If you are a citizen of a country outside of the United States and want to become a U.S. citizen, you may apply for citizenship through the process of naturalization. After meeting eligibility requirements and filing your application, you must take an English test and a civics test to show your knowledge of the English language and of U.S. history and government. You can find free study materials and the exact list of questions to be asked on the civics test on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) website as well as at public libraries.
Naturalization English Test
The English test is made up of three separate parts:
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
The interview will begin as the USCIS officer asks you questions about your application and about your background to determine if you can speak English. Then, you must correctly read aloud one of three sentences and write one of three sentences to demonstrate your ability to read and write.
Naturalization Civics Test
You must also successfully demonstrate your knowledge of U.S. government and history. USCIS provides a list of 100 questions for you to study while you are preparing for the test, and you will be asked 10 of these questions. You must correctly answer 6 out of the 10 to pass the exam.
Passing the Test
After you file your application for naturalization, you have two chances to successfully pass all of the tests. If you fail a portion of the test, you may retake that portion of the test within 90 days. If you fail that portion for a second time, you must restart the application process before you may take the tests again.
To learn more about the process of applying for citizenship, visit the website of the Austin naturalization attorneys at the Jang Law Office.