Other frequently asked questions and warnings
*** What should I do if I move? Call: 1-800-375-5283 or you can  change your address through the
CIS online address change or contact me by e-mail (dgengoux@uusd.net)
*** What should I do if I've lost my Citizenship Certificate? If you already have a US Passport, do nothing because your US
passport is proof of Citizenship.
*** What should I do if I've lost my Citizenship Certificate and I don't have a US passport? Contact me and I'll have you
complete CIS Form N-565.  This form costs roughly $380 and may take up to a year to be processed.
Please, get a US passport!
*** What should I do if I'm a man 18 to 25 years old and I'm not registered with the Selective Service?
Register online right now or contact me!   
To check if you are registered with the Selective Service, click here.
*** What should I do if I'm on parole or probation and I want to become a US Citizen? You will need to wait 5 years from
the date of the end of your parole or probation before you can apply to become a US citizen.  Those 5 years must be without
legal incidents.  Good moral character is the key!
*** What should I do if I want to renew my Green Card? You can contact me or fill the CIS Form I-90.
*** What should I do if my US passport is about to expire or is expired? You will need to fill out form DS-82 and you will
need to send your old passport, a check for $75 (New fee!), and two recent photos with the completed DS-82 to the Department
of State.  To find out more click here.  About 3 to 4 weeks later you will receive your new passport and your old one too. This
form is to renew a passport via mail! Passport application processing time is around 3 to 4 weeks. To find out more click
here!
*** What should I do if I want to travel outside of the United States of America?  Get a US passport.  You will need to
complete a DS-11.  This form is only for those of you who have never had a passport before. You will need $100 ($75(application
fee) + $25 (execution fee)= 2 checks one for the Department of State ($75) + one for the agency where you submit you
application (for example: Post Office, County Clerk's Office), two recent passport photos and your certificate of citizenship or a
birth certificate which shows that you are a US citizen by birth.  The following post offices accept passport applications,
according to the United States Postal Service website.
(Warning: some of the maps show an incorrect location)
*^*^ To find out about UKiah's Main Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Talmage' Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Redwood Valley's Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Willits' Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Mendocino's Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Little River's Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To find out about Lakeport's Post Office hours, click here.
*^*^ To locate your local post office and then to see if it will accept your passport application click here.
*^*^ To visit the Post Office's website  related to submitting your application click here.  
Passport application processing  time is around  3 to 4 weeks.  To find out more click here!
*** To find out if the country you want to visit is safe you can go to the Department of State's Travel Warning page. Here is the
US Depatment of State's Website for travelers.  
The Department of State, also, publishes a brochure on the various travel requirements (health and so forth) generated by
countries around the world.
*** What should I do if I have other CIS related questions, like how can I get a green card?  Contact Margarita Gonzalez
at Nuestra Casa.  Her phone number is (707)463-8181.  Leave a message and she'll call you back as soon as she can.
Who is the teacher of these FREE citizenship classes?  My name is Dave Gengoux.  I started to teach at the Ukiah Adult
School in 1999.  I first started to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and on September 10, 2001, I started to teach
Citizenship.  Today, I teach both ESL and Citizenship. Since 2001, I have attended quarterly meetings with the CIS and other
Community Based Organizations.  This way I stay current on new CIS policies and procedure changes.  
I'm not a lawyer nor am I a "Notario", I'm a teacher.  
Advice: Once you are a citizen, go to the Social Security office (521 Orchard Av. Ukiah (707) 462-0225, open 9-4pm Monday
-Friday) to change you social security status.  This is very important, especially if your social security card has "NOT VALID FOR
EMPLOYMENT" written on it!  Also, if you have children who had a green card and you, as a new US citizen, had them apply for a
US passport, they will need to have their social security status changed, too! If you have further question come and see me of
email me.

WARNING! There is NO guest Worker's Program!

WARNING! Anyone traveling by air, sea, or land to the United States of America after January 31, 2008 needs a passport in
order to come into the United States of America.  Green Cards and/or Drivers licenses will not be enough!  You will need a
passport from your native country or from the US (if you are a US Citizen). You will need a WHTI compliant document.  What's a
WHTI document? Click here.

WARNING! Any person who fills out any form or official paper/application for you needs to sign the document and  give all the
information requested by the document in question.  If someone fills out a document for you and doesn't sign it, you are liable for
the potential errors made by the preparer.  In other words, if your preparer doesn't sign the document in question, and a
serious mistake was made by the preparer then you are at fault and liable for that mistake.  This applies to the N-400
and all CIS forms as well as your Taxes and many other government documents.  Make sure that the preparer signs everything!  
Also, ask for a signed copy of your document.

