The road to citizenship
- Emily Chavez
- Oct 18, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 22, 2018
In ninth grade my U.S. history and government teacher handed our class a Civics test, the same test my mom took five years ago. This test is part of the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen. Nearly half of my class—who were already U.S. citizens— failed.
The questions on the test consists of 100 U.S. history and government topics, the interviewee is asked up to ten. Along with taking the Civics test, the applicant must complete a naturalization interview which includes them answering questions about their application and background.
After being in the U.S. for more than 40 years my mom, Maria Chavez, applied for her citizenship. She grew up in a small town outside of Mexico City called, San Nicolas, and left when she was 18 years old. Chavez lived in Chicago with her aunt and uncle and eventually met my dad.
Two children and job transfer later, they ended up in western NY. My parents were happy with the move because they didn’t have to worry about gang violence and it gave them a new beginning. But the biggest change was the language barrier. My mom knew very little English, which wasn’t a problem in Chicago, but in the small rural town of Le Roy, NY almost no one knew Spanish.
She practiced her English by talking with her co-workers at her factory job, watching television, and talking to my brothers. By the time I was born, she was the one teaching me English.
Becoming a U.S. citizen was always on her mind but she never felt pressured to go through with it. Her mindset changed when she faced difficulties with airport customs on her way back from a family trip to Mexico. Chavez sent her form N-400 (application for naturalization) and other requirements to the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Once her study materials for the Civics test came in the mail, she studied every day. She listened to the CD of questions and answers of the test on her drive to work, and she had me quiz her everyday after work.
After months of studying, she went to her naturalization interview and passed. Maria Chavez took an oath of allegiance to the United States on Aug. 8, 2013, and became a U.S. citizen.
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