2018_0221_HRIEC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Selecting, inviting, and approving guest speakers—USCIS must approve all guest speakers. While the collaborating organization may recommend guest speakers to USCIS, the selection is at the discretion of USCIS. USCIS may request to review guest speaker remarks in advance of the ceremony for content and length. Inappropriate remarks, including political (partisan or otherwise), commercial, or religious statements, are not permitted. f431 • Determining which naturalization candidates will participate in the ceremony —Organizations may not request that specific lawful permanent residents (LPRs)be naturalized at any ceremony (for example, only LPRs from a particular country). USCIS does not consider such requests, which may create a conflict of interest or the appearance of preferential treatment to specific LPRs. • Ensuring that voter registration applications are offered to new citizens at the end of the ceremony. • Selecting and approving organizations requesting to distribute voter registration applications, and the methods by which such efforts are to be conducted. • Preserving the importance, dignity, and solemnity of naturalization ceremonies. USCIS may brief all ceremony participants on expected behavior. 2.External Organizations The external organization is responsible for: • Following all USCIS policies and procedures, including guidance from field leadership. • Seeking approval from USCIS prior to distributing any materials at the ceremony. If the external organization wishes to distribute American flags to ceremony guests, those flags should be made in the United States. USCIS provides flags for all naturalization candidates. • Coordinating with USCIS on media coverage of the naturalization ceremony. 3.Conferences and Conventions USCIS may not schedule a ceremony as part of, or in conjunction with, another organization's event, including conferences or conventions. USCIS may determine it is operationally feasible to hold a naturalization ceremony in which conference or convention participants are invited to attend, but the ceremony must remain a separate event. Footnotes 1. This guidance applies only to administrative naturalization ceremonies involving an Application for Naturalization(Form N-400) where a USCIS-designated official or an immigration judge administers the Oath of Allegiance. The guidance does not apply to administrative ceremonies involving children obtaining evidence of citizenship--Application for Citizenship(Lorin N-600)or Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322(Form N-600K)—or judicial naturalization ceremonies where a federal, state,or local court administers the Oath of Allegiance.