The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, New York

Over one lakh green cardholders, including a big number of Bangladesh-borne expatriates, are likely to enjoy US citizenship by September this year, immigration authorities said on Wednesday.

The Federal Immigration Services is going to give US nationality before the citizenship test becomes harder in October, immigration attorney Nazmul Alam told BSS in an interview. Nazmul is the only Bangladeshi-American lawyer practicing in the US Supreme Court.

Referring a meeting held between Director of federal immigration services Andrea Quarantillo and immigration attorneys on June 5, Nazmul said, major changes would take place in the upcoming scrutiny process from October.

Under the new system, nationality seekers must have English speaking and writing competency as well as basic knowledge on American history and its government structures, he said.

Nazmul said Andrea has already taken necessary steps to give US nationality to the possible highest number of green card holders before the new system comes up by next three months.

A good number of Bangladeshi expatriates are expected to be US citizens under the initiative within a short period of time, Nazmul hoped.