In order to complete the requirements for United States citizenship, an applicant must have a fundamental understanding and knowledge of the history of the United States, the basics of the American government, and a grasp of written and spoken English.
Tests to Determine Citizenship Eligibility
There are two tests that a person will take in order to determine their citizenship eligibility: the United States civic exam and the English exam. Each exam will be considered alongside other required information when granting citizenship.
United States Civic Exam
The United States civic exam is a test of 10 questions chosen by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official. The 10 questions come from a list of 100 questions chosen by UCSIS. Of the 10 questions, 6 must be answered correctly in order to pass the exam.
A person unable to answer these questions may be excused due to age or disability. If a person is over the age of 65 and has lived in the United States for at least 20 years total, an exam can be given that requires the person to only study 20 questions instead of the 100. In the event of a disability, a doctor will provide a waiver that documents the disability and why this prevents answering the questions on the civic exam.
United States English Exam
At the citizenship interview, it is required that a person has a working understanding of the English language and can read, write, and speak in the language. The interviewer will conduct the interview in English and pay attention to responses. A person will also be required to read a passage and write a sentence that the interviewer provides to them. Like the civics exam, there are age and disability exceptions. If a person has a disability that prevents them from learning English, a doctor must submit a waiver that explains the disability.
While it may seem that there is a broad range of knowledge required for each exam, there are ways a person can prepare for the exam in advance. USCIS makes the 100 possible questions for the exam available online with their answers. A person can memorize the 100 questions and prepare for the questions asked on the exam. Furthermore, a person who struggles to learn English can take an English-language class at an adult school or study key vocabulary on the USCIS website.
If you or a loved one are struggling to study for the required English exams, consult an immigration attorney to see if there is a possibility of obtaining exemption for citizenship eligibility tests., there are ways a person can prepare for the exam in advance. USCIS makes the 100 possible questions for the exam available online with their answers. A person can memorize the 100 questions and prepare for the questions asked on the exam. Furthermore, a person who struggles to learn English can take an English-language class at an adult school or study key vocabulary on the USCIS website.