On Saturday, April 17, Catholic Charities Atlanta will partner with the American Immigration Lawyers Association to sponsor Citizenship Day 2010, a single-day workshop with sites around the country providing assistance to lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization. Chapter attorneys and trained volunteers will provide assistance at no cost at four Atlanta metro area locations—Atlanta, Roswell, Decatur and Doraville—during this one-day event. The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders) may apply for U.S. citizenship. Citizenship confers the right to vote, bear a U.S. passport, petition for relatives abroad, and obtain public benefits.

To apply for citizenship, a person must be at least 18 years old and have been a lawful permanent resident for five years, or for three years if married to a U.S. citizen. In addition, applicants must demonstrate that they can read, write, and speak in English, have paid income taxes, pass a civics test, and take the oath of allegiance to the United States.

In Atlanta the citizenship drive and information session will be held at the Latin American Association, 2750 Buford Highway. The Roswell drive will be held at the Roswell Presbyterian Church, 75 Mimosa Boulevard. In Decatur, Refugee Resettlement & Immigration Services of Atlanta will host the event at 4151 Memorial Drive, 111D. And the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS) will host the naturalization drive at 3760 Park Ave., Doraville.