Be Prepared to Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test
For any eligible permanent resident to qualify for naturalization and lawfully become a U.S. citizen, they must take and pass the U.S. Citizenship Test.
Permanent residents who have lived in the USA for a minimum of five years are encouraged to apply for U.S. citizenship. Those who want to become a U.S. citizen, need to check-out these following steps.
- The permanent resident completes and submits, Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) including any supporting documentation and the filing fee.
- The permanent resident can then schedule and attend a security appointment where their fingerprints, photo, and signature are going to be collected for his or her application. Normally, a briefing letter is going to be sent to the permanent resident about one month after the submission of form N-400. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can use this information to conduct a background check on the permanent resident to see if they’re eligible for U.S. citizenship.
- The permanent resident is then scheduled to attend a U.S. citizenship test exam and interview. This is usually done one year after the permanent resident has submitted their naturalization application. The date and location of the hearing will be sent to the applicant in a letter from USCIS.
It should be noted that the test exam and the interview are usually on the same day at the same time, they have been combined, so the applicant should be prepared for both!
Tips for Preparing for the U.S. Citizenship Test
- Concentrate on specific things when you are studying: for example, it’s best to study one section at a time and concentrate on that sole section. If there are sections you would like to figure out and improve on, stick to learning those sections until you’re satisfied with them. It’s best to learn when you are alert and targeted, letting you to retain the information.
- Practice: “Practice makes perfect” you’ve heard it before. So take several practice tests. This is to ensure that you test under pressure and that you are prepared for whatever the USCIS officer asks of you.
- Speak English regularly: The amount you speak the language you’ll be asked the test in, the more comfortable you’ll be. Make a concentrated effort by listening to music or watch TV in English. Speak with many people so you’ll be able to naturally speak the language when needed.
Who is eligible to take the U.S. citizenship test?
There are a number of requirements in order to take the U.S. Citizenship test. First, all applicants must be non-U.S. nationals who are lawful permanent residents of the United States (aka, green card holders) who would like to become U.S. citizens. In addition, they must also:
- At Least 18 years old when they file and submit type N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
- Have been a lawful permanent resident of the USA for a minimum of five years
- Be able to prove that they have lived in the U.S. state or USCIS district that they’re applying in for a minimum of 3 months
- Be able to prove that they have lived continuously in the USA for a minimum of five years before the date of filing form N-400.
- Be able to prove that they have been physically present in the USA for a minimum of 30 months out of the 5 years before the date of form N-400 filing
- Be able to write, read, and speak Basic English
- Have a basic understanding of U.S. history and therefore the U.S government system (civics)
- Be a ‘good ethical character’
- Be able to demonstrate an attachment to the U.S. Constitution
- Be able to swear the Oath of Allegiance
What Is the Passing Score for the U.S. Citizenship Test?
When it comes to passing the U.S. citizenship test, your exam will be scored based on the two parts of this exam.
For the English portion of the exam, you’ll need to prove a basic understanding of English by speaking, reading, and writing. If you’ll be able to do, the USCIS officer can pass you. For the civics questions, you must get a minimum of 6 out of 10 questions to pass.
But what happens if you fail the citizenship test? Luckily, you’re allowed to retake the test a second time. you’ll have to wait 2 to 3 additional months before retaking this exam, and the questions you will be tested on will be totally different.
As of now, there’s no limit on how many times one can retake the test. However, if you only fail a portion of the exam, it might not be necessary to retake the whole exam.
There are many resources on the Internet to assist you www.citizenstests.com offers a website that has everything you need to apply for and pass the exam.
