While most welcome the Summer months, many young Americans are in the midst of applying for college. At these institutions, prospective students will spend the next four years learning, maturing, and gaining new experiences. For many immigrants, including Liudmila, attending an American university is their first venture living in the United States. Upon receiving their degrees, many immigrant students find gainful employment opportunities in the U.S. and strive to become effective workers, community members, and even citizens.
Liudmila’s story exemplifies the steps to citizenship and provides a sense of the numerous colleges, businesses, and organizations that support immigrants with this process. Originally from Belarus, Liudmila first arrived in the U.S. and studied on a student visa. She now works at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Miami. Approximately three years ago, the Four Seasons Hotel first partnered with New American Workforce, which assists eligible employees with their citizenship application right at their worksite.
Since she arrived in the U.S. as a student, Liudmila desired to become a citizen, because she wanted to ensure her safety and guarantee that she had the same rights as naturalized citizens. Liudmila took advantage of her employer’s partnership with New American Workforce and reflects fondly on the experience. “I think it’s great for a company to offer a program like this… I didn’t have to go anywhere else. The workshops guided [my coworkers and I] through the [citizenship] process and helped make it super simple.”
After completing the process, Liudmila officially become a U.S. citizen on June 24, 2016 and has since recommended the program to many of her friends and family.
Photo: Several of the employee participants at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami