For many immigrants, applying for U.S. citizenship can seem overwhelming. Take Agnes Enriquez, a Montessori preschool teacher who immigrated nearly 20 years ago: she didn’t apply for citizenship after receiving her green card in 2008 because she was busy raising her children and worried she would not have time to study.

Plus, her green card allowed her to travel outside the U.S., so she could still visit her mom in the Philippines every summer.

But recent news of valid green card holders being denied reentry into the United States after traveling out of the country gave her pause. So in April, Agnes applied for citizenship.

She did so with help from her volunteer instructor at HIAS Immigration & Citizenship’s virtual citizenship class. Agnes was one of about a dozen immigrants of various ethnicities who attended the free online class each week, which also included textbooks and workbooks.

“The teachers were great,” she said. “They were very helpful, and they really explained things in a simpler way, so everyone can grasp the concepts and ideas.”

Her instructor even conducted a practice interview with her, which gave her more confidence when she took the verbal test in July.

“All the questions that were asked of me had been reviewed in class,” Agnes said. “So I knew them by heart.”

Agnes passed her citizenship test, and along with 976 other immigrants from 109 different countries, was sworn in as a U.S. citizen at an oath ceremony at Wrigley Field on August 7. Her husband, who became a U.S. citizen a few years back, and their teen-aged son, joined her for the ceremony.

“I’m really glad I did,” she said. “Now I can travel freely and I don’t have to worry. I’m so grateful to HIAS for providing this service.”