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Can you prepare for the naturalization interview?

On Behalf of | Jan 30, 2023 | Naturalization

Becoming an American citizen requires many steps. One of the crucial elements involves an interview and oral test with a USCIS officer.

Is there anything a person trying to become a citizen can do to prepare for this critical step? Take a look at some common questions and insight into the naturalization interview.

What happens during the interview?

During the interview, a USCIS officer reviews the lengthy application for naturalization with the applicant, confirming the answers provided and making any necessary changes. Some of this process is to verify that the applicant is telling the truth and has told the truth in the past when they received any immigration benefit before, such as permanent residency or a non-immigrant visa. Another part of the interview is to measure an applicant’s command of the English language and U.S. civics.

What is the test?

Unless an applicant requests and receives an exemption from one or both parts of the citizenship test, the officer will administer it. There are two prongs to this test:

  • English test: The officer will measure the applicant’s ability to speak, read, and write English. The applicant will need to read a short piece of text chosen at random and then demonstrate writing skills by penning three sentences. There are materials an applicant can access on USCIS’s website to prepare for each of these three steps.
  • Civics: An applicant has to answer random questions about U.S. history and government correctly. The current test requires the officer to ask the applicant 10 questions from a list of 128 possible questions. To pass, the applicant must answer at least 6 questions right.

Someone wishing to gain citizenship should practice these tests and ensure that the information on the application is true and correct before going through the interview.