In its first outing, a naturalization workshop in Austin on Friday drew a  full house at the Community Learning Center.

Over 30 crowded into the center to hear Sara Karki of the Austin Area Minority Business Project outline the process and, if attendees wanted, to speak individually with others to help begin the process of filling out an application to become a U.S. citizen.

It was one of the first times a number of resources were in one location. Karki, who is a attorney for the Immigrant Law Center, was joined by by Solomon Paul, head of Austin’s  Welcome Center; Stacy  Mason of the Austin public schools’ Adult Learning program; and other attorneys who could help answer questions and help those attending to begin the application process.

Those attending came to hear about U.S. citizenship application, which can take 4-9 months to complete.

Obstacles to the process can range from being out of the U.S. for more than six months (the legal limit) to failing to register for Selective Service, which all men between ages of 18 and 26 must do.

Language can be an obstacle. Being able to read, write and understand English are all requirements of naturalization. Those applying must also pass a civics test. The test covers 10 of 100 potential questions.

“But you don’t know which ones will be asked, so you really have to know answers to all of them, to 100,” she said.

In addition to those requirements, there are several legal issues that might surface. Besides age and residency requirements, you have to be of “good moral character.” While it might be hard to define what “good and moral” might be, there are lots of suggestions about what bad morals encompass, from drug and alcohol addictions, child neglect, criminal activity or even allowing their children to be child soldiers in a previous country.

Becoming a citizen is not inexpensive; one application right now is $680, although there are waivers for those who make too little money. On Dec. 23, there will be more fee options, but the regular price of $680 will hike to $708.

One Burmese gentleman, who first escaped his country by traveling to India, worked with Paul in filling out his application. He told Paul that his green card and other documents did not carry his true birth name.

He explained when he fled to bordering India, those who helped him in India gave him a different name and a different birth date. That way, he said, the Burmese government — not friendly to those who would leave — would not be able to find him. He wanted to return to his true, first name.

“In India, I was refugee … in America, I will belong and not a refugee,” he said.

Karki said she was excited at the turnout and said another workshop is planned in the spring.

“It’ s a happy time, when they can finally take that oath of citizenship,” she said.