THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION APPLIES ONLY TO PERSONS WHO FILED FOR NATURALIZATION (CITIZENSHIP) BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2020.

 

USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization with a filing date on or after December 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test.  Out study materials for this new test are being prepared and will be made available as soon as they are ready.

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The Citizenship (Naturalization) Interview (for filings before December 1, 2020)

 

To be approved for citizenship, a person must participate in a citizenship naturalization) interview with a USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) officer.

 

What are some things that happen at the naturalization (citizenship) interview?

You can see the official FREE 16-minute USCIS video which has an example of the interview by going to the following website:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/videos/Naturalization_Interview.mp4

 

The video is excellent and has earned high praises from many people.

Among the things you should take to the interview are:

1. N-400 Application (Review it carefully so that you are able to answer questions about it.)

2. Letter with interview appointment notice.

 

At the interview, the Naturalization (Citizenship) officer will place you under oath. The officer will review with you the N-400 Application for Naturalization) which you filled out and ask questions and review any documents you submitted. The officer will use this review to test your ability to speak and understand the English language.

The officer might ask you questions such as:

● What is your name?

● Have you used any other names?

● Do you legally want to change your name?, etc.

 

Also, during the interview (either before or after reviewing the N-400 form) the officer will ask civics questions and test your reading and writing ability.

 

1. The officer may ask up to 10 civics questions. The questions are asked orally and are answered orally. To pass the test, you must answer at least 6 of the questions correctly. (Once you have reached 6 correct answers, the officer will stop asking you civics questions.)

 

2. For the reading test, the officer will ask you to read up to three simple sentences. You must read at least one sentence correctly to pass.

 

3. For the writing test, the officer will say up to three sentences. You must write at least one sentence correctly to pass.

 

At the end of the test, the officer will tell you if you passed, or not.

 

If you pass, you will be scheduled for the citizenship oath ceremony, which is the final step in the naturalization (citizenship) process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civics, Reading and Writing sections of the Citizenship Test  (for filings before December 1, 2020)

 

Part 1. Civics (History, Government and Geography)

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          At the citizenship interview you will be asked up to 10 questions from the official 100 questions that the government has provided. 

 

To pass this part of the test, you must answer correctly at least 6 of the questions. Some of the questions have more than one acceptable answer (For each question, we will suggest what we consider to be the simplest answer - and the easiest to remember.)

 

The other two parts of the test involve showing some basic ability in English reading and writing. In this book, we will cover all three parts of the exam.

 

Note: Applicants who are 65 or older when they file the Application for Naturalization and who have been legal permanent residents of the United States for 20 or more years, may only need to study 20 questions and answers.

 

Part 2. English writing

 

During the citizenship interview, you will be asked to write three (3) sentences containing specific words that the government has announced. 

 

To pass this writing section, you must write one sentence out of the three sentences in a manner that is understandable to the USCIS Officer.

 

 

Part 3. English reading

 

You will be asked to read three (3) sentences containing specific words (less than 100) that the government has announced. 

 

To pass this reading section, you must read one sentence out of the three sentences in a manner suggesting to the USCIS Officer that you appear to understand the meaning of the sentence.