Q1. What is different about this year’s grant program?

A1. There are a few important changes to this year’s grant program:

• This year we are offering two funding opportunities:
  • The first grant program is the FY 2018 Refugee and Asylee Grant Program, Citizenship Instruction (Funding Opportunity CI-CET-18-003) – The goal of the Refugee and Asylee Assimilation Program (RAAP) is to provide extended assimilation services that build on those received during the initial refugee resettlement period, with the primary focus on helping lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who entered the United States under the auspices of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) or were granted asylum obtain the skills and knowledge they need to successfully pass the naturalization test, while fostering a sense of belonging and attachment to the United States. The grant funding is $250,000 and the performance period is two years, beginning Oct. 1, 2018. We expect to make approximately 4 awards.
  • The second grant program – FY 2018 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (Funding Opportunity CI-CET-18-002) – will strengthen organizations offering both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services with grants of up to $250,000. The performance period for these grants is two years, beginning Oct. 1, 2018. We expect to make approximately 36 awards.
• For both programs, award recipients will be required to post-test at least 80 percent of enrolled students. Of those students, 80 percent must demonstrate measurable educational gains. All citizenship classes must have managed enrollment; open enrollment will no longer be permitted under the program;
• Services may also include subsequent preparation and filing of Form N-600 for a naturalization client’s minor children.

 

Q2. Where can I send questions?

A2. You may send questions about the grant program to citizenshipgrantprogram@uscis.dhs.gov. For questions about Grants.gov, you may email support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726. The Grants.gov Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Q3. Is there a list of current USCIS grant recipients available?

A3. Yes. You can find a list of current and previous grant recipients on the Citizenship Resource Center web page.

General Eligibility

Q1. Does my organization need to demonstrate 501(c)(3) status or is it acceptable to simply be a nonprofit organization?

A1. You do not need to have 501(c)(3) status. However, to be eligible, you must provide proof of public or nonprofit status as discussed in the notice of funding opportunity.

 

Q2. My organization has a pending application for 501(c)(3) status. May I apply for this funding opportunity?

A2. Yes. However, you must have proof of public or nonprofit status before final award in September 2018.

 

Q3. My organization is an awardee or sub-awardee under the FY 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program. May I apply for this funding opportunity?

A3. No.

 

Q4. May a state agency apply as the primary applicant?

A4. Yes. However, the state agency must provide direct citizenship instruction or naturalization application services under the initial notice of funding. 

 

Q5. I am an individual providing citizenship services to immigrants. May I apply for this funding opportunity? 

A5. No.

 

Q6. Are for-profit entities eligible to apply? 

A6. No.

 

Q7. My organization is a community college.  May I apply for this funding opportunity?

A7. Yes, if your organization has public or nonprofit status. You must also meet the other basic eligibility requirements.

 

Q8. How many naturalization cases must my organization have submitted in the past in order to qualify as having experience with naturalization application services required for the Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services grant program? May I discuss my organization’s experience with other immigration services?

A8. USCIS does not set a minimum number of naturalization cases that you must have submitted in the past order to qualify as having experience with naturalization application services. However, you should demonstrate the capacity to submit at least 200 Forms N-400, Application for Naturalization, over the two-year performance period for grant funding opportunity CI-CET-18-002 and 150 applications for the grant funding opportunity CI-CET-18-003. You may discuss your organization’s experience with other immigration services, but we will evaluate and score your application based on your organization’s experience specifically with naturalization application services.

 

E-Verify

Q1. Is using E-Verify a mandatory requirement?

A1. No. However, USCIS will take into account various program and organizational factors, including past grantee performance and whether an applicant and any sub-awardees are enrolled in E-Verify, when making final award decisions.

 

Partners and Sub-Awardees

Q1. Are partnerships allowed?

A1. Yes. USCIS encourages partnerships, particularly when you clearly demonstrate that each partner has the necessary expertise and experience to provide the services you will offer under this grant program. Past experience shows that successful citizenship instruction often includes partnerships between organizations that specialize in adult education, including English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship instruction, and organizations that regularly provide naturalization application services within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law.

If you propose to give a portion of your organization’s grant funding to a partner organization to provide additional or complementary direct services, then your organization is the primary applicant and the partner organization is the sub-awardee. Your organization still must directly provide citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, or both. The sub-awardee may provide additional or complementary citizenship instruction or naturalization application services.

