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On May 17, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications for two competitive funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. Through these two opportunities, USCIS will offer up to $10 million in competitive funding for programs that help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history and civics.
The first opportunity is for public or nonprofit organizations that prepare LPRs for citizenship by offering both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.
Funding Opportunity: DHS-21-CIS-010-002
Application Deadline: July 16, 2021 (no extensions)
Estimated Number of Awards: Up to 33
Anticipated Funding Amount: Up to $8.2 million
Performance Period: Two years (comprising two budget periods, each lasting one year)
Anticipated Award Date: September 2021
Maximum Grant Award: Maximum grant award is $250,000 ($125,000 for the first year and $125,000 for the second year)
Program Requirements
To be eligible for funding, you must provide the following types of services under the program:
1. Citizenship instruction to prepare LPRs for the naturalization test and interview. Your program must include:
2. Naturalization application services, within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, to support LPRs in the naturalization application and interview process. Your organization must:
You may also use grant funding to:
Eligible Applicants
Eligible entities include:
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this program, you must meet the below requirements when you submit your application:
Not Eligible
You are not eligible to receive funding under this opportunity if you are:
If we determine at any point during the review process that your application does not meet these eligibility requirements, we will remove your application from further consideration.
The goal of the Refugee and Asylee Integration Services Program is to:
Please note that throughout the rest of this document, LPRs who were admitted or entered the United States as refugees, asylees, Cuban or Haitian entrants, or on a SIV will be referred to as “program beneficiaries” or “program beneficiary” in the singular.
While other federally funded refugee services primarily focus on attaining economic self-sufficiency, this grant strives to promote long-term integration by providing information, knowledge and skills to enrolled participants.
Funding Opportunity: DHS-21-CIS-010-003
Application Deadline: July 16, 2021 (no extensions)
Estimated Number of Awards: Up to six
Anticipated Funding Amount: Up to $1.8 million
Performance Period: Two years (comprising two budget periods, each lasting one year)
Anticipated Award Date: September 2021
Maximum Grant Award: Maximum grant award is $300,000 ($150,000 for the first year and $150,000 for the second year)
Program Requirements
To be eligible for funding, you must provide the following types of services under the program:
1. Develop an integration “road map” for each program beneficiary who will receive services, including those who have identified naturalization as a goal and those who are not yet ready to apply for naturalization and may require interim services to attain the skills and knowledge required for successful citizenship. You should assess each program beneficiary for English language level and naturalization eligibility and provide them with information on the naturalization process and what steps they need to take to prepare for naturalization. You should consider this naturalization-focused assessment the foundation of the individual integration plan, with services and referrals tailored to the specific skills, needs and literacy level of the individual. You must include a sample of your proposed integration plan template with your application. You must offer to enroll each program beneficiary in civics-based literacy, civics-based ESL, or citizenship instruction class as appropriate. You must propose to serve a minimum of 200 program beneficiaries.
2. Integration services (or referral to integration services) that address the specific needs identified in the program beneficiary’s individual integration plan. You must offer access to a range of services designed to foster long-term integration tailored to the specific needs of the target population. These services may include:
You may propose other services based on the identified needs of the community you propose to serve.
3. Civics-based literacy instruction, civics-based ESL instruction and citizenship instruction to give enrolled clients the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for citizenship. You should serve students through civics-based literacy and/or civics-based ESL instruction if their English level is not at the appropriate level for citizenship instruction classes. You may directly provide this instruction or use a partner to provide these classes. You must propose to enroll and pre- and post-test a minimum of 150 program beneficiaries enrolled in the civics-based literacy, civics-based ESL, or citizenship classes.
4. Naturalization application services within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law at no cost to the enrolled program beneficiary. You must propose to provide a minimum of 175 naturalization eligibility screenings and submit a minimum of 150 N-400 applications on behalf of enrolled program beneficiaries. You cannot provide naturalization application services to individuals who have not received other services under this grant. You or your partner sub-awardee organization may provide these services.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible entities include:
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this program, you must meet the below requirements when you submit your application:
Not Eligible
You are not eligible to receive funding under this opportunity if you are:
If we determine at any point during the review process that your application does not meet these eligibility requirements, we will remove your application from further consideration.
For additional information and updates on the FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, visit uscis.gov/grants or email the USCIS Office of Citizenship at citizenshipgrantprogram@uscis.dhs.gov.
We will hold a stakeholder engagement on June 9, 2021 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. (Eastern), to address questions about this grant opportunity. Visit our registration page to sign up for the event. To learn more about applying for federal funding opportunities, visit grants.gov or contact the support line at 800-518-4726.
Please direct all media inquiries to the USCIS Office of Public Affairs at Media@uscis.dhs.gov.
Since it began in FY 2009, we have awarded $102 million through 473 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. The program has helped more than 279,000 LPRs prepare for citizenship.
Through these grant opportunities, we seek to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and training necessary to promote their integration into the fabric of American society. Increased learning opportunities and additional citizenship instruction resources in communities will help immigrants improve their English language skills, increase their knowledge of U.S. history and government, and gain the tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as U.S. citizens.
Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services
Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF, 642.51 KB)
Eligibility Guide
Applicant Checklist
Refugee and Asylee Integration Services Program
Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF, 645.89 KB)
Eligibility Guide
Applicant Checklist
Additional Resources
Notice of Funding Opportunity Glossary
Is Your Organization Eligible to Apply for the Grant Program? flyer (PDF, 103.37 KB)
News Release: USCIS Announces Open Application Period for Citizenship and Integration Grant Program
