Immigration School Questions
To obtain U.S. citizenship, immigrants to the the United States must pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization test. As the naturalization test usually includes both written and spoken questions in English, applicants for citizenship may wish to study the relevant questions in advance. Students can prepare for the naturalization test and interview questions by attending classes for immigrants through nonprofit organizations, public libraries and local colleges.
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Purpose
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Immigration schools offer many classes with the goal of preparing U.S. immigrants to take the USCIS naturalization test. Some immigration schools limit their availability to students with legal permanent resident status who have applied for U.S. citizenship or who plan to apply in the near future. Most applicants for citizenship must answer enough questions correctly in English to pass the USCIS interview. Some applicants may qualify to take a simplified test in their native languages if, for example, they are over 55 years old and have lived in the United States as permanent residents for at least 15 years. Immigration schools allow students to prepare for questions that may arise on the USCIS naturalization test and interview.
Subjects
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Immigration schools prepare their students for topics specified by USCIS. On the civics portion of the USCIS naturalization exam, students may receive questions on American government, civics, the geography of the United States and American history. USCIS publishes a list of 100 questions and facts that may appear on the civics portion of the naturalization interview. To pass the civics portion, immigrants receive 10 questions, of which they must answer six correctly. To prepare students for the civics test questions, some schools for immigrants offer civics-only classes, while others may combine English language classes with exercises designed to teach civics.
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Oral Practice
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Immigration schools also prepare students for the speaking skills portion of the naturalization interview. During the interview, a USCIS immigration officer assesses the immigrant's ability to speak and understand English by asking questions and allowing the immigrant to answer. Classes can help citizenship applicants improve their question-and-answer abilities and learn interviewing strategies.
Reading and Writing Practice
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In addition to the spoken components of the naturalization interview, immigrants must also adequately demonstrate their abilities to read and write in English. Applicants for citizenship receive three opportunities to read a sentence aloud, of which they must complete one sentence to pass the interview. Similarly, immigrants must first listen as a USCIS officer dictates three sentences, and then the applicant must successfully write one of the sentences. Immigration schools assist their students with preparation for the reading and writing components by providing practice questions, quizzes, vocabulary tests and other resources. Individuals who familiarize themselves with all parts of the U.S. naturalization interview tend to feel more confident about their abilities.
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References
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Scoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Pathway to U.S. Citizenship
- City University of New York: Learn English and Civics
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Study for the Test
- Baltimore City Community College: Citizenship Preparation
- Baltimore City Community College: General ESL Practice
Resources
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