Becoming a naturalized US citizen is a lengthy process that includes:
- A submitted N-400 form
- A biometrics appointment
- An interview with USCIS
To understand the naturalization process, it's important to highlight why the citizenship test and interview process are necessary.
Purpose Of A Citizenship Interview
The citizenship interview allows USCIS to go into more detail about you and your application. During the interview, they will review your application in detail to make a decision on whether you are eligible for citizenship. This interview also includes a test of your ability to speak, read, and write English, as well as your knowledge of U.S. government and history.
Preparing For The Citizenship Test
There are a variety of resources on how to study for the citizenship test related to English and US history. USCIS offers a page on their site that provides more detail about what can be expected from each test.
English Test
The English test has 3 components:
- Speaking test: Your ability to speak English with the USCIS officer.
- Reading test: Reading 1 of 3 sentences out loud with a focus on civics and history topics. USCIS provides a list of words that will be used for this portion.
- Writing test: Writing out 1 of 3 sentences to show your ability to write in English. USCIS provides a vocabulary list to use for this portion of the test.
Civics Test
You will be asked 10 questions related to civics. These 10 questions come from 100 civics questions used for all naturalization tests by USCIS. In order to pass the test, you must answer 6 out of the 10 questions correctly.
What Happens During The Naturalization Interview?
The naturalization interview assesses your understanding of English and the U.S. government. It takes around 20 minutes and it is entirely under oath. Afterwards, they review your application and evaluate all your exams. Once the naturalization test and interview is complete, you will find out if you were approved for citizenship. If you were selected, you will be asked to take part of a swearing-in ceremony where a judge will make you a US citizen. You will then receive a certificate verifying that you are now a US citizen.
What Should I Do If I Was Not Approved At The Naturalization Interview?
You will be provided with 2 opportunities to take the English and civics tests per application. Failing any portion of the process during your first interview will require you to retake that portion of the exam 60 - 90 days from your initial interview. Failing a 2nd time will result in your request for naturalization to be denied. If you were denied naturalization, after failing any of the tests more than twice, you may reapply with a new N-400 form. In the event your N-400 is denied, you have 30 days to ask for a re-hearing before a different officer by filing form N-336. If that fails, you have the right to file a lawsuit in federal district court and have a judge decide your case. The attorneys at Salmon & Haas offer help and counsel throughout the application procedures, with assistance offered before the interview and when filling out the forms.
Contact An Experienced Immigration Attorney in San Antonio For Help
If you or a loved one is interested in learning more about properly filling out the N-400 form or if your request for naturalization was denied, reach out to Salmon & Haas. We can answer questions you might have about the naturalization process and help you get the best results possible for your immigration case.
