AUGUST 2023

NEW AMERICANS
Theoni
Balasi:
Finally
Made It
BY SUSAN SMITH
Sometimes the Chaldean Community
Foundation is the last stop
on a long string of stops. When
the last stop offers a welcome in your
own language and you’re met with
kindness, those two things can go a
long way.
Told by her daughter-in-law, this
story is about Theoni Balasi’s journey
to gain U.S. Citizenship at the age of 90.
Theoni came to the United States
to live with her son and daughter-inlaw
Samantha in 2008 after the death
of her husband. Both families lived in
Greece, sharing a building and meals,
and caring for each other. Samantha
is a teacher here as she was in Greece
and has always had a strong relationship
with her mother-in-law Theoni.
Traveling back and forth between
Greece and the U.S., Theoni had the
best of both worlds — visiting with
family, but with a home in the U.S. and
aspirations to become a citizen.
Samantha took all the right steps
to help Theoni. She obtained and filled
out the necessary paperwork, coaching
and preparing her mother-in-law for the
naturalization interview. After several
unsuccessful attempts to obtain citizenship
for Theoni, the pair lost hope.
A few years later, they stopped by
a location that no longer offered help
with becoming a citizen; however,
this organization pointed them in the
direction of the Chaldean Community
Foundation. Samantha and Theoni
had no idea what to expect; of course,
that day the lobby was overflowing,
and extra chairs had been brought out.
Fluent in English and Greek in a full
lobby of people speaking Arabic and
Chaldean, they were concerned that
once again they would be turned away.
After finally being seated in front
of a case worker, the two were introduced
and greeted in Greek by one of
Theoni celebrates with an
official and with family as
she accepts her citizenship
certificate.
CCF’s immigration team. They relaxed,
and progress began.
“We were introduced to the immigration
team, and they reviewed
each step we took and made us feel
like family,” said Samantha. “Our experience
was one of compassion and
kindness, as my mother-in-law finally
became a U.S. Citizen.
“Beyond happiness, we were also
connected with additional CCF staff and
received assistance with the applications
for Medicaid and guardianship,”
Samantha went on. “That experience
was easy and again the staff made us
feel welcomed and like family.”
For Theoni, receiving her U.S. citizenship
has been a long time coming.
Now she can obtain a U.S. passport to
visit friends and family in Greece without
having to obtain a visa — that is
worth celebrating!
She plans to visit her 86-yearold
twin sisters who are still living in
Greece. When receiving her citizenship,
Theoni summarized it best when
she shared, “I finally made it.”
A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW
42 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2023