Are certain states more lenient when it comes to taking the civics test?

[Flavia 1]

My mom knows of at least a couple of naturalized (now) citizens whose command of English is very poor. The common denominator is that both of them live in immigrant-heavy cities (NY, I believe).

 

How in the world did they pass the test? Could it be that certain USCIS offices are more lenient than those in, let's say, Alabama? Just curious.

[Going through 5,668]

The English portion of the test isn't that difficult...basically you read one sentence, and then you write one sentence dictated to you---spelling doesn't count, either.  Basic English-speaking skills is what an applicant needs to have at the very least.

 

In terms of the civics test, it's all about memorization for the most part---very rarely does the IO ask for further clarification or explanations outside of receiving the basic answer to the civics questions asked.

 

During the interview, from the moment it starts, the IO is testing the applicant's basic English communication skills---simply by perhaps questioning them on the weather outside, or how they got to the interview that morning.  

 

It's possible some officers may be more lenient than others---the interview is all subjective depending upon the officer you get that day, how stringent they want to be, etc.  I don't believe it would be the norm for them to be lenient depending on what area they are located in, however.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

34 minutes ago, Going through said:

The English portion of the test isn't that difficult...basically you read one sentence, and then you write one sentence dictated to you---spelling doesn't count, either.  Basic English-speaking skills is what an applicant needs to have at the very least.

 

In terms of the civics test, it's all about memorization for the most part---very rarely does the IO ask for further clarification or explanations outside of receiving the basic answer to the civics questions asked.

 

During the interview, from the moment it starts, the IO is testing the applicant's basic English communication skills---simply by perhaps questioning them on the weather outside, or how they got to the interview that morning.  

 

It's possible some officers may be more lenient than others---the interview is all subjective depending upon the officer you get that day, how stringent they want to be, etc.  I don't believe it would be the norm for them to be lenient depending on what area they are located in, however.

The bolded part... For real? Cool! I hate tests and not that I am at the N-400 stage yet. LOL. But I have started working on the civics test just to familiarize myself with the questions

[JFH 12,189]

Also bear in mind that certain residents are not required to take the English test (known as the 50/20 and 55/15 rules). Some can also take the civics test in their native language. 

 

I am already working through the civics flash cards with my husband. We do a few questions each day. 

[Going through 5,668]

29 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

The bolded part... For real? Cool! I hate tests and not that I am at the N-400 stage yet. LOL. But I have started working on the civics test just to familiarize myself with the questions

Yep...read a sentence, write a sentence.  For the civics test, you have to answer at least 6 questions out of a possible 10 questions correctly.

[Going through 5,668]

37 minutes ago, JFH said:

Also bear in mind that certain residents are not required to take the English test (known as the 50/20 and 55/15 rules). Some can also take the civics test in their native language. 

 

I am already working through the civics flash cards with my husband. We do a few questions each day. 

Cool that you are preparing early!  I have my interview next month, and started using an online quiz tool that goes through all 100 questions in random order each time I start it up...so far it's been a good tool for me---hopefully I'll know it like the back of my hand, soon!

[KULtoATL 1,551]

USCIS has an official app for the civics test practice https://my.uscis.gov/prep/test/civics 

[Diane and Chris 651]

3 hours ago, Going through said:

Cool that you are preparing early!  I have my interview next month, and started using an online quiz tool that goes through all 100 questions in random order each time I start it up...so far it's been a good tool for me---hopefully I'll know it like the back of my hand, soon!

Where did you find the online quiz tool?

[Lona.C. 16]

you can also listen to the you tube , 

 

or test your self here http://civicsquestions.com/

and here https://my.uscis.gov/prep/test/civics

[Going through 5,668]

6 hours ago, Diane and Chris said:

Where did you find the online quiz tool?

I found it here on VJ in a sticky post...a member had created their own online tool to study.  A couple of the questions are outdated (like the name of the President, Vice President) since it was developed years ago---but I love how it shuffles the questions each time.  Click on "ask a question" to start it when you open the tool.

 

 

[Andrea&Henry 311]

I got my citizenship last year in South Florida (mostly spanish speaking people) so finding people with poor (english) communication skills is extremely common. 

 

My interview lasted probably more than 90 minutes (no kidding)... the lady who was performing the interview went through the ENTIRE application, and made me questions about my husband's job, our relationship, my job, my husband's previous marriage, my family, about my graduate studies...she truly made me talk, she had a question for every question on that application. The civic test was only 6 questions (of course, once you pass 6 questions you automatically passed the test) and the written portion lasted probably 5 minutes (no kidding).

 

I went to a bilingual school and college so I spoke english way before moving here so I felt good during the process, but I do see it can be a challenge for someone who is not fully bilingual. I do know also, that people over 55 years old...english is not a requirement.

[Sunnyland 639]

4 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

I got my citizenship last year in South Florida (mostly spanish speaking people) so finding people with poor (english) communication skills is extremely common. 

 

My interview lasted probably more than 90 minutes (no kidding)... the lady who was performing the interview went through the ENTIRE application, and made me questions about my husband's job, our relationship, my job, my husband's previous marriage, my family, about my graduate studies...she truly made me talk, she had a question for every question on that application. The civic test was only 6 questions (of course, once you pass 6 questions you automatically passed the test) and the written portion lasted probably 5 minutes (no kidding).

 

I went to a bilingual school and college so I spoke english way before moving here so I felt good during the process, but I do see it can be a challenge for someone who is not fully bilingual. I do know also, that people over 55 years old...english is not a requirement.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience with the rest of VJrs. I applied for citizenship in last March and probably won't have the interview until end of the year. Interviews / tests always make me nervous but I'm already studying the questions to me prepared when the day comes. 

