb the mountain, but it takes you years to figure out how to start. One day, you make up your mind to do it and begin preparing. You do research and talk to other people who have climbed the mountain, even experts on the mountain itself. You spend days of your time and stretch your budget to the limit getting ready.

Finally, you got moving. You know it will be a steep climb and that there are many peaks to conquer, but you feel ready. You reach checkpoint after checkpoint, celebrating each victory. It has been a long time coming, and you are proud of yourself for every step you take on your way up. Finally, you are so close to the top you can taste it. You see others who are already there, celebrating and waiting for you. Then you see the path between you and the summit, and you feel your heart sink into your stomach. The old, squeaky bridge you would have to cross is much scarier than you thought. You lose faith. You are almost at the top of the mountain, but you give up and turn around. For many, that final peak on the mountain is U.S. citizenship. There are currently  millions of immigrants in the United States who are already eligible for US citizenship, but many of them do not seek it. Why? The obstacles to becoming a US citizen can be overwhelming. For those who are already struggling to find their way to legal status, these obstacles can make citizenship feel completely out of reach. It takes months or years to obtain legal status. Then naturalization, the legal process through which one becomes a citizen, presents many new challenges. It can be expensive and takes additional years to achieve. Many also feel conflicted about swearing allegiance to a new country or having to renounce their citizenship in their homeland. For many, the civics and English exams are that creaky bridge on the mountain that they cannot muster the courage to cross. The tests can be intimidating and discourage many from pursuing their dreams of citizenship. Millions of permanent residents choose to go through the tedious process of continuing to renew their status indefinitely. However, there are many benefits to making the final effort to become a citizen:

• Citizens are not vulnerable to deportation or loss of status (except in rare circumstances).
• Citizens tend to earn about 10% more than non-citizens.
• Citizens can file immigration petitions for their immediate family.
• Citizens are eligible to obtain a US passport and travel without restrictions.
• Citizens have the right to vote in elections and to serve on a jury.

At Eagan Immigration, we are committed to empowering immigrants to achieve their dreams. If your goal is to obtain US citizenship, we want to be here for you all the way up the mountain. Most of our staff is bilingual, and many of us know the struggle of learning a new language. That is why we offer our services in Spanish and specialize in finding paths to legal status and citizenship, even in the most difficult cases. We feel proud and honored when we can help our clients obtain citizenship. We provide coaching and resources to tackle every obstacle our clients face, so you can stop worrying and feel confident about your future. What is the naturalization process, and how can Eagan help? To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must:

• 18 years of age or older at the time of submission
• A lawful permanent resident for at least 3–5 years
• Capable of demonstrating continuous presence / permanent residence for at least 3 years
• Able to read, write, and speak basic English

It can be intimidating to learn the English needed to pass an English proficiency exam and the additional civics exam. After that, you must complete your final interview, which is also conducted entirely in English. That’s why Eagan is offering a new service in 2024 to help our clients cross the finish line. We have guided many of our clients—who are now U.S. citizens—to success, and we have used our years of experience to develop an ESL course specifically designed to prepare Spanish-speaking applicants for their U.S. citizenship exams and interviews. The class is open to both clients and non-clients. These virtual classes last four hours and meet once a week for sixteen weeks. Instruction will be in English, following recognized ESL strategies, to provide you with the most immersive experience possible. We keep class sizes to just six people to give you the time and attention you deserve. Our expert instructors will cover everything you need to prepare for the naturalization process, including:

• Basic English grammar and vocabulary
• Reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension in English
• The History, Government, and Culture of the United States
• Specific preparation for your in-person interview

On top of that, we’ll be your cheerleaders! We know you can do it! The classroom at Eagan is supportive, inclusive, and designed to build your confidence. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide to pursue your dreams and dedicate your time and effort to achieving them. At Eagan, our sole goal is to give you the tools you need.