Hi guys, hope you can clear something up for me, my mom's 10 yr green card will expire next July, she wants to get the Citizenship done, she has been a resident since 1997, my older brother sponsored her, right now she is 74 yrs old and does not speak or understand english, I have been trying to explain to her that according to the guidelines, she has to have been a resident for 20 yrs in order to not having to meet the language requirement, I know she is ok age wise, but not with the language, am I wrong? The problem I have is that some relatives keep telling that what I'm saying is not true and now she is thinking that my brother and I just do not want to get it done for her.

I hope the question makes sense, and thanks for your help!

Mel37

She would need to have been a LPR for at least 15 yhears to get any exeptions.....


Language
Applicants for naturalization must be able to read, write, speak, and understand words in ordinary usage in the English language. Applicants exempt from this requirement are those who on the date of filing:

have been residing in the United States subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for periods totaling 15 years or more and are over 55 years of age;
have been residing in the United States subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for periods totaling 20 years or more and are over 50 years of age; or
have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, where the impairment affects the applicant’s ability to learn English.

See Also INA 312

United States Government and History Knowledge
An applicant for naturalization must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and of the principles and form of government of the United States. Applicants exempt from this requirement are those who, on the date of filing, have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, where the impairment affects the applicant’s ability to learn U.S. History and Government
Applicants who have been residing in the U.S. subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for at least 20 years and are over the age of 65 will be afforded special consideration in satisfying this requirement.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD


Kez

Mel,

Kezzie's post is correct. I also have an aunt from Colombia who is 75 years-old and has been an LPR since 1999. After asking around we found out that she can't take her citizenship test until 2014 since she doesn't speak English.

Diana

Thank you very much to both of you, I just wanted to confirm this, since like I said, relatives keep putting things in her head every single time she visits them, again thank you.


Hi Diana, my wife is from Bucaramanga, I'm originally from Guatemala but have been living here for over 20 yrs, how about you and your husband??