Reception for New United States Citizens

Date: September 10, 2024

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Contact: Leyda Becker

Location: Sloan Convention Center P.O. Box 430

Description:

The City of Bowling Green is hosting a reception to recognize individuals who have become naturalized United States Citizens since September 2023.  The annual Reception for New Americans will take place on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green, KY.

The reception is led by the International Communities Liaison Division in the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and will feature recognition from Mayor Todd Alcott and the City’s Board of Commissioners.  

“This is our 9th annual Reception for New Americans and we are recognizing U.S. Citizens who received the citizenship since our last reception in 2023,” adds Leyda Becker, International Communities Liaison for the City of Bowling Green.   The annual recognition was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and delayed until June due to the tornado.  Naturalizations were significantly delayed in the last couple of years, and restrictions limited the attendance at naturalization ceremonies, added Becker, “we want this celebration to be an opportunity for families and friends to be a part of the recognition as well.”

The City of Bowling Green asks for your participation to identify recently naturalized U.S Citizens through the various community partners, such as Warren County Skills U at Southcentral Community and Technical College and the International Center of Kentucky, who have been actively involved with immigrants and refugees through English as Second Language classes and helping to process applications for naturalization.  “The process of naturalization is not simple, the eligible applicant has to submit an application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  that has a costly fee, pass a citizenship exam, complete an interview process and pass a thorough background check,” explains Becker who became a US Citizen in 2011.

The Reception for New Americans is a great avenue to connect our newest citizens to local government, the role of City officials and the many municipal services offered.  For more information on the Reception for New Americans or to register to participate, complete this form: https://forms.gle/DJHpf4VRoW6AEtZi9 or contact the City of Bowling Green’s International Communities Liaison Division contact Leyda Becker at (270) 393-3766 or email leyda.becker@bgky.org

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