Overview of N-400 Naturalization Interview and Test

Our practice handles a number of N-400, Application for Naturalization, cases for U.S. lawful permanent residents seeking to obtain U.S. citizenship.    In addition to preparing and filing a complete Form N-400 application with USCIS and submitting to a biometrics appointment, the N-400 naturalization process includes a personal interview and a naturalization test.

While the information below should not be a substitute for the personal preparation by an immigration attorney for the naturalization interview and test, we are hoping to provide our clients and readers with an overview of the naturalization interview and test and to, hopefully, allay any anxieties an upcoming interview may cause.

The Naturalization Interview

During the naturalization interview, an N-400 applicant (who would be placed under oath) is asked to confirm the validity and correctness of key information submitted on the N-400 application.   The N-400 applicant is also asked to produce originals or copies of relevant supporting documents expressly requested in the interview notice or generally required for the N-400 process.   It is always a good idea to bring original documents of any copies submitted as part of the N-400 filing; in addition to bringing additional (and more updated) documents.     A good overview of the case (and any issues) should identify any additional items that may need to be brought.   It is difficult to over-prepare for an interview.

The Naturalization Test

In addition, the USCIS office would seek to test the applicant’s knowledge of civics and the applicant’s ability to speak, understand, read and write English.

Verbal English.  The applicant’s ability to speak and understand English is normally tested in the course of the interview by the USCIS officer who often asks questions and seeks input from the applicant.   It is often obvious, after a short conversation or after a few questions, whether an applicant has a sufficiently good command of the verbal English language.

Written English.  For the written portion of the English language test, the applicant is normally given a reading and a writing test.  The applicant must be able to read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly and must be able to write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to pass the written English test.

Civics.  Finally, the civics portion of the test, the applicant may be asked up to 10 questions from a list of 100 civics questions.  Answering 6 out of 10 correctly is the passing rate.

Preparing for the Test, Retaking and Passing Rate

There are many websites providing study resources for the naturalization test.   USCIS provides good resources and free study materials for the English and the civics portions of the test.    USCIS also offers a number of free educational products and resources such as vocabulary flash cards, list of the 100 civics questions (in English and in other languages) and civics flash cards.  There are also commercial test preparation books and software, in addition to many websites providing free or paid naturalization test preparation assistance.

Before the naturalization interview, we recommend N-400 applicants to try the Naturalization Self Test (offered for free by USCIS).  While the format of this self-test is different than the format of the actual test (which may be verbal), the self-test helps an N-400 applicant assess his or her level of preparedness for the actual interview and test.

If an applicant does not pass the English and/or civics test, he or she is given another (but only one additional) appointment within 60 to 90 days to be retested on the section which was failed.   If the component is failed again, the N-400 application may be denied.    According to USCIS data, the passing rate as of June 2011 is 92 percent.

Video of the Interview Process

USCIS has also produced a video of the naturalization interview process.   Please see the embedded video window below or watch on YouTube.

Although there are variances in the procedures followed by different USCIS centers, the video is a very good (and helpful, we think) representation of what an applicant should expect to happen during an N-400 naturalization interview.   We recommend that every N-400 applicant watches the video in preparation of (or even before filing) the N-400 interview.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, these resources are very helpful to preparing for the N-400 interview and test but are not intended to replace a thorough N-400 review and preparation by an attorney.   Our office is happy and ready to help N-400 naturalization applicants with their process of applying to become a U.S. citizen.   Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any help.