WARNING! The total cost of the N-400 is $675.

WARNING! The total cost of the I-90 is $370.
*** Can I have two or more Passports/Can I be a Citizen of two countries (or more)?  Yes, but you must check with your
native country's policies on that subject.  Not all countries allow dual citizenship!  Here is the official United States' policy on
dual citizenship.  To find out if your native country allows for dual citizenship you will need to contact your Embassy,
Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission.
To see the 2009-2010 citizenship class session schedule click here.
*** How do I get to my CIS interview?  
By ferry (the easy way!)Take 101 South to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard/Larkspur. Turn left under the freeway, park for free at
the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.  Check the Ferry Schedule and Fares. Take the ferry to San Francisco (it cost $15.70 round trip
per adult and takes about 45 minutes to get there).  Once at the Ferry Building head North West about two city blocks then
West about three blocks.  You'll see Washington Street first (East West axis) the Sansome Street (North South axis). You will
need to enter the CIS building through the Sansome Street doors, not the Washington Street doors!
By car (the hard way!) Take 101 South, go over the Golden Gate bridge, pay $6, stay on Van Ness (101= Van Ness boulevard).
 It is illegal to turn left on Van Ness so you will need to turn right on Jackson, then left on Gough then left on Clay to cross Van
Ness.  Then you will go down Clay Street, to Sansome Street.  Turn left on Sansome then turn right on Jackson  Street, then right
on Battery Street and right on Washington Street, you'll find a a parking garage there (on your left you'll need to pay for parking,
no matter what!).  Then, go to the Sansome Street side of the CIS building (not the Washington side!)
Either way you will need your letter of invitation to your interview, your driver's license (or some form of official ID) and your Green
Card.  You need to be early (about 30 minutes) because you'll have to go through security to get into the building.
If you have a cell phone with a camera leave it in the car because cameras are not allowed in the building.  If you forgot to leave it
in the car you can go across the street and for a fee you can leave it in the care of the photo store across the street (just don't
forget it there!)  Dress appropriately, you may have to take off your shoes, belt, and so forth (it is as thorough as going on a
plane!)
Once in the building and through security go to the second floor and make sure that you sign in.  Then relax!
If this is too confusing for you, come and see me, email me, or call me.  I can give you a map or to see the map click here.
***  NEW! NEW! NEW OATH CEREMONY LOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT! How do I get to my Oath Ceremony?  
Starting in March the Oath Ceremony will take place at  Masonic Audtorium, in San Francisco.  
To see a map and written instructions on how to get to the Masonic Auditorium  click here.

You will need your letter of invitation to your Oath Ceremony, your Green Card, your large grey envelope (with your completed passport application,
your two photos and your money order for $100 in it).  

Dress appropriately.

Oath Ceremonies, from March 2010 to September 2010, will return to Oakland's Paramount Theatre.
To find out more about this historical landmark  click here.

By car:  You'll need to go to Oakland.  The best way to do so is to go south on 101, then go to 580, over the Richmond Bridge.  
Then 580 East.  Get off at Broadway (you'll be at 34th street).  The Paramount Theatre is located at 2050 Broadway (between
20th Street and 21st Street). Head south, down Broadway. Once you pass 21st street look for parking.
Remember that traffic on 580 can be real bad during certain times of the day.  If that's the case then get off 580 after going
through Richmond.  Go down San Pablo (lots of red lights, not necessarily the fastest way to go!) all the way to 20th street and
take a right on 20th street (if you can)  Then a right on Broadway and start looking for a place to park.
To go home you will need $4 to cross the Richmond Bridge.  For a downtown Oakland map click here.
Don't forget:
- your invitation letter,
- your green card,
- your drivers license (or ID)
- and if you want to apply for a passport the same day you will need your large gray envelope with your completed passport
application, the money, and two passport photos (all that in your gray envelope) I can help you with the passport application.


Dress appropriately.


If this is too confusing for you, come and see me, email me, or call me.
***  I have my receipt but I have not received anything else, I'm worried!  What can I do?  Call me, email me, or visit the
CIS website and click on Application status.  Then you will need to use your case number (i.e.: wsc*12345678).  Then the
computer will give you an answer.  Usually the answer is, "Your case is pending...."  If that situation lasts for a long time (over six to
seven months), you need to contact me.  Then, I will contact the CIS in San Francisco.
To find out what the you can take on a commercial airliner, click here.
The new test started on October 1, 2008.  
All applicants who apply for citizenship have to study the new 100 questions.
To download the new questions click here.