Building a Network of Immigrants and Supporters

The premise is straightforward: Through an online platform, individuals seeking citizenship can access loans at with a 1% interest rate to cover the filing fees required by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for citizenship applications. Funds come, in part, from supporters across the country who lend any amount of money through a 0%-interest, 24-month loan; by donating to a permanent lending pool; or by aligning their organization with the cause through a foundation or corporate sponsorship.

The need for this support is clear. There are nearly 9 million immigrants who are eligible for citizenship — green card holders, Dreamers and those with temporary protected status. Only 9% apply. Why? A national survey conducted by OPA revealed that application fees are among the top barriers to citizenship — the issue is not the overall amount, which can range from $135 to $1,225, but the need to pay it upfront to start the citizenship application process. Our 1% interest loans that are repaid over the course of one year help eliminate that concern.

Yet OPA is much more than a conduit for loans. Critically, it is a source of information. In partnership with experts, OPA produces videos that address immigrants’ most common questions, from passing the civics exam on the first try to establishing a career in the United States. OPA also produces helpful articles, both for immigrants and for those who seek to learn more about the immigrant experience. We developed these, in part, based on the results of a first-of-its-kind survey comparing the financial goals of native-born US citizens with those of immigrants. It found that the two groups share many of the same financial goals but that immigrants face additional barriers to reach those goals.

In order to further our mission of supporting immigrants at scale, OPA now plans to build a membership model. As members, immigrants and those who support them will be able to access discounted goods and services from partner organizations. OPA is also working toward creating links between immigrants who are seeking jobs and organizations who need to expand their workforce. In a time when there is a nationwide shortage of workers, we see an opportunity to connect these long-term residents with potential employers. The membership model will allow for long-term financial sustainability and scalability.

Across all these endeavors, OPA is serving as a virtual space for people to connect, learn and create a community. To reach consumers more broadly, we are focusing on digital marketing, including a popular Facebook page and a website that is filled with useful content. The new OPA membership model will further extend this trajectory, as immigrants and their supporters share the value of OPA with their friends and family members.