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SALT LAKE CITY — When asked why he wanted to obtain U.S. citizenship, Jesus Rodriguez volunteered "to vote."
But the husband and father said he's actually more focused on what citizenship will mean for his children's future.
"Mainly it is what we can give to our kids. I'm not rich. I don't have a business so I think something I can just leave to my kids is to be a citizen," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez and his wife, Denisse, took steps on the path to citizenship last week by attending a naturalization workshop at Glendale Branch Library hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Rodriguezes hope to become two of some 4,600 people who become naturalized citizens each year in Utah after completing a process that includes filling out application forms; background checks; interviews; and, for most applicants, passing an English test that includes reading, writing and spoken English; and a civics test.
Legal residents can apply for naturalization after living in the United States for five years or three years after marrying a U.S. citizen, said Amber Vasek, community relations officer for the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services' Denver office.
The Rodriguezes, who have green cards, have not yet met the application threshold, but the couple came to the meeting to learn more about the process.
Vasek explained that once parents with green cards are naturalized, their minor children with green cards will become U.S. citizens through "derivation."
Some of the other benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen include bringing family members to the United States, obtaining citizenship for children born abroad and traveling with a U.S. passport, which enables one to receive assistance from the U.S. government when traveling overseas.
While many of the 15 people who attended the workshop expressed concern about passing the English portion of the test, Vasek encouraged all in attendance to utilize community resources to improve their language proficiency and to help study for the civics portion of the test.
A representative of English Skills Learning Center, which provides instruction in English and civics in preparation for the naturalization test, encouraged participants to seek its assistance, offered at no cost.
She also offered tips to help people with the interview portion of the process, encouraging applicants to plan ahead regarding the length of the drive to the Citizen and Immigration Services office, to prepare for airport-style security and to place all needed documents in a Ziploc bag so they can readily go through security.
"They’re trying to help you to pass," Vasek said of immigration officials who conduct naturalization interviews.
"Why? Because we want you to pass."
The flip side of U.S. citizenship are the responsibilities and duties, many of which are described in the oath of allegiance new citizens swear when they become citizens at naturalization ceremonies.
"It says, 'I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
'That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me God.'"
"And you say?" Vasek asked the workshop attendees.
"Yes," she said, prompting the audience.
Taking the oath of allegiance is a time of "celebration," Vasek said. People turn in their green cards and receive their citizenship papers.
That will be a couple of years down the road for the Rodriguezes, a goal that will require a lot of study and more than $1,300 in fees and costs for the pair, according to the current fee schedule. But it will be worthwhile, Rodriguez said.
"We want to be citizens because we're going to get our rights, and like she was talking about, to give something (back) to the country," he said.
