There are many benefits to being a citizen of the United States of America. Citizens have more rights and options than either visa holders or permanent residents.
The United States has extensive travel treaties, making it possible for you to visit many other countries for business or work if you have a United States passport. Citizenship is necessary for you to vote in elections or run for certain offices. Becoming a citizen also expands your options for family immigration. Your parents, siblings and married or older children will benefit from you deciding to become a citizen rather than nearly obtaining a green card.
The process of becoming a citizen when you are a permanent resident requires a naturalