Naturalization is how immigrants become citizens. They submit paperwork, pay a fee, attend an interview and undergo a test to acquire United States citizenship. They also need to take an oath.
The process is lengthy, but it can grant immigrants certain legal rights and protections. The naturalization test has remained roughly the same for years. Immigrants have to prove their proficiency in the English language and pass a Civics test.
Recently, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an overhaul of the naturalization testing process. What changes can immigrants hoping to become citizens expect to encounter?
The Civics test has changed
The English language test is still a mostly oral test with reading and writing components. The Civics test also remains an oral test. What has changed is the number of possible questions for immigrants to study and the number of questions asked during the test.
Previously, immigrants had to answer 10 out of 100 possible questions. Currently, they may have to answer up to 20 questions from a newly-expanded list of 128 potential questions.
Immigrants must get 12 questions correctly to pass, which means that nine incorrect answers may result in the end of the testing process. There is still an opportunity for a single retake if an immigrant initially fails the test. They also have access to the full list of questions to prepare before the test.
Preparing effectively for naturalization testing can help immigrants achieve their goals of citizenship. Those concerned about changes to the process may need support and guidance as they submit paperwork to the USCIS and prepare for the naturalization interview, and that’s okay.