Naturalization/Citizenship Interview
During your naturalization interview, a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer will ask you questions about your application and background. Unless you qualify for an exemption, you will also take a naturalization test which is made up of two components, an English and civics test.
• During the English test, you must demonstrate an understanding of the English language including the ability to read, write, and speak basic English.
• During the civics test, you will answer important questions about American government and history.
Before your naturalization interview, study for the English and civics test by using USCIS’s free resources to help you prepare—including the video located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDb9_CqPUTQ&feature=youtu.be
Civics Test Overview
For the English portion of the naturalization test you must demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including the ability to read, write, and speak basic English.
• Your ability to speak and understand English will be determined by a USCIS officer during your eligibility interview on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
• For the reading test, you must read out loud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English.
• For the writing test, you must write one out of the three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English.
2008 Version
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.
• Applicants for naturalization with a filing date (also known as a receipt date) before Dec. 1, 2020, will take the 2008 version of the civics test.
2020 Version
The 2020 version of the civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS officer will ask you 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the 20220 version of the civics test.
• Applicants for naturalization with a filing date (also known as a receipt date) on or after Dec. 1, 2020 are required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. Find more information about the 2020 civics test and study materials to help you prepare.
65/20 Special Consideration
If you are 65 years old or older and have been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 questions that have been marked with an asterisk (*) found at the end of each question. You may also take the naturalization test in the language of your choice.
Note that on the naturalization test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. You must answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview.
If You Don’t Pass
You will be given two attempts to take the English and civics tests and to answer all questions relating to your naturalization application in English. 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).
In Texas, as in all states, the naturalization/citizenship interview process is governed by federal law and administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During the interview, applicants must answer questions about their application and background. They must also pass an English test, demonstrating the ability to read, write, and speak basic English, and a civics test, answering questions about American government and history. The English test is assessed during the interview, and for the civics test, applicants must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly from a list of 100 questions if they filed before December 1, 2020 (2008 version), or 12 out of 20 questions correctly from a list of 128 questions if they filed on or after December 1, 2020 (2020 version). Applicants 65 years or older who have been permanent residents for 20+ years have special considerations and may take the test in their language of choice. If an applicant fails any part of the test, they are allowed one retest between 60 and 90 days from the initial interview. It is important for applicants to study current officials as answers may change due to elections or appointments. USCIS provides free resources to help applicants prepare for these tests.