[Andrea&Henry 311]

26 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

 

Thank you for sharing your experience with the rest of VJrs. I applied for citizenship in last March and probably won't have the interview until end of the year. Interviews / tests always make me nervous but I'm already studying the questions to me prepared when the day comes. 

Hi!!! your welcome!

 

Florida process is not that long. You are probably applying through the USCIS located in Oakland Park. I applied through Hialeah and it took me 3 months from the moment I sent the application to the day I had my ceremony. I met another person from the Oakland Park office and it took him pretty much the same amount of time. Well, maybe because last year was election year....but I would definitely check the processing time for your local office. If the processing time is shorter than the time you have been waiting, you can call and let them know to check your case.

 

The interview itself was great because it was more like a conversation (not even a job interview), the lady was extremely nice and she didn't make me feel like she was trying to find anything suspicious within my application...I think she did on purpose to test my english skills. At some point, I forgot why I was there. She asked me to see pictures of my son like a friend would do, I showed her pictures even of our dog hahahahahahahaha!!! she was super nice. The test was super quick!! like super quick (3-4 minutes) and then she made me read a sentence (something like Lincoln was a president of the United States) and the wrote it down (2 more minutes). Then she proceed to tell me I was approved and that I will received an invitation for my ceremony.

 

My immigration process was base on marriage so of course she had a lot of question about me and my husband...so once I was done she told me I could leave and that's what I did...I  didn't realized that she followed me outside her office to the waiting room where my husband was waiting for me (they let you bring company but they cannot come in with you) and I was literally crying and I ran to his arm and kissed him...sure enough she followed me to see me with my husband and then I heard "omgggg you are the cutest couple ever! good to find genuine marriages"...she even approached to us to meet my husband and told him I did amazingly well!. Then we shook hands and left.

 

That was on thursday....on friday I got a text saying my oath ceremony has been scheduled (I set my USCIS account to sent me text notifications) but it didn't say when. On monday I got the letter saying it was scheduled for that same week on friday. I can't tell you how amazing it was and how quick and well organized it was. The whole preparation to get in was like 45 minutes, but the ceremony itself lasted like 20-30 minutes. We cried, laugh, cried more...that day around 200-300 people were there with me. It was extremely emotional  no doubt one of the best days of my life!! They allowed up to 4 companions so I took my husband and my mom. I was happy and relief that 5 years of immigration process from my k1 visa, was finally over!! 

Edited August 28, 2017 by Andrea&Henry

[ME ♥ Æ 50]

21 hours ago, Flavia said:

My mom knows of at least a couple of naturalized (now) citizens whose command of English is very poor. The common denominator is that both of them live in immigrant-heavy cities (NY, I believe).

 

How in the world did they pass the test? Could it be that certain USCIS offices are more lenient than those in, let's say, Alabama? Just curious.

Yea it really depends on the officer...

I remember when I took the civics test... the officer only asked me one question... " who is the current president of the united states"

and that was it... I was in there for like 3 or 4 minutes.

...to think all the hours I wasted listening to the civics questions CD !!

[Sunnyland 639]

44 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

Hi!!! your welcome!

 

Florida process is not that long. You are probably applying through the USCIS located in Oakland Park. I applied through Hialeah and it took me 3 months from the moment I sent the application to the day I had my ceremony. I met another person from the Oakland Park office and it took him pretty much the same amount of time. Well, maybe because last year was election year....but I would definitely check the processing time for your local office. If the processing time is shorter than the time you have been waiting, you can call and let them know to check your case.

 

The interview itself was great because it was more like a conversation (not even a job interview), the lady was extremely nice and she didn't make me feel like she was trying to find anything suspicious within my application...I think she did on purpose to test my english skills. At some point, I forgot why I was there. She asked me to see pictures of my son like a friend would do, I showed her pictures even of our dog hahahahahahahaha!!! she was super nice. The test was super quick!! like super quick (3-4 minutes) and then she made me read a sentence (something like Lincoln was a president of the United States) and the wrote it down (2 more minutes). Then she proceed to tell me I was approved and that I will received an invitation for my ceremony.

 

My immigration process was base on marriage so of course she had a lot of question about me and my husband...so once I was done she told me I could leave and that's what I did...I  didn't realized that she followed me outside her office to the waiting room where my husband was waiting for me (they let you bring company but they cannot come in with you) and I was literally crying and I ran to his arm and kissed him...sure enough she followed me to see me with my husband and then I heard "omgggg you are the cutest couple ever! good to find genuine marriages"...she even approached to us to meet my husband and told him I did amazingly well!. Then we shook hands and left.

 

That was on thursday....on friday I got a text saying my oath ceremony has been scheduled (I set my USCIS account to sent me text notifications) but it didn't say when. On monday I got the letter saying it was scheduled for that same week on friday. I can't tell you how amazing it was and how quick and well organized it was. The whole preparation to get in was like 45 minutes, but the ceremony itself lasted like 20-30 minutes. We cried, laugh, cried more...that day around 200-300 people were there with me. It was extremely emotional  no doubt one of the best days of my life!! They allowed up to 4 companions so I took my husband and my mom. I was happy and relief that 5 years of immigration process from my k1 visa, was finally over!! 

 

Just checked my local uscis office and it seems they are processing cases as of date July 24, 2016! Anyways I doubt they even touched my case in Texas.I will be for a long wait again. Hope to hear some news soon.  When I check my case status on uscis site all I get is that my case is in line for an interview since April 17.  

 

 

13 minutes ago, ME & Æ said:

Yea it really depends on the officer...

I remember when I took the civics test... the officer only asked me one question... " who is the current president of the united states"

and that was it... I was in there for like 3 or 4 minutes.

...to think all the hours I wasted listening to the civics questions CD !!

 

Just that one question?! I guess they were in a rush huh. Lol  Good for you that everything was painless.