CITIZENSHIP: NATURLIZATION CIVICS EDUCATIONAL RQMT

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the educational requirements for naturalization to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States (civics) under section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

An applicant who files for naturalization on or after December 1, 2020 and before March 1, 2021 may choose to take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test, so long as his or her initial examination (interview) takes place before April 19, 2021.

If the applicant has already taken the 2020 civics test at the initial exam and failed, he or she may choose to take either the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test at re-examination or N-336 hearing, if applicable

In cases where the initial interview takes place on or after April 19, 2021, the applicant takes the 2008 civics test.

Policy Highlights 

USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to applicants who filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or who will file on or after March 1, 2021. 

USCIS will give applicants the choice to either take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test in cases where applicants filed their naturalization application on or after December 1, 2020 and before March 1, 2021, and where the initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur before April 19, 2021. 

USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to all applicants whose initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur on or after April 19, 2021 (regardless of filing date). 

USCIS will only ask civics test questions until the applicant passes or fails either the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test.