Immigration Laws

Hundreds of thousands of people take the Naturalization Test to become a U.S. citizen each year. Some people are not aware that there are some exemptions and some accommodations for people. For example, if you have lived in the U.S. for 20 years or more years, and you are 50 years of age or older, you can receive an exemption from the English language test. The same is true if you are 55 years of age and have lived in the U.S. for 15 years, or more.
However, many people do not qualify for these exceptions so it is necessary to go through the tests.

The following information pertains to people who must take the naturalization eligibility interview and the Naturalization Test. In order to take the U.S. Citizenship Test you must first pay $95, have lived in the U.S. for a minimum of five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen), be of good moral character (no felony convictions), be of sound mind, and speak and understand English.

The key to taking this test is to be prepared. You need to study. If you have little knowledge about the U.S. and the government you most likely will not be able to study and pass this test in one week. Allow yourself plenty of time to study. If it takes months, or even a year or more, that is better than to take the test when you are not prepared. If you can find a friend or a relative who also plans to take the test it is great to have a study partner. You should both study together using the English language. Study, and study some more, study until you feel confident. Once you feel you are prepared to take the test make the necessary arrangements. During the remaining time, continue to study.

Anyone preparing to take the test should take every chance they have to study. There are a total of 100 questions dealing with U.S. history and government. The test generally lasts about 30 minutes to one hour. Some sample questions include:

What is Congress?
How many branches are there in our government?
What is the Constitution?
What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
How can the Constitution be changed?

There is a wealth of information, to prepare for this test, online. If you do not have access to a computer there are books in the library. You can also order books, flash cards, and all kinds of materials to help you prepare for this important test. If you fail the test you can take it again, or as many times as is necessary in order to pass. You need to remember though that only about 10 per cent of the people fail the test.