Citizenship Classes

Thrive loves to help students learn English and find community together in classes.

Because of Covid-19, there are no in-person classes yet.  However, we are excited to continue online classes and online homework.  These are great opportunities to learn and interact with the teacher and other students.

Our passion with citizenship classes is to help students to both prepare for their citizenship interview and improve their skills for communicating in English.

Overview

• For students with a high-beginning ESL level and above
• Helps students know what to expect at a citizenship interview, practice history & civics questions, practice N-400 questions, and practice small talk questions
• May be taken in combination with another ESL class
• Includes a free immigration legal consultation & free preparation of the N-400 by one of Thrive’s DOJ Accredited Representatives (See details below.)
• Online–Day/Time: Saturday mornings

Class and Homework

Class meetings (at the times above) are online by Zoom during Covid-19.

Additionally, students have 15-20 minutes of homework five days per week (Monday through Friday).  This homework is online at USA Learns.  It can be done anytime each day.  The teacher monitors homework and can help as needed. 

Students are encouraged to do homework once per week with a volunteer or another student for additional interaction, motivation, and accountability.

Students can do class and online homework with a smartphone or computer.

To Register

To make steady progress, Thrive asks students to make a solid commitment to learning English.  This includes coming to class regularly and doing homework daily.  If you are ready to work hard to learn English and prepare for the citizenship exam, we are ready to help. The following is information about how to register.

Students can register online or contact Ivonne at ivonne@thriveip.org. The next session starts the week of July 5, 2021, but depending on class availability, we may also accept new students at other times of the year.

At a registration meeting/appointment, new students take a placement test.  Students must demonstrate an English level of high-beginning or above to enroll in Thrive’s citizenship class.  If a student’s level is lower, he/she may consider taking our beginning ESL class this session and then considering the citizenship class for a future session.

Because classes are online, students who are anywhere in the world welcome to enroll.

We will admit students/participants of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students within the programs. We will  not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, and loan programs, and athletic and other program-administered activities.

Note:  Thrive reserves the right to cancel a class if fewer than 8 students are enrolled.  If a class is cancelled due to enrollment, students will receive a full refund of any fees already paid for the class.

Fees

The registration fee is $15 if you are able to take the placement test in-person at our group session in Williamsport.  If you need a one-to-one online placement test, the registration fee is $40.

The full tuition fee for Thrive’s 4.5 month citizenship class is $135. Students are encouraged to pay the full tuition fee before the 1st day of class.  This will make a student eligible at the beginning of the session for a free consultation with one of Thrive’s immigration legal staff to evaluate his/her eligibility for citizenship and learn what supporting documents to prepare.

If needed, students may request to pay tuition by month.  Monthly tuition is $30.  As soon as the final monthly payment is made, the student will qualify for a free consultation with one of Thrive’s immigration legal staff to evaluate his/her eligibility for citizenship and learn what supporting documents to prepare.  We encourage students to pay the final month and a half tuition fee at the same time to qualify for a free consultation before studying lessons to practice his/her N-400.

End of session testing is optional for citizenship class students.  The cost for end of session testing is $15 if you are able to take the post test in-person in Williamsport.  If you need a one-to-one online post test, the fee is $40.  If a student pays for end of session testing and chooses to register for the next session at Thrive, his/her registration fee for the next session is waived.

If a student helps with Thrive’s takeout meal the prior month, then his/her class fee is reduced to $20 the next month.

Payment is due on the first day of each month.  Students can pay online.

Scholarships

Scholarships for tuition may be available if a student has low income. We do not want the fee to prevent anyone from coming to class.

If you will have trouble paying for class, please see our scholarship application or talk to Jody or Ivonne.

Full and partial scholarships are available to students who live within a 45-minute driving distance of Williamsport, PA.  If you live in north-central/northeastern PA or the Lehigh Valley and there are no local ESL classes within 45 minutes of your home/work, we may consider a scholarship request outside this limit.

Except in extreme circumstances, all students are asked to pay the $15 registration fee and the $15 end of session testing fee.

Legal Representation

Participation in Thrive’s class does not automatically provide a relationship with Thrive for legal representation.

Students in Thrive’s citizenship class qualify for a free individual immigration legal consultation with Thrive and free preparation of their N-400 after they pay at least the citizenship class registration fee and first month tuition.  The consultation appointment helps students review their eligibility to apply for citizenship, answers questions, and discusses supporting documents to gather for a citizenship application.  After an N-400 (and possibly I-912 fee waiver) is prepared, each student can decide if he/she wants to submit it to USCIS or just wants to have it for practice during class without applying for citizenship at this time.  To qualify for this free consultation and free N-400 preparation, students must be able to meet with Thrive’s immigration staff during the appointment times that are offered and must come to the meeting with all requested documents and information.  These meetings will be offered first come first serve at various times of the day during the week of June 28th online or in-person.  If a student decides to submit his/her application to USCIS, USCIS fees are separate.  If a student does not qualify for a USCIS fee waiver, he/she is responsible for the USCIS fees for the N-400.

If a student prepares the citizenship application without an explicit agreement for Thrive to prepare his/her citizenship application, we are still glad to help a student practice for his/her citizenship interview during class.  However, the student accepts full responsibility for his/her citizenship application’s accuracy and appropriateness.