CUNY Citizenship Now!

We offer free, high-quality, and confidential immigration law services to help you and your family on your path to U.S. citizenship. Our attorneys and paralegals will assess your eligibility for legal benefits and help you apply if you qualify.

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Free Immigration Services

Since 1997, we’ve helped immigrants and their families in New York City to:

  • Become U.S. citizens
  • Petition for their family members
  • Obtain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) 
  • Get Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
  • Pay a reduced fee or no fee when they apply for some immigration benefits
  • Get their children U.S. citizenship when they become citizens
  • Renew or replace lost, damaged, or expired immigration documents

All our services are free and open to all New Yorkers, whether CUNY students or not, and regardless of income.

Learn More About Our Services
CUNY Citizenship Now! Staff Member

Schedule an Appointment

Our staff members can help you:

  • See if you are eligible for the immigration benefit you seek
  • Help you complete the required forms
  • Guide you regarding the documents required for your application
  • Walk you through the whole process

Contact Us

Call Us at
646-664-9400 or
212-652-2071 (no texts)

Text Us at
929-334-3784 (no calls)

Visit Us at
our locations

Our Citizenship Events

We hold monthly citizenship events to help dozens of green card holders apply for citizenship.

Woman smiling and voting

When you attend our citizenship events, you will receive the following services:

  • Evaluation of your eligibility for citizenship
  • Assistance completing the N-400 application form, if eligible
  • Help requesting a fee waiver, if eligible
  • Photocopies of supporting documents to be included in the application packet
  • Review of your complete application packet by a member of our staff or a qualified volunteer

What you will need before you apply for citizenship:

Get Ready for Our Events

Like all our services, you don’t pay us for our assistance. You will need to pay processing fees to USCIS if you are not eligible for a fee waiver. However, we ask that you do not bring your check or money order to our events.

Learn More About Our Events

Mailing List

Receive information about free events and initiatives held by us and our partners

Sign Up Now!

Multi-Service Events

There are currently no upcoming events.

An Essential Resource

Citizenship Now locations in NYC

Locations

You can find our centers throughout New York City. Call us to make an appointment at the center nearest you.

Civic Classes

In partnership with the New-York Historical Society, we offer Civics classes to prepare permanent residents for the naturalization exam.

Making a Difference Since 1997

We are the largest university legal assistance program in the nation providing free and confidential citizenship and immigration law services.

224,600
Applications and consultations
in 26 years

7,600
Applications and consultations
in fiscal year 2023

3,600
U.S. citizenship cases

913 fee waivers for naturalization application
$657,470 saved by New Yorkers in application fees

1,500
family unifications

420
humanitarian
immigration benefits

Immigrant Students

In line with its mission to provide a public first-rate education to all students, regardless of means or background, CUNY offers various programs to help immigrant students succeed.

group of immigrant students

CUNY Immigrant Student Success Department

CUNY Student Affairs has created a centralized department focused on immigrant student success across all 25 campuses

City Tech Students

International Student and Scholar Services

This office provides services and programs that facilitate the transitioning, integration, and retention of international students and scholars.

Success Stories

new citizen

Magella Phillip
U.S. Citizen

“I was unemployed and unable to finance [my citizenship application]. I am now a U.S. citizen and all it cost me was a bus fare.”

Citizenship Now participants

Althea Angus
Received help applying for citizenship and bringing her son to the United States

“The center staff took care of me and I didn’t have to pay anything.”

Citizenship Now participant

Ana Mejia
DACA recipient

“I was granted DACA, and now I have a social security [card] and a work permit. (…) I [am now] empowered to look for a job to finance my education, apply to college and start my career in psychology.”