Everyone who is at least 18 years old and is residing in the United States of America is going to be counted in the 2010 Census, irrespective of their immigration or citizenship status. Following are some key points regarding this census that are of special interest to US immigrants.
Penalty for Not Providing Correct Answers to the Questions Asked
It is legally mandatory for everybody to answer all the questions asked to them as part of the Census program. You will be charged a $100 fine if you refuse to answer any specific question. The amount of fine is a whopping $500 if someone provides false information. So, make sure you do not hide anything or try to manipulate with the facts.
Language Problem
There is nothing to worry about if you are living as an immigrant in this country but you do not speak English. The forms have been published in 6 languages that include Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Chinese (simplified), Spanish, and English. If you want the forms in one of the other five languages, you can give a call at the toll-free number that will be provided to everybody when the Census day comes closer. Those US immigrants who do not speak any of these languages can take help from Language Assistance Guides; they will help you fill out the English version of the file regardless of which language you speak.
Answering about Citizenship Status
You will not be asked about your citizenship status in the census. Even if your status in this country is not documented, there will be no questions asking you to reveal what type of Visa you hold or what your residency status is.
Privacy of the Information
The information you provide will become public only after twenty-eight years, in 2082. Before that, it will be unlawful to disclose any such information. The information will not be disclosed to anyone – not even to the CIA, the FBI, the IRS, or any other agency. Anyone who is found guilty of leaking the information provided in the Census 2010 may be punished with a jail term of up to 5 years with or without a monetary fine of up to $250,000.
How to Recognize If a Visit, Phone Call, or a Form Related to 2010 Census is Official?
Following are some of the key points that you need to keep in mind in this regard.
- Find out if the any such request coming to you is clearly marked as “official business” of the United States and that it is coming from the Census Bureau of the United States of America.
- You will not get the mails containing the census questions directly. You will first get a mail from the Census Bureau Director that will tell you to expect a visit from a census Bureau representative, a phone call, or another mail containing the 10-point Census questions within the next few days.
- It is your legal right to ask the representative visiting you to show their picture ID confirming that they are authorized person from Census Bureau for this task.
US immigrants can also get things verified by calling the toll-free number in case they have suspicion about the authenticity of the Census request.