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USCIS Announces Potential Updates to the Naturalization Test
Monica Zafra • February 17, 2023
In December 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published a notice announcing that USCIS would conduct a trial to update the current naturalization test which consists of four elements: reading, writing, civics, and ability to speak English. The Reading and Writing portions have been standardized, but the purpose of the trial is to test the civics component with an updated format and content as well as develop a new English-speaking component that could be the new standard.
This is in direct response to President Biden's Executive Order
called Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-strengthening-integration-and-inclusion-efforts-for-new-americans/. This Executive Order includes a directive to review the naturalization process, so USCIS has been conducting reviews to improve and update the naturalization test so that it is consistent with industry standards.
The trial is tentatively scheduled for a five-month period in 2023 and will be assessed with the help of volunteer community-based organizations who will work with immigrant English language learners and lawful permanent residents preparing for naturalization. USCIS will seek out around 1,500 individuals enrolled in adult education classes to take the trial test and the Agency may use the results of this trial to support changes to the naturalization test.
If you have any questions, please contact our offices.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
Monica Zafra
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To be eligible for U.S. naturalization based on being a lawful permanent resident for at least five years, you must: Prove you have been a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. for at least five years; Demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years immediately before applying for naturalization; Show you have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before applying for naturalization; and Pass the naturalization test. The naturalization test consists of the English and civics test. The applicant must show his/her ability to read, write, and speak basic English. The interviewing USCIS officer will ask the applicant to read a sentence in English and to write a sentence in English. If the applicant demonstrates his/her ability to read, write, and speak English, the applicant passes this portion of the test. The civics test is an oral test, and the applicant is asked questions about the American government and history. The USCIS officer will ask the applicant up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. To pass this portion of the test, the applicant must answer at least 6 questions correctly. If the applicant satisfies all of the eligibility requirements and passes the naturalization test, the last step before naturalizing is to attend the oath ceremony to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. If you have any questions and would like more information about your eligibility for naturalization, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with our experienced immigration attorneys.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made changes to the naturalization application and the filing fee which became effective April 1, 2024. The naturalization application, Form N-400, was updated. The new form edition is dated 04/01/2024. As of June 3, 2024, USCIS will only accept the new form edition. The filing fee for Form N-400 also changed. The prior filing fee was $640.00 plus a biometric fee of $85.00, for a total of $725.00. The new filing fee became effective April 1, 2024, so all naturalization applications postmarked April 1, 2024, or later, must include the new appropriate filing fee. The new general fee if you file a paper application is $760.00, and if you file the application online the fee is $710.00.
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