If you’re looking to become a U.S. citizen, you have many factors to consider. The process can be confusing, and there are often legal hoops to jump through.
Usually, the best way to get support for the process is to work with an immigration and naturalization lawyer. Still, if you have questions about the citizenship test, you can check out this guide.
While there are many ways to become a citizen of the United States, there is a process involved for individuals who weren’t born here. Depending on the method you’re looking for to become a citizen, you may have heard you need to take a test as part of the steps.
Learn more about the U.S. naturalization test and what you can do to prepare.
Do You Really Have To Take A Test To Become A Citizen?
Suppose you’re seeking citizenship status through the process of naturalization. In that case, you’ll likely have to complete a test called the Civics Test. But, the test itself might not be what you’d expect. While you might imagine sitting down in an exam room and taking an extended test with a bunch of questions, it’s actually an oral exam.
The naturalization process involves an interview with a USCIS officer. As part of this interview, applicants are asked ten questions. To pass the test portion of the interview, you’ll need to answer at least six of these questions correctly.
What Kind Of Questions Are Asked During The Oral Exam?
While the thought of answering ten questions can be daunting, they aren’t entirely random. You can practice for these questions beforehand, so you feel prepared and know what to expect.
The USCIS officer will ask ten questions from a list of 100 possible questions. It’s vital to remember that the test is person-to-person, so as you prepare, you’ll want to practice saying your answers out loud.
To increase your chance of passing the oral test, studying and learning the answer to all 100 questions is best. While studying is easier for some people than others, especially when you are still learning the language, there are many test aids available online. Some of the questions have only one right answer, while other questions are more open-ended.
What Kind Of Questions Are On The Test?
The simplest way to learn about and memorize all of the questions is to check out this comprehensive list. And, keep in mind that you won’t know which ten questions the interviewer will ask you during the process. This means it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
To give you an idea of some of the questions on the test, here are a few examples:
- “What is the supreme law of the land?”
- “What does the constitution do?”
- “What does the president’s cabinet do?”
- “What do we call the first ten amendments of the constitution?”
- “Who makes federal laws?”
While some of the questions are harder than others, most of them are pretty straightforward and can be memorized by studying and taking practice tests.
More Information On Naturalization
The naturalization process involves more than just setting up an interview and taking an oral test. You have to meet various requirements and complete ten steps, with some stages being more time intensive than others. If you have questions about naturalization, this resource is a great place to start.
And, you can always reach out to an experienced immigration attorney for more specific questions related to your personal situation.