If you choose to work with a sub-awardee, you must:

• Complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the sub-awardee;
• Describe your organization’s experience working with the sub-awardee organization and your plan for providing integrated services; and
• Monitor the sub-awardee’s performance and ensure that the sub-awardee complies with all grant award conditions and data reporting requirements.

Any sub-awardees must:

• Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
• Be responsible for financial reporting; and
• Submit their reports to the primary applicant for submission to DHS.

 

Q2. My organization has experience providing naturalization application services. If I find a partner to provide citizenship instruction, can my organization apply as the primary applicant under the FY 2018 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (Funding Opportunity CI-CET-18-002)?

A2. Yes.

 

Q3. We would like to partner with multiple school districts to reach different areas. Is there a limit on how many organizations we can partner with?

A3. No. There is no limit on the number of sub-awardees that you may have. You should ensure that all organizations meet the eligibility requirements, and you must submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the terms of the partnership

 

Q4. We do not have experience with formal citizenship instruction or naturalization application services, but our partner has both. Do we still qualify?

A4. If you are the primary applicant, you must have experience providing at least one of the two types of direct services for this program, citizenship instruction or naturalization application services.

 

Q5. Can we partner with a pro bono attorney?

A5. No. The organization proposing to provide naturalization application services must employ an attorney or DOJ OLAP accredited representative. You may use pro bono or volunteer attorneys to supplement services, but the pro bono attorney cannot be a partner or sub-awardee.

 

Q6. Can we partner with private attorneys?

A6. No. Applicants and sub-awardees must be organizations with nonprofit or public status. For-profit law firms and attorneys in private practice are not eligible to receive grant funding.

 

Organizations with Multiple Offices

 

Q1. My organization is the local affiliate of a national organization. Does my organization have to be locally incorporated in order to apply?

A1. No. Your organization and any proposed sub-awardees must have public or nonprofit status, but you do not need to be locally incorporated.

 

Q2. Can a national organization with multiple local affiliates apply as the primary applicant? If so, would the organization be allowed to provide direct services to more than one state through local affiliates?

A2. The primary applicant and any proposed sub-awardees must provide direct services in their respective geographic areas. Affiliate offices of a national organization may apply as partners on one application, but one of the affiliates must be the primary applicant.

 

Q3. Our organization has multiple offices in different states. Can we submit one application, or should each location submit its own application?

A3. Affiliate offices of a national organization may apply as partners on one application, but one of the affiliates must be the primary applicant. Alternatively, the affiliate offices may submit separate applications as long as there is no overlap in funding for the same staff members.

 

Q4. We are a college with multiple locations, and we have the same federal ID number. Will you accept more than one application from us using the same federal ID number?

A4. If an organization has multiple affiliates or locations, more than one affiliate office may apply as long as there is no overlap in funding for the same staff members.

 

DOJ OLAP Recognition and Accreditation

Q1. Is my organization (and any sub-awardees) required to be recognized or accredited by the Department of Justice (DOJ)? If so, how do I prove that my organization meets this requirement? 

A1. At the time of application, your organization and any sub-awardees that propose to provide naturalization application services must either: employ a licensed attorney or a representative with accreditation from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP). You are not required to provide proof of DOJ recognition or accreditation in order to apply because the list of recognized and accredited organizations is publicly available on the U.S. Department of Justice’s website. USCIS may ask for additional documentation before making an award.

 

Q2. Our organization just received DOJ recognition in January, but we have had an off-site attorney working with us in the past. Are we still eligible? 

A2. If your organization is recognized by the DOJ and you have a DOJ/OLAP-accredited representative at the time you apply, you are eligible. You must show that your experience providing naturalization application services was within the authorized practice of immigration law (using an attorney or accredited representative).

 

Q3. Can we use pro bono attorneys until our staff member obtains DOJ accreditation?

A3. No. You must employ an attorney or DOJ/OLAP-accredited representative at the time you apply.

 

Q4. Does the attorney have to be a full-time staff attorney? We have an attorney who comes in once a week.

A4. No. The attorney must be an employee of the applicant or sub-awardee, but does not need to work full-time. However, you must establish that the attorney is able to provide sufficient oversight of the program. The attorney must sign Form N-400, Application for Naturalization as the preparer and sign Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative for each Form N-400 filed under this grant.

 

Q5. We plan to apply for DOJ/OLAP accreditation for a staff member right now. We can submit copies of his application with our grant application. Will this make us eligible?

A5. The process to obtain DOJ/OLAP accreditation can take six months to a year to complete. You may apply for accreditation for your staff now, but it is unlikely you will receive accreditation in time to be eligible for this funding opportunity. In order to be eligible, you must employ an attorney or an accredited representative at the time you apply.

