Eager to vote but stuck in citizenship process

Julia Moreno has been following the presidential campaign and studying the issues. She has even chosen her favorite candidate: "La Señora
Clinton."

Moreno, a legal immigrant from Guatemala who came to Los Angeles more than 30 years ago, applied for citizenship this summer so she would
be able to vote -- starting with the 2008 presidential election.

But U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced recently that green card holders who applied after June 1 could have to wait 16 to 18
months for their applications to be processed. For Moreno, that means she might be unable to cast her ballot for president.

The numbers soared as immigrants rushed to avoid an application fee increase that took effect July 30, raising the cost from $400 to $675.
Immigrant rights groups and Spanish-language media also launc