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NY Renews Push To Help Low-Income Immigrants Obtain Citizenship

Composite photo by Dave Lucas/WAMC

New York is renewing a program that helps low-income immigrants cover the costs associated with applying for U.S. citizenship.

The program, known as NaturalizeNY, awards vouchers to cover the $725 citizenship application fee for eligible immigrants. The funds are given out through a lottery, and the state expects up to 900 vouchers will be given out in the latest round of the program, the third since the program began.

The money comes from the state and private organizations that sponsor the initiative.

To be eligible, immigrants must be lawful permanent residents who are not eligible for a federal fee waiver.

NaturalizeNY also works with immigrants to help them apply for citizenship and prepare for the citizenship exam.

© 2018 AP

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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