The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office (USCIS) is the administrative agency under the umbrella of the United States Department of Homeland Security which handles immigration matters. Many new changes have been implemented in immigration policy, and one such change that was discussed involved planned changes to the existing naturalization test. This caused concern and pushback from the public, but for now these changes have been put on pause – to the great relief of many.
What is the Naturalization Test?
Naturalization is the process by which a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who holds a green card obtains full U.S. citizenship. In order to do apply for naturalization, they must meet the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the INA).
Requirements for Applicants for Naturalization include:
- Residing in the U.S. for the 5 years preceding their application (or 3 years if married to a U.S. Citizen);
- Residing in the state in which the applicant filed their application for at least 3 months; and
- Having been and remaining a person of “good moral character,” respecting the Constitution of the United States, and “well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.”
Steps to Naturalization
Once your eligibility for naturalization is established, there are steps you must take in order to complete the naturalization process. These are listed below:
- • Fill out the required application and attach the necessary documentation
- • Have your fingerprints taken
- • Complete an interview
- • Take an English test
- • Take a civics test
- • If you pass, you will then receive a notice allowing you to take the Oath of Allegiance
The English and civics tests listed above comprise the naturalization test which is part of the process.
*Table from Naturalization Statistics | USCIS
What Changes Were Planned?
Currently, for the English portion of the naturalization test an applicant must participate in a verbal interview where they are questioned about their application for citizenship. An immigration officer assesses the applicant’s English fluency based on the conversation. The applicant is also required to read and write one sentence in English. The proposed change to this portion of the test involved showing photographs to applicants and asking them to describe the photographs in English.
For the Civics portion of the test right now applicants answer 10 questions read aloud by the immigration officer administering the test. Only 6 correct answers are required to pass. The proposed change to this portion consists of changing the format to having an applicant answer ten multiple choice questions using an electronic tablet.
The concerns regarding both of these changes involved the necessity of more preparation by an applicant and a deeper comprehension of the English language, including the ability to not just speak it but also read it in more depth. The concern was that this could disqualify many otherwise qualified applicants.
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
Perhaps due to some pushback regarding fairness and accessibility of the proposed changes to the test, for now USCIS will continue to use the current test. This version has been in use since 2008 and efforts to make the test more difficult have been tabled for the time being. If you or a loved one are hoping to apply for naturalization in the near future, you can find a USCIS study guide for the test portion here: Preparing for the Naturalization Test: A Pocket Study Guide.
What To Do If You Have More Questions
Immigration rules can be confusing, which is why many people choose to submit applications or petitions using the help of an immigration attorney. But in recent months, there seems to have been more changes made more suddenly than ever before. You can find more information about immigration in the articles of the Siri & Glimstad Immigration Attorneys Blog.
Or for immediate help with your immigration questions from an immigration attorney, fill out the form. Do not delay! Immigration policies are changing at a rapid pace and it has never been more important to have a knowledgeable and compassionate advocate on your side.
