Citizenship & Immigration Resources

All are welcome to the library, and we respect your privacy.

Available at the Library

Are you thinking about becoming a U.S. citizen and wondering how to get started? Every branch of our library has a dedicated Citizenship Corner full of information. Here is what you can expect to find: 

At the library, we also have materials to help you learn and improve your English skills, programs, classes, and more! Ask a library staff member for more resources or visit our Learn English page here.

Citizenship & English Resources in the Community

  • College of DuPage: COD offers citizenship classes at multiple locations. They also have English learning classes and High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) classes in English and Spanish. Check out their catalog listings for more information.  
  • Dominican Literacy Center: Offers citizenship classes to help you prepare to pass the naturalization test. They also have English classes specifically for women who are learning to read, write, and speak English.  
  • Family Focus: Offers citizenship classes and English classes, and is a Welcoming Center that provides many services to the immigrant community. Family Focus also provides legal services, including citizenship, DACA renewal, green card renewals.  
  • Waubonsee Community College: Waubonsee offers offer English learning and High School Equivalency (HSE) classes Courses are designed to help build basic skills to prepare for college-level courses, get a better job, or just live a better life.  
  • National Literacy Directory: Find citizenship preparation or English learning classes near you. Searchable by zip code.  
  • World Relief: Offers citizenship classes and English language learning classes for beginner and intermediate learners. For classes, fill out the interest form on their website or call (630) 888-0023 for more information. For information about World Relief’s immigration legal services, call (630) 906-9546.  
  • USCIS: Search by zip code to find a citizenship preparation or English learning class near you! 

Online Resources

Practice & Test Preparation

Free online test preparation is available through the library’s electronic resources. You will need your APLD library card to sign in and create your own account to track your progress. 

U.S. Government Resources Available Online

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website provides updated information, study resources, the Civics questions, immigration forms, and more. 

Other Online Citizenship Resources 
  • Citizenshipworks: A free online service that helps eligible immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship in partnership with immigration organizations. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. 
  • Preparing for the Oath: Free, easy-to-use study resource to prepare for the civics portion of the naturalization test. Includes videos, vocabulary lists, practice tests and more. Maintained by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and USCIS. 
  • USA Learns Citizenship: Free website that helps adults learn English, gain job skills, and prepare for U.S. citizenship online.    

Find Legal Immigration Help

In the Community 

These nonprofit community agencies are Department of Justice (DOJ) Recognized Organizations in Aurora that offer low-cost immigration legal services to the community: 

  • Family Focus: Offers legal services, including citizenship, DACA renewal, green card renewals. Complete the interest form on their website or call (630) 844-2550 for more information. Services available in English and Spanish.  
  • World Relief : Offers legal immigration services, including citizenship, green card and DACA renewals, adjustment of status, and more. Legal assistance available in English, Spanish, and French. Visit the Immigrant Resource Hub for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and updates on immigration policy. FAQs are available in English, Arabic, French, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian. World Relief offers an Immigration Hotline for brief, general questions about immigration. The hotline is available Tuesdays, 1 - 3 p.m. | (630) 580-0022. 
Other Resources
  • DOJ Recognized Organizations Roster: A roster of Department of Justice Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives, that provide low-cost, legal immigration assistance. Searchable by state and organized by city.  
  • National Immigration Legal Services Directory: A national directory to find an immigration legal services provider near you, powered by Immigration Advocates Network. Includes only free or low-cost immigration providers. Searchable by zip code, state of detention facility.  
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): Directory A national directory of private practice, licensed immigration lawyers who are members of AILA. Searchable by geography (city, state, zip code), language, and types of immigration expertise.  

Know Your Rights

Online Resources on Immigrant Rights  
  • Illinois Immigration Information Hub: Easy-to-understand, comprehensive, and essential guidance on immigrant rights, family emergency plans, what to do if someone is detained, reporting rights violations, and more. Resources available in English, Spanish and other languages.
  • Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR): Find immigrant community resources: legal, policy updates, financial assistance, Know Your Rights, and more. ICIRR has a family support hotline: 1-855-435-7693. Languages available: English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Dari, Urdu, Pashto, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
  • Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO): Online resource that explains legal information in simple, plain language, including several legal immigration topics: U.S. citizenship, green cards, DACA, detention and deportation, applying for temporary protected status (TPS), asylum, and other immigration issues. 
  • IMMI: Online resource maintained by nonprofit legal experts to help immigrants understand their rights and options. Available in English and Spanish. 
  • Informed Immigrant: Online resource that focuses on rights and resources for undocumented immigrants, including guides on how to find an immigration lawyer, how to renew DACA, guides for undocumented students and parents, and more. Available in English and Spanish. 
  • Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): Find community resources, including free Know Your Rights Red Cards in over 50 languages and Family Emergency Preparedness guides in several languages.
  • A Resource Guide for Immigrants in Illinois: An online, easy-to-use guide prepared by the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI) on immigrant legal rights and resources available in Illinois. Available in English and Spanish. 
  • A New Path: Guide to the Challenges & Opportunities After Deportation: Prepared by the University of Illinois’ Education Justice Project (EJP). This guide is for people who live with the threat of deportation to Mexico or Central America, and includes resources and information about immigrant rights, how to plan in case of possible deportation, and more. Available in English and Spanish. 
  • Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF): Find resources, including a Family Benefits Checklist with links to food, financial assistance, health, and housing resources. Public Charge fact sheets are available in ten languages: English, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 
Other Helpful Resources 
  • Aurora Rapid Response: Local team of volunteers that support immigrant families and communities. Response times will vary between 24 to 72 hours. Services in English and Spanish. 
  • EmbassyPages: Lists all foreign consulates located in Chicago, Illinois. Website available in English, French, and Spanish.
  • Locate Someone in ICE Custody: To find someone who has been detained by ICE, go to locator.ice.gov to find the person using their name, birthdate, and country of birth. Or search by the person's A-number and country of birth.
  • Stop Notario Fraud: Learn how to avoid Notario Fraud and how to find help if you have been harmed by someone unauthorized to provide immigration legal services. Information available in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Korean, Polish, and Spanish.
  • Upwardly Global: Non-profit organization that helps work-authorized immigrants with professional experience and international degrees secure jobs aligned with their skills and expertise.
  • Visa Bulletin: Check the Visa Bulletin for the listing of available immigration visas, published monthly by the U.S. Department of State. 

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