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what happens if you fail the citizenship interview

by Bertha Schamberger Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What happens if I don't pass the citizenship interview?

  • Ineligibility to naturalize. The most common reason that USCIS denies citizenship applications is because the applicant is not actually eligible to naturalize.
  • Missing documents that USCIS needs. ...
  • Failing the English or civics test during your interview. ...
  • Next steps. ...

If you fail either of the tests during the interview, another interview will be scheduled within 60 to 90 days of the first interview and you can take the tests again. If you fail either test a second time, your request for naturalization will be denied.

Full Answer

What happens if you fail the citizenship test?

The final stage of the naturalization process involves going to a citizenship interview where you must pass an English and a civics test. If you fail either test the first time, USCIS will give you another opportunity to take the test, in an appointment several weeks after the interview that you failed.

What happens if I fail the English or civics test?

If you have failed the English or Civics Tests, you will be tested again on the portion of the test that you have failed. If you fail at your second attempt, your citizenship application will be denied. So you need to be well prepared!

What happens after my citizenship interview?

After your citizenship interview, United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) will either grant or deny your application for citizenship. Sometimes USCIS will make a decision on the same day that you have your interview.

Why is my citizenship application not approved the first time?

There are a number of reasons that the USCIS might not approve your citizenship application the first time. You might have failed the English portion of the U.S. citizenship test (the speaking/comprehension test, the writing test, or the reading test) or, you might have failed the Civics portion of the test.

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How many times can you fail citizenship test?

An applicant has two opportunities to pass the English and civics tests: the initial examination and the re-examination interview. USCIS denies the naturalization application if the applicant fails to pass any portion of the tests after two attempts.

Do people fail the citizenship interview?

What Happens if Applicants Fail the U.S. Citizenship Test? A citizenship test failure may occur during either the English or civics portion. If an individual fails either part of the test, he or she will need to retake failed portions no later than 60 to 90 days after the date of the initial exam and interview.

Why do people fail citizenship interviews?

Most often the USCIS denies applicants under this ground for a variety of reasons like failing to pay taxes or criminal convictions. An applicant may also receive a denial under this ground for fraud.

What happens if you fail your USCIS interview?

If you fail any of the tests at your initial interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview.

What disqualifies you from becoming a U.S. citizen?

USCIS's definition of aggravated felony includes many crimes that you would expect; such as rape, sexual abuse of a minor, drug trafficking, firearm trafficking, racketeering, running a prostitution business, child pornography, and fraud of $10,000 or more.

Can USCIS ask for a second interview?

And like I said, if you do get scheduled for a second interview, you're most likely going to want to bring a lawyer with you. I would not go into a second interview at USCIS without a lawyer. If you have questions about this or concerns, give us a call at 314-961-8200 or email us at [email protected].

How do I pass the U.S. citizenship test and interview?

During the naturalization interview, a USCIS Officer will ask you up to 10 civics questions from the list of 100. You must correctly answer six (6) questions to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test. You will need to say the answers aloud. In the official test, the questions are not multiple choice.

How long is a citizenship interview?

about 20 minutesA typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

Is it hard to pass citizenship test?

The process is notoriously arduous and taxing, but the most nerve-wracking part for many is taking the U.S. citizenship test. It's so difficult, in fact, that according to NBCNews, only 36% of American citizens could pass the test.

Has anyone ever failed the citizenship test?

If you fail your test the first time, you will be given only one more chance. The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) officer must give you a notice of results (form N-652) at the end of the interview that will tell you if you passed or failed, or if for some reason your case is continued.

Can you're apply for citizenship after being denied?

In most cases, you can re-apply for citizenship once you meet the eligibility requirements. If you fail your U.S. citizenship you get a second chance to take the test. If you fail the test a second time your application will be denied. In this situation, you can re-apply as soon as possible.

Why do USCIS call for second interview?

The second interview means your immigration application is on shaky ground. It could represent a situation where: The immigration officer has reason to believe you're committing marriage fraud. The immigration officer has reason to believe you're ineligible for a green card.

Is the citizenship test hard?

The process is notoriously arduous and taxing, but the most nerve-wracking part for many is taking the U.S. citizenship test. It's so difficult, in fact, that according to NBCNews, only 36% of American citizens could pass the test.

How long does the citizenship interview last?

about 20 minutesA typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

Do you have to pay again if you fail the citizenship test?

