Marlon came to the United States at the age of 28 to be with his wife and daughter. For many years, Marlon encountered difficulties when applying for jobs he wanted due to his lack of U.S. citizenship. With his children and better options in mind, he decided to apply for citizenship. He tells us, “With everything that is going on in immigration, my kids always push me to do something and act. I have three young kids and they tell me it’s time for [you] to become a citizen.”
With his family’s support and encouragement, Marlon was able to take the first steps towards getting his citizenship. “It means a lot. It is a game changer. I have more opportunities to apply for better jobs. I also have peace of mind so I can stop thinking about renewing my green card and just travel wherever I want with my family.”
Marlon heard about the citizenship workshops from his wife and the D.C. Government’s Department of Human Resources. With the help of the New American Workforce, Marlon gained more knowledge about the naturalization process, “It was wonderful. Everyone was so helpful, kind and explained everything.”
He says of the workshops, “It was amazing, sometimes I did not know the answer, but they showed me the way and made it easier for me to understand. I feel confident that I can complete my upcoming interview with excellence.” And Marlon, did exactly that as he became a naturalized U.S. Citizen this year. Currently employed by UG2 for over a year now, Marlon enjoys working with his coworkers and how they come together and collaborate to complete projects.