 

Q6. Is partial DOJ accreditation acceptable under this grant?

A6. Yes. Accredited representatives may have partial accreditation to provide services under this grant program.

Q1. Are the awards a one-time opportunity, or will there be a chance for grant recipients to renew the funding?

A1. The performance period is two years. There is no option to renew funding after two years.

 

Q2. If affiliate offices in different states submit one application, does each location have to provide both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services?

A2. Yes. If the applicant and sub-awardee are proposing to provide services in different states, then each location must provide both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.

 

Q3. The notice of funding opportunity asks how our services will differ with grant funding. Should we discuss how we plan to grow our current services, or how our current services differ from what we propose to offer with grant funding?

A3. You must discuss how the grant program will expand and improve the existing services that you offer, even if the existing services are similar to the proposed services. For example, you might hire new teachers or offer an additional class to accommodate students’ schedules.

 

Citizenship Instruction

Q1. Must the primary applicant offer citizenship instruction?

A1. The primary applicant must provide citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, or both.

 

Q2. If my organization also serves other immigrants, should my organization place lawful permanent residents in a class by themselves?

A2. Organizations must adequately demonstrate that only lawful permanent residents will receive services funded by this grant.

 

Q3. Can my organization provide Adult Basic Education (GED) classes under this grant opportunity?

A3. No. This grant funds citizenship instruction to prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization. You must demonstrate that your organization will offer citizenship instruction that will prepare lawful permanent residents for the civics (U.S. history and government) and English (reading, writing, and speaking) components of the naturalization test. You may not propose to use grant funds for other types of instruction.  

 

Q4. There is a requirement that students must be assessed using a nationally normed standardized assessment test. What does this mean?

A4. In the context of citizenship education, this refers to specific tests used to determine a student’s English language proficiency. A list of standardized tests that the Department of Education has determined to be suitable is available in the Federal Register (PDF)

 

Q5. Are all students and clients required to take the nationally normed standardized test regardless of their English proficiency level?

A5. All students enrolled in citizenship instruction classes under this grant program must take the standardized test unless they meet the requirements to take the naturalization test in their own language. Clients who receive naturalization application services but do not need citizenship instruction classes are not required to take the standardized test.

 

Q6. Are all citizenship teachers required to have one year of teaching experience?

A6. Yes. All citizenship teachers providing services under this grant program must have at least one year of experience teaching ESL to adults and either hold a degree or certification in TESOL or have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in TESOL instruction in a classroom setting for a program that utilizes a textbook and a structured curriculum.

 

Q7. May I propose to use volunteers as citizenship teachers?

A7. Yes. However, all paid and unpaid teachers providing services under this grant program must have at least one year of experience teaching ESL or citizenship to adults. Also, a paid lead teacher or a paid education program coordinator must supervise volunteer teachers. If volunteers do not have requisite experience, USCIS encourages you to use these volunteers to provide tutoring or to assist teachers in the classroom.

 

Q8. Is the citizenship education coordinator required to have teaching experience?

A8. No. There is no requirement regarding the experience of the citizenship education coordinator. However, USCIS has observed that successful citizenship instruction programs employ education coordinators with teaching and management experience.

 

Q9. Are we required to provide an equal number of hours of citizenship instruction for every week of the cycle?

A9. No. You are not required to provide an equal number of hours of citizenship instruction for every week of the class cycle. However, most successful applicants have a fixed schedule that does not vary from week to week. If you propose to provide a varying number of hours per week, please note this in the class cycle table in the project abstract, and explain the schedule in the project narrative.

 

Q10. Is my organization required to offer more than one level of citizenship instruction?

A10. No. However, USCIS has observed that successful citizenship instruction programs offer more than one class level to meet the different instructional needs of students. Applicants offering a multi-level class should explain how the different levels will be managed in the classroom.

 

Q11. May my organization offer only one level of instruction under this grant program and refer students to other providers for all other levels?

A11. Yes.

 

Q12. Can we count tutoring hours towards the number of instructional hours that we are required to provide for each class?

A12. No. Only classroom instructional hours can be counted towards the requirement.

 

Enrollment Requirements

 

Q1. How many individuals must we enroll in citizenship classes  under the Refugee and Asylee Assimilation Program?

A1. You must propose to serve a minimum of 150 LPRs.

 

 

Q2. Can organizations limit services based on national origin, ethnicity, religion, or language?

A2. No. You must serve eligible participants regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, national origin, or the language they speak.