If you take the test a second time and still do not pass, you can ask the USCIS for a hearing. To do this, you must file Form N-336 and include a fee or a fee waiver. At the hearing you can provide a statement if you believe the USCIS wrongfully denied your application or wrongfully failed you after your test.

How do I know if I passed my citizenship test?

We will give you the results of your test right after you take it. If you pass and meet the others requirements for citizenship, we may give you a citizenship ceremony date at the same time we give you the results. If we do not, we will mail you a letter with the date and time of your ceremony.

What happens if you fail to follow instructions on USCIS?

If you fail to follow the instructions, USCIS could deny your application.

Why can't the police officer make a decision on my citizenship?

The officer might not be able to make a decision because you have failed to provide additional information relevant to your citizenship application (maybe, for example you forgot to include a relevant document in your first application).

What happens if you fail the first time?

If you fail your test the first time, you will be given only one more chance. The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) officer must give you a notice of results (form N-652) at the end of the interview that will tell you if you passed or failed, or if for some reason your case is continued. There are a number of reasons that the USCIS ...

How long does it take to get a denial notice from USCIS?

If the officer denies your application, he/she must give you (or your lawyer, or representative) a written denial notice within 120 days of the initial U.S. citizenship test.

How long does it take to get retested for citizenship?

You will be retested only on the portion of the test that you have failed and your retest will take place within a maximum of 60 to 90 days ...

What to do if you have been arrested?

If you have ever been arrested, you should seek the advice of an immigration lawyer before filling out an N-400 form and applying for citizenship. Another example that could disqualify for citizenship is the continuous residence and/or physical presence requirement.

Can you be denied citizenship for lying?

You could also be denied citizenship permanently for lying or making false statements, even if the errors are non-intentional, so it very important that all of your answers are truthful and accurate. You will also be denied if USCIS finds out that you have lied in the past in order to get immigration benefits.

Failure to Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements for Naturalized U.S. Citizenship

The most common basis upon which USCIS denies a citizenship application is because the person was not actually eligible to naturalize. The basic eligibility requirements are that you:

Failure to Property Prepare Your Naturalization Application

An application for citizenship normally includes USCIS Form N-400, two passport photographs (if you live overseas), a copy of your green card (front and back), a copy of your marriage certificate to your U.S.

Failure to Pass the English or Civics Exam During Your Naturalization Interview

If you fail either the English or civics test at your first interview, USCIS will not deny your citizenship outright. Instead, it will schedule you to return on another day (within the next 90 days) and give you another opportunity to pass the test (s).

Next Steps

If you are denied U.S. citizenship, you are allowed to either appeal or submit a fresh new Form N-400 application. (This assumes you aren’t put into removal proceedings based on an issue with the validity of your permanent residence, in which case that’s your first priority, and you should see an attorney right away.)

Why is USCIS denied citizenship?

Ineligibility to naturalize. The most common reason that USCIS denies citizenship applications is because the applicant is not actually eligible to naturalize. The basic eligibility requirements are: Be 18 years of age or older.

What is the final stage of naturalization?

The final stage of the naturalization process involves going to a citizenship interview where you must pass an English and a civics test.

What happens if you don't send supporting documents?

If you do not, USCIS could deny your application on the basis of missing required documents .

How long do you have to live in the US to get naturalization?

Have continuous residence in the United States for at least five years before applying for naturalization. Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years of continuous residence. Be a person of good moral character.

Can USCIS deny your application?

The naturalization laws provide very specific rules about how to meet each requirement, and USCIS could deny your application if those rules are not satisfied . For instance, USCIS may deny your application on good moral character grounds if you have a criminal record.

How long does it take to get retested for citizenship?

If you fail any of the tests at your initial interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview. See 8 CFR 312.5 (a) and 335.3 (b).

How many questions are asked on the 2008 USCIS test?

The 2008 version of the civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the 2008 version of the civics test.

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Do you have to read aloud to get a naturalization test?

You must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. The Reading Test Vocabulary List will help you study for the English reading portion of the naturalization test. The content focuses on civics and history topics. Writing.

Is the 2020 Civics test still available?

USCIS will no longer offer the 2020 civics test at the initial interview, but will continue to provide study materials for the 2020 test for those applicants who are eligible to choose between the 2008 or 2020 civics test at their re-exam or N-336 hearing. For more information about the 2020 civics test, visit The 2020 Version ...

