Announcement
Morris' mom has been waiting over ten years to become a citizen. When she arrived in the United States from Liberia, she was in her early 60s. Her late husband was also waiting for his passport to come but sadly passed away in the days when she received her passport and refugee status to enter the United States. She was devastated by her husband's passing and that he could not join her. Their 11 children were also saddened to hear the news as well. Morris shared how he was devastated because he had reconnected with his father after years of separation due to the civil war in Liberia. Many of his siblings were lost or wounded because of the war.
So when she arrived alone, it became very challenging and isolating - his mom felt shocked.
It was difficult for her because she was experiencing loneliness. The new community she resettled to was much different than what she was used to, and she was missing home. During the first few years, she would cry a lot because it was an overwhelming transition. Her health decreased, and she experienced a life-changing stroke. She now resides in a nursing home and decided last year to pursue her citizenship because the opportunity to travel is important to her.
For many elderly migrants, there are limitations they face in accessing legal knowledge. They sometimes need tailored language and digital support to navigate systems, including legal applications. Morris heard about the IRC in NY and asked for the Immigration Department's help with his mom's naturalization application. They were worried about the knowledge test because his mom could not read or write.
The IRC in NY's Immigration Team was determined to find the best pathway considering her case. After a consultation, they evaluated that she could pursue naturalization through a disability test exemption. Her doctor played a critical role in filling out the medical forms. The doctor worked diligently to revise the explanation necessary to justify the waiver request carefully.
Morris has greatly supported his mom, especially in helping her understand the process alongside the Immigration team. He shares how the IRC caseworkers helped him in the fall of 2020. He learned about the long wait times and complex procedures of applications and systems in the United States. Morris shares how he wanted this application to go smoothly for her. There are a lot of complex elements involved in a naturalization case. The disability-exempt interview was long, but the IRC Immigration team prepared her and Morris for it. She started to feel impatient, but her son and IRC reassured her that the process could take a long time.