 

Q3. Does USCIS require applicants to screen for income eligibility?

A3. No. There are no income eligibility requirements under this funding opportunity.

 

Q4. Does USCIS plan to collect client names and personal data?

A4. USCIS will not collect client names in quarterly reports. However, USCIS may collect alien registration numbers for all lawful permanent residents receiving services with this grant funding. USCIS may use these numbers to track naturalization outcomes during and after the period of performance

 

Q5. There is a requirement to enroll 200 individuals in classes and submit 200 naturalization applications for the CINAS grant?  Can we serve the same 200 individuals with both services?

A5. Yes. Successful applicants generally have significant overlap between the individuals who receive citizenship instruction and the individuals who receive naturalization application services. You should integrate your services so that lawful permanent residents are aware of the full range of services available.

 

Q6. We receive funding from another government agency and we provide naturalization application services under that contract. Can we count the naturalization applications submitted under that contract towards the 200 served under the USCIS grant?

A6. No. Grant recipients may not count services provided with another grant towards the goals for this grant.

 

Q7. Is there a requirement that individuals served have to naturalize during the grant performance period?

A7. No. There is no requirement that the students and clients served have to naturalize within the grant performance period.

 

Naturalization Application Services

Q1. Can my organization use grant funds to pay the costs associated with DOJ recognition and accreditation?

A1. Yes. However, at the time of application, your organization and any sub-awardees must be DOJ/OLAP recognized and have a DOJ accredited representative employee or an attorney employee with recent experience providing clients with naturalization representation. You may use grant funds to pay for additional staff members to pursue DOJ/OLAP accreditation. If you propose a partnership and one of your partner organizations provides only citizenship instruction, that organization may use grant funds to pay the costs associated with DOJ/OLAP recognition and accreditation.

 

Q2. Is an attorney or DOJ accredited representative who files Form G-28 with Form N-400 required to attend the naturalization interview with the client?

A2. While naturalization applicants have the right to be represented by an attorney or a DOJ/OLAP accredited representative at the naturalization interview (see 8 CFR 103.2(a)(3)), an attorney or accredited representative who submits a Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative is not required to attend the naturalization interview. At the interview, the interviewing officer may ask the client to sign a waiver indicating his or her desire to proceed without the attorney or DOJ/OLAP accredited representative. Attorneys and accredited representatives should work with their clients to determine whether their services will include representation at the interview.

 

Q3. Can my organization use grant funding to support group events that provide eligibility screening and help people fill out naturalization applications?

A3. You may use grant funding to support group events that help people fill out naturalization applications. Regardless of whether you provide services under the grant program in a group setting or individually, you must:

• Provide ongoing case management for naturalization applicants; and
• Ensure that an attorney or DOJ/OLAP accredited representative signs form N-400 as the preparer, files Form G-28 with each Form N-400 filed under this grant, and mails the naturalization application package to USCIS on behalf of the client.

 

Q4. Are volunteer attorneys required to file Form G-28 at group events that help people fill out naturalization applications?

A4. An attorney or DOJ/OLAP accredited representative must sign Form N-400, Application for Naturalization as the preparer and must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative with each Form N-400 filed under this grant. Your organization must also mail the naturalization application package to USCIS on behalf of the client and provide ongoing case management to naturalization applicants. You may use volunteer attorneys to provide assistance at a group naturalization application processing event, but USCIS recommends that the grant recipient’s attorney or accredited representative sign Form G-28.

 

Q5. Can we direct clients to a Web-based system that helps applicants complete and submit naturalization applications on their own if the charge for using the Web-based system is no more than $50?

A5. No. Attorneys and DOJ/OLAP accredited representatives must sign Form N-400 as the preparer, submit Form G-28 with each Form N-400 filed under this grant, and mail the naturalization application package to USCIS on behalf of the client.

 

Q6. When proposing a goal for the number of Forms N-400 my organization will submit, should I separately list the number of cases that include Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions?

A6. No. When proposing a goal, you should count only the Forms N-400, Application for Naturalization, that you plan to submit under the grant program.

 

Q7. How many individuals must we serve under the Refugee and Asylee Assimilation Plan?

A7. You must provide 200 individuals with naturalization application services.

 

Charging Fees

Q1. Is my organization allowed to charge a fee for services?

A1. Yes, you may charge a nominal fee for services, but it cannot exceed $50 for either type of service. If your organization proposes to charge for services under the grant program, please present a justification for these fees, including a detailed explanation of how your organization will use the fees to enhance the program.