What to do if you are rejected at an interview?

If you were rejected at your interview, then you will need to start the application process is again. I would advise taking extra time to study for the civic exam to ensure that you can answer the questions correctly at the next interview.

How many correct answers do you need for the civic test?

For the civic test, you need 6 correct answers out of 10 questions. You can miss 2 of the first 6 as long as you can give 2 more correct answers in the remaining 4 questions. Unfortunately, if you did not pass the civic, then you'd have to start over the application with the filing fee.

Does USCIS refund filing fees?

Unfortunately, USCIS does not refund filing fees after it has processed the...

Can I reapply for citizenship if I failed the civics test?

Posted on Jun 20, 2017. You must pass the civics exam unless you are over 65 years old (in some cases you will be exempt from it). And there are no refunds for failing the civics test. You will be allowed to reapply for citizenship, and I would advise you to study the exam comprehensively before your next interview.

What happens if you don't answer the interview questions on your citizenship application?

If your answers at the time of the interview are not consistent with your answers on the citizenship application, you will be denied.

How long after you fail the civics exam can you reapply for citizenship?

Typically, if you fail the English or Civics component of your interview you may go back and re-do the examination after 60 days have passed from the date of your interview. If you fail the examination the second time around, chances are that your naturalization application will be denied altogether, and you will need to re-apply for naturalization.

What is the exception to the English and Civics exam?

English and Civics Exam Exemption. If you have a physical or developmental disability, or mental impairment you may seek an exception to the English and civics examination based on medical disability by filing Form N-648 to be completed by a licensed medical, osteopathic doctor, or licensed clinics psychologist.

What is the citizenship test?

The Civics test is an oral examination provided in the format of Question and Answer by an immigration officer in which the officer tests your knowledge of United States history and government. ...

What are the criminal offenses that prevent you from becoming a citizen?

Certain criminal offenses in the U.S. and outside of the U.S. can preclude you from receiving citizenship such as murder, drug trafficking. If you have been convicted of serious crimes especially those of moral turpitude you should consider speaking to a criminal attorney who understands the consequences of criminal offenses that will bar you from obtaining citizenship. There are certain offenses such as DUIs and minor drug offenses that can temporarily bar you from obtaining your citizenship. For example, if these offenses occurred within the 5 years prior to filing your citizenship application, you will not be able to obtain citizenship for a certain number of years depending on the offense.

How many sentences do you have to read to pass USCIS?

As part of the examination, the USCIS officer will ask you to read a sentence aloud. Applicants must read one out of three sentences correctly. In addition, applicants must pass a writing test, and write one out of three sentences correctly, free of grammatical mistakes.

What happens if you lie to USCIS?

If USCIS believes that you have lied to them on the citizenship application or at the time of the interview, the immigration officer may exercise their discretion and deny your citizenship application. Always be consistent in your application forms and be truthful in your answers to the USCIS officer. If your answers at the time of the interview ...

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Failure to Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements For Naturalized U.S. Citizenship

  • The most common basis upon which USCIS denies a citizenship application is because the person was not actually eligible to naturalize. The basic eligibility requirements are that you: 1. be 18 years of age or older 2. have held lawful permanent residence (a green card) for at least five years before applying for naturalization; or three years if you’ve been married to and residing wit…
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Failure to Property Prepare Your Naturalization Application

  • An application for citizenship normally includes USCIS Form N-400, two passport photographs (if you live overseas), a copy of your green card (front and back), a copy of your marriage certificate to your U.S. citizen spouse (if you are claiming an exception on this basis), the appropriate fee, and various other forms of evidence, depending on your immigration situation and other factors …
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Failure to Pass The English Or Civics Exam During Your Naturalization Interview

  • If you fail either the English or civics test at your first interview, USCIS will not deny your citizenship outright. Instead, it will schedule you to return on another day (within the next 90 days) and give you another opportunity to pass the test(s). If you do not pass at that time, you cannot become a naturalized U.S. citizen at this time, and U...
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Next Steps

  • If you are denied U.S. citizenship, you are allowed to either appeal or submit a fresh new Form N-400 application. (This assumes you aren’t put into removal proceedings based on an issue with the validity of your permanent residence, in which case that’s your first priority, and you should see an attorney right away.) However, neither an appeal nor a new N-400 application will do you muc…
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