By Angelica Jimenez–

Jose Gonzalez, an immigrant from Mexico, became a U.S. citizen in 1997.

For Jose and his wife, Adela, the journey to U.S. citizenship was possible because the costs weren’t as high and the requirements not as strict as they are today.

Immigration officials are calling for a fee increase to apply for citizenship. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is experiencing a $118 million shortfall, due in part to a drop in the number of applications for citizenship and skilled worker applications.

In December 1996, Adela and Jose went to Una Voz Inc. in Aurora for assistance in completing the necessary paperwork. Adela said they were very helpful by filling out the paper work, referring Jose to a health clinic for his physical and submitting the forms to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Within about a month of submitting the application, Jose received his work permit, social security card and drivers license. Adela said that the process went smoothly, except when getting his driver’s license.

“My husband’s name is very common, so when we went to the DMV, we were there for a good hour,” Adela said.

A few months passed, and in October 1997, Adela and Jose went to the ICE office for their interview.

“We had to go in front of INS (now known as ICE) for an interview to make sure we were married you for the right reasons, show our marriage license and lease,” said Adela. “They asked about our marriage and how we met.”

Jose was approved right after the interview. He was finally able to visit his family in Mexico, which he was unable to do since coming to the U.S. in 1994.

Adela said that even though the process went smoothly for Jose, she did not know how it would unfold.

“I was expecting the worse. I think it depends on the case,” said Adela. “I was very surprised how quick the process was.”

Jose decided to apply for citizenship in 1997, so he began studying to take the citizenship test at the local high school, which was offering classes. Adela said she did not know that after five years of lawful permanent residency, Jose could have applied for U.S. citizenship. Jose took the test and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.

Adela said that the application process was easier because the fees were not as high in 1996, and the fact that she is a U.S. citizen who sponsored her husband helped him get through the line much more quickly.

“I know people that will stay undocumented.  They can’t afford it,” said Adela. “Thank God our process was much easier.”

Adela also helped her sister and brother-in-law file petitions. Adela said that she is grateful that the process went well for Jose because she knows her friends are not as fortunate.

Adela said that some of their friends are being told they have to go back to Mexico to apply. These families cannot afford to be separated because they will lose their jobs.

According to the USCIS statistics, 46,031 immigrants became U.S. citizens in 2007. That number plummeted nearly 50 percent to 24,078 the following year. Why the decrease? Some experts point to the 69 percent fee increase from $400 to $675 in 2007.

Instead of raising the cost of citizenship, policymakers should lower the fees to help cover the deficit rather than widening the gap even further.

Now Jose Gonzalez can vote, bring his family members to the U.S., and apply for federal jobs. He is an example to those hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants eligible to become U.S. citizens that it is possible to achieve the dream, but now the price may be too high.

Adela said she is glad that Jose applied for citizenship three years ago because it would’ve been much more difficult to find the money to pay the higher fee and take the new citizenship test. The new test took effect after October 1, 2008.

“People were pushing to get their citizenship applications in before October so they could take the old test,” said Adela. “It’s another barrier for those who already were established here in the U.S. and had legal status.”

The increased costs create yet another barrier for immigrants seeking legal status in the U.S. The approximate 585,000 legal permanent residents living in Illinois might not be able to complete the process to become U.S. citizens due to a lack the financial resources and the increasing costs to file.

If the U.S. wants to crack down on illegal immigration, how about making the pathways to citizenship less cumbersome and more efficient than they currently are?

Angelica Jimenez is a graduate journalism student at Columbia College Chicago.