Priyanka and Sarban’s Family Citizenship Story

Many pathways to citizenship: A family’s story

Becoming a U.S. citizen offers many life-changing benefits and protections, such as the right to vote, better opportunities for financial stability, obtaining citizenship for children born abroad, and the permanency of a safe home. But high costs and language barriers prevent many from applying. During the month of July, the New Americans Campaign is raising critical funds to make sure eligible New Americans can receive low-cost citizenship help. Priyanka and Sarban’s story shares the joy and possibility many of our clients strive for. 

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On a sunny but uncharacteristically mild Friday in January, husband and wife Sarban and Priyanka walked into a federal courthouse in Ramsey County for a naturalization ceremony, unaware of what to expect. One thing they knew for sure: they would walk out of that courthouse as U.S. citizens.

“Everything was a new, exciting experience,” Sarban said of the ceremony. “Everyone was so friendly and open.”

“Now, you are all citizens!” Sarban stood up and exclaimed as he imitated the joyous moment when the judge presiding over the naturalization ceremony announced citizenship to the room filled with people from 65 different countries.

For the Nepali couple, becoming U.S. citizens was a big and exciting moment. After winning the visa lottery in 2017, Priyanka, Sarban and their eight-month-old daughter moved to Minnesota where Sarban’s cousins lived. A few years later, they welcomed another daughter to the family. With their new child receiving birthright citizenship in the U.S., the decision for the rest of the family to become citizens was made easier.

Another significant incentive was exercising their right to vote, which Priyanka will be doing for the first time in her life. Growing up in Nepal, Sarban’s father was a local politician.

“My father made his community very good,” Sarban shared.

He recounted how one election resulted in a tie between his father and the challenger, with his father eventually deciding to step down from his position. It was this moment that Sarban realized “every vote matters.”

Priyanka and Sarban advance careers

“If we need help, all we have to do is call them,” Priyanka said of Institute immigration staff.

Priyanka and Sarban were first introduced to the International Institute of Minnesota through a friend who had taken the Nursing Assistant Training. While they were both interested, they were unsure if it would be too costly to attend. When the friend told them it was free, they could barely believe it.

Priyanka quickly enrolled in the training, graduated and passed her licensing exams. She soon began working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). However, her goal was to attend nursing school, so she next enrolled in the Institute’s College Readiness Academy.  She also sought guidance from the Medical Career Advancement program, whose team helped her get a scholarship and choose which nursing school was the right fit.

When Priyanka was attending nursing school, Sarban worked as a supervisor at a grocery store to support the family.

“I’m proud that my husband is so supportive,” she said. “Because of him I am LPN (licensed practical nurse). And now we are both working to become RNs.”

After she graduated and found work as an LPN, it was Sarban’s turn to go back to school. Following in Priyanka’s footsteps, he went to school as a client of the Medical Career Advancement program and now also works as an LPN.

“Whenever new people come, we recommend them to the Institute. We get them to the English class there,” Priyanka explained. Several people living in their apartment complex are now either working as CNAs and LPNs or are currently enrolled in nursing and English classes at the Institute.

My daughter getting citizenship will be a big deal. She has a lot of friends here and she is home here.

Deriving citizenship

With Priyanka and Sarban establishing their careers in Minnesota and becoming U.S. citizens, they next pursued citizenship for their eight-year-old daughter who was born in Nepal.

Priyanka and Sarban are now working with the Institute’s immigration team again to achieve derivative citizenship for their oldest daughter.

Derived citizenship gives children whose parents have become naturalized citizens to gain citizenship themselves. This provides a more simplified avenue for citizenship, where children receive the benefits of U.S. citizens without waiting until they are adults to go through the naturalization process.

Since Nepali law does not allow dual citizenship, their daughter would have to relinquish her citizenship in Nepal to become a U.S. citizen, just as her parents did. But, over the last eight years, Priyanka, Sarban and their children have made Minnesota their home. This is particularly true for their oldest daughter.

“She is so caring of a sister,” Priyanka said of her oldest daughter. “When I am busy, she is second mother. She takes care of her sister. I am a proud mom of two.”

With their daughter soon becoming a citizen, the family looks forward to the future.

Priyanka expressed how she wants to spend more time with her family after she becomes a registered nurse.

“Family matters a lot. I see people giving too much time to work and not to family,” she said.

Sarban proudly pulled his eldest daughter onto his lap and said, “I feel like (my daughter getting citizenship) will be a big deal. She has a lot of friends here and she is home here.”

Community support makes citizenship accessible and affordable to our clients. For New Americans like Priyanka and Sarban, you can make a difference.