 

Q2. Does the $50 limit on fees for services include both educational and legal services, or is it a $50 limit for each service?

A2. The $50 limit is for each service. You may propose a nominal fee of $50 or less for citizenship instruction and a separate fee of $50 or less for naturalization application services. However, it has been our experience that successful programs generally charge less for citizenship instruction than for naturalization application services. Successful programs that charge a fee for citizenship instruction usually charge no more than $25. Such fees are sometimes used to cover the cost of books and supplies. Being mindful that the grant provides up to $250,000 to an organization to support citizenship preparation services, you should justify any proposed fees for services in the budget narrative and include a detailed explanation of how you will use the fees to enhance the program. Program income generated from these fees must go back into the grant-funded program.

 

Q3. If we charge a nominal fee for services, can we use the program income generated from those fees to pay part of the USCIS application fee for some of our clients? 

A3. No. Applicants may not use grant funds or program income generated through grant-funded services to pay for USCIS application fees.

Q1. Is there a required format for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?

A1. No. There is no required format. The MOU should include the responsibilities expected of each party, performance expectations, plans for maintaining communication, and the payment or reimbursement process for the sub-awardee(s). Both parties must sign and date the MOU.

 

Q2. Should organizations submit an MOU for individual volunteers?

A2. No. The MOU is required for any formal agreement between the applicant and another organization. MOUs are not required for individual volunteers.

 

Q3. What happens if my organization submits more than one application?

A3. If you submit multiple applications, USCIS will contact you before we begin our review to confirm which application you want to include in the review process. We will not review the other applications.

 

Q4. May my organization be listed on more than one application, as either the primary applicant or the sub-awardee?

A4. You may apply only once as a primary applicant. If USCIS receives multiple applications with your organization as the primary applicant, we will contact you to clarify which application to consider.

We do not prohibit you from appearing as a sub-awardee on multiple applications. However, you should note that the goal of the grant program is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents in communities across the nation. Before making an award, we will consider whether applicants represent a diverse geographic area. We reserve the right to contact all organizations included in the application before making an award.

 

Q5. Can I submit letters of support?

A5. No. You should not submit any documentation other than what is requested in the notice of funding opportunity. We will not consider letters of support.

 

Q6. Should I attach a copy of citizenship education materials that my organization has developed, or should I just describe the materials?

A6. You must include a description of the materials to be used for each class. You may also attach citizenship instruction materials developed by your organization, but this is not required. A description will suffice.

 

Q7. If we submit our application early and forgot a document, will we be informed before the application deadline so we have time to fix it?

A7. We will not review any applications before the deadline. If you forgot a document, you may submit a revised copy of your application package as long as you submit it before the deadline. After the application period is over, we will contact applicants to ensure that we review the correct application package.

 

Q8. Is a letter of intent required?

A8. No. There is no requirement that you submit a letter of intent.

 

Q9. How to do I attach the project abstract to the application package? 

A9. Attach the project abstract to the “Attachments” form under the “Optional” section of the grant application package. Please note that the project abstract is required and USCIS will deem your application non-responsive if it is missing.

Q1. What point values will USCIS use to evaluate applications?

Q1. Are partners (sub-awardees) required to register with Grants.gov?

A1. No. Only the primary applicant must register with Grants.gov.

 

Q2. Are partners (sub-awardees) required to have a DUNS number?

A2. Yes. If a partner will receive a portion of the grant funds, then the partner is considered a sub-awardee and must have its own DUNS number.

 

Q3. Is a national organization allowed to use one DUNS number to submit applications for local offices?

A3. Yes. A national organization may submit multiple applications under one DUNS number, but it must be clear on each application which location or affiliate office is applying.

 

Q4. How do I migrate to the System for Award Management (SAM) from the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system?

A4. To migrate from CCR to SAM, please follow the steps outlined in the SAM Quick Guide for Migrating Roles. You can find more information on SAM at www.sam.gov.

 

Q5. We are in the process of getting a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Will we have access in SAM while we are waiting? 

A5. No. You will need your TIN to register in SAM, so you will not be able to access SAM while you are waiting. 

 

Q6. Can we see the application before we are registered in SAM? 

A6. Yes. You do not need to access SAM in order to view the funding announcement for the program. For more information about the program, visit www.uscis.gov/grants. 

 

Q7. How do I find out if we need to update our status in SAM?

A7. To see if your SAM registration is current, check your status on the SAM website. It is important to check this immediately as it may take up to two weeks to update if your registration is not current.