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Citizenship Resources

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

Citizenship Resources

Are you thinking about becoming a U.S. citizen and wondering how to get started? Every branch of our library has dedicated Citizenship Corners 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 1-on-1 Appointments   

We provide one-on-one appointments with library staff if you would like to help finding citizenship study materials, learn about citizenship requirement and how to navigate the USCIS website, receive information about non-profit DOJ recognized community organizations that provide legal immigration services and more. Please note, library staff cannot offer legal advice.  
Library staff cannot advise on which immigration forms are needed nor can they help fill out forms. 

To request an appointment with library staff, fill out this form: 

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 renewas. 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.  Their Immigrant Resource Hub has information on immigration policy updates and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on immigration enforcement, DACA, refugee resettlement. FAQs available in English, Arabic, French, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian. World Relief also offers an Immigration Hotline for brief, general questions about immigration. The hotline is available Tuesdays, 1-5pm | (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 Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) 
    Connects immigrant communities with resources and support: social, legal, policy updates, financial assistance, Know Your Rights, and more. ICIRR maintains a family support hotline: 1-855-435-7693. Resources and hotline available in English, Korean, Polish, and Spanish.

    IMMI  
    Online resource maintained by nonprofit legal experts to help immigrants understand their rights and options. Available in English and Spanish. 
     
    Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) 
    Online resource that provides legal information in plain language, including legal immigration information for immigrants on several topics: U.S. citizenship, green cards, DACA, detention and deportation, applying for temporary protected status (TPS), asylum, and other immigration issues. 
     
    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) 
    Offers legal resources for the community, including free Know Your Rights Red Cards in 19 languages. Also available for download:


    A Resource Guide for Immigrants in Illinois 
    An online, easy-to-use guide prepared by the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI) to help familiarize immigrants, regardless of status, with their legal rights and the services and resources available throughout 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. 
     
    National Immigration Law Center (NILC) 
    Advocacy organization that advances and defends the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. NILC provides updated resource guides, FAQs, fact sheets, toolkits that are searchable by topic, including DACA, Driver’s Licenses, Asylum, Workers’ Rights and more. 
     
    Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) 
    Online resource for immigrant rights, 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. Contact: aurorailrrt@gmail.com. 
       
    • 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 and find the person by 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.