USCIS Announces Citizenship and Integration Grant Opportunities

Jan. 20, 2011

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today the availability of three congressionally appropriated competitive grant opportunities designed to help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for citizenship and promote immigrant integration in the United States. This year’s program will offer approximately $8.5 million for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.

“For more than two centuries, our nation has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for people from around the world,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “These grants will assist immigrants from coast to coast on their path to U.S. citizenship.”

Two of the grant opportunities will strengthen citizenship preparation programs that provide direct services in communities across the country. The third will increase the capacity of members or affiliates of national, regional or statewide organizations to offer citizenship services in underserved communities. USCIS expects to announce an estimated 35 award recipients in September 2011.

To apply for these funding opportunities, interested parties may visit www.grants.gov. Applications are due by April 1, 2011. USCIS strongly encourages applicants to visit the website well in advance of the deadline in order to obtain registration information needed to complete the application process. 

Fiscal year (FY) 2011 marks the third consecutive year of this competitive grant program. In 2010, USCIS awarded a total of $8.1 million in grants to 56 immigrant-serving organizations in 78 sites across the country.

For additional information on the FY 2011 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, visit www.uscis.gov/grants or contact the USCIS Office of Citizenship by phone at 202-272-1280 or by e-mail at citizenshipgrantprogram@dhs.gov.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog, The Beacon.