Officially becoming a citizen of the United States is a lengthy and intimidating process. An immigrant will need to submit paperwork and meet very strict criteria for citizenship. They will also need to attend an interview conducted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During that interview, the immigrant will need to pass two tests. They need to prove their proficiency with the English language and pass a Civics test as well.
These tests are hard enough that many people who have lived in the United States their entire lives would struggle to pass them. What happens if an immigrant fails the naturalization test?
Immigrants may retake the test
Someone preparing for the naturalization interview and tests has resources available to them. The USCIS provides study guides that include vocabulary lists and a comprehensive list of all the potential Civics questions someone may need to answer.
If someone fails when taking the test the first time, they can request a retake. The USCIS will schedule someone for a second round of testing between 60 and 90 days after their first test. If someone passes the second time, they could become a citizen. If they fail again, they will not have the option of retaking the test again. Failing the test does not result in someone’s removal from the country or the loss of their green card. Immigrants will have the option of applying for naturalization again in the future when their chances of passing the test may be higher.
Understanding what happens if someone fails the naturalization test may help them feel more confident about pursuing citizenship.