Immigration & Citizenship: Happy Ever After

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Rene sought assistance from our CHD Immigration and Citizenship Lodi office back in June of 2017. He made a consultation with our Senior Case Manager, Sharon Gillies, and discussed his options to bring his wife, Natjuree to the United States of America. Sharon assisted Rene with filing the I-129 Fiancé Visa application and completing the consular processing so Natjuree can make the journey from Thailand to the USA. When Natjuree arrived and married Rene within the 90-day time frame, Sharon completed the Adjustment of Status (I-485) application for her permanent residency. Natjuree received a 2-year conditional permanent residency card. Once her 2-year conditional permanent residency card was close to expiring, Sharon assisted Natjuree with her I-751 application to remove conditions on her permanent residency and completed a new 1-765 work authorization application. Once her I-751 has been approved and she has 3 years of permanent residency, Natjuree will have the opportunity to apply for US Citizenship.

 

Rene and Natjuree are extremely grateful for all the assistance and support they received from Sharon.

Josefina’s Journey to Citizenship

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Pictured: Senior Case Manager Asucena Zentino

 

Josefina is a 54-year-old native of Mexico. She first came to CHD in August of 2020 to apply for US Citizenship. Her application was approved and a year later she was scheduled for her citizenship interview. She was elated to finally accomplish her goal of becoming a US citizen. Our Senior Case Manager, Asucena Zetino, met with Josefina to prepare her for her scheduled interview. Josefina was so relieved to find out that she qualified to take the interview questions in Spanish, her primary language. Little did Josefina know that her journey to becoming a US citizen would take an unexpected turn.

On September 23, 2021, Josefina presented herself at her citizenship interview. She was assigned a very kind interviewer who started the interview with basic information in English. Josefina replied to his initial questions in English, and he told her that even though she could take interview questions in Spanish, her English was good enough to take the civics test in English. She hesitated and became nervous at the thought that she may not be able to respond correctly in English. His encouragement helped her decide to take a chance and respond to his questions in English. She successfully passed the civics test in English! The feeling of excitement that she was able to accomplish something that once seemed impossible increased her confidence to learn more English. Josefina attended the Oath Ceremony on September 29, 2021, where she received her Naturalization Certificate. When she shares her experience with others, they are encouraged by her story. She is now a proud US citizen.

Affordable Housing: Hermila Ferreyra Heredia

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Hermila Ferreyra Heredia is a resident at Mahal Plaza. Hermila is extremely thankful to the staff at Mahal Plaza for providing an opportunity for her and her daughter when they needed it the most. Hermila is a farmworker and thanks to CHD’s Affordable Housing she can have a place to call home.

Hermila is thankful for the housing because it “helps all the farmworkers, working on the farms is a very difficult job that gets paid minimum wage. For farmworkers, it is basically impossible to rent a decent and safe place with their wages.” Therefore, she is very thankful because it gives their families a decent, safe, and affordable nice place to live and raise their children.

Hermila would like to further thank the Mahal Plaza staff for being on top of tenant requests. The staff is very prompt and polite. She is very pleased to live there. The staff at Mahal Plaza makes sure to keep their units, gardens, and common areas very nice and clean.