Sample Letter

(This includes some main points that you can discuss in your letter. Use the points that you feel comfortable making. Please add specific examples of problems (if any) that you have noticed with the citizenship process.)

Honorable Doris Meissner
INS Commissioner
425 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20536.

Dear Commissioner Meissner:

I (We) recently became aware that the citizenship application fee is projected to be increased from $95 to $225 on October 1, 1998. I (We) find this situation unfair and unacceptable. I would like to bring to your attention the following problems affecting the citizenship application process.

• This fee will effectively charge people for services that are not being performed.
• There is still a backlog of about 2 million people still waiting to be naturalized.
• If the services do not improve, payment should not be increased.
• Pass incompetence of INS should not be paid by immigrants who try to achieve the American dream.
• Applicants for citizenship are not responsible for any INS' shortfalls and should not have to pay for renovation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
• Money paid by applicants for citizenship should be used only to improve the citizenship process.
• Immigrants with less financial means will be effectively prevented or significantly delayed in their ability to become citizens and reunite with their families.

As a nation of immigrants and who prides itself in its fairness, we find that the fee increase for citizenship applications both unfair and against the best interest of the very people that the INS is mandated to service, the immigrants.

We ask that INS provide first better service for its citizenship program and reduce the backlog to six months between the application and the swearing-in ceremonies before increasing the naturalization application fee.

Sincerely,