Q-and-A on the News

Q: What are the requirements and financial costs for becoming a U.S. citizen?

-- M. Hunt, Cumming, Ga.

A: To apply for U.S. citizenship, an individual must fill out an application for naturalization form, which is produced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to the agency, to be eligible for naturalization, an applicant must:

-- Be at least 18 years old at the time of the application.

-- Have possessed a U.S. green card for at least five years.

-- Have lived in the state or district from which he or she is applying for more than three months.

-- Demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for the past five years, and have been present in the country for at least 30 months during that time.

-- Be able to read, write, speak basic English and prove a general knowledge of American history and government.

-- Be of good moral character.

-- Demonstrate a commitment to the principles found in the Constitution.

The application form requires a copy of the applicant's green card, a check or money order providing payment for the application fees and, for people applying from outside of the country, two identical color photographs. There are also special requirements depending on the person's circumstances, such as if the applicant is married or serving in the military.

Filing a naturalization form currently costs $640, and every applicant also must pay a biometric services fee of $85. There are also applications for reducing certain fees or waiving them entirely (available at uscis.gov).

Q: How do solar panels generate electricity?

-- Richard Morris, Newnan, Ga.

A: Solar panels generate electricity by capturing photons -- electromagnetic particles found within sunlight. The energy from the photons then releases electrons held within the semiconductor material found in the solar panels, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. These freed electrons create an electric current that is carried through wires to power homes, businesses or other solar-powered facilities and devices.

Q: Who from Atlanta is running the next Super Bowl? Is the Falcons front office involved? Are Atlanta city/Fulton County governments involved? Who sets ticket prices and how is the revenue distributed?

-- Norm Staehling, Lilburn, Ga.

A: The Super Bowl ultimately is run by the NFL, in conjunction with a local host committee in each city.

Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso is chairman of the board of Atlanta's Super Bowl LIII Host Committee, and Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay is vice chairman of the board.

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority, city of Atlanta government, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and Central Atlanta Progress also are represented on the board.

The Atlanta host committee currently has about 15 full-time staff members, including executive director Carl Adkins (former general manager of the Georgia Dome) and chief operating officer Brett Daniels (former Dallas Cowboys executive). The host committee is a private, non-profit 501(c) (6).

The NFL sets ticket prices and controls the revenue.

Q: How do you get a paper copy of the Georgia state tax forms when they no longer send them out? If you don't have a computer, you can't print them out. Local libraries don't carry them any longer.

-- Ed Lezaj, Flowery Branch, Ga.

A: The Georgia Department of Revenue is no longer printing and mailing income tax booklets as a cost-saving measure, a spokesman told Q-and-A on the News via email.

Taxpayers who do not have easy internet access to download the booklet or forms (dor.georgia.govdor.georgia.gov/documents/it-511-individual-income-tax-booklet) can obtain them from a DOR regional office. The Atlanta regional office is located at 1800 Century Blvd. NE, Suite 12000, Atlanta, 30345. The South Metro regional office is located at 4125 Welcome All Road, Suite 914, Atlanta, 30349. The Cartersville regional office is located at 314 E. Main St., Suite 150, Cartersville, 30120. The Gainesville regional office is located at 528 Broad St. SE, Gainesville, 30501-3728. Others are listed on /locations/regional-office.

Fast Copy News Service wrote this column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a(at)ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

Story Filed By Cox Newspapers

For Use By Clients of the New York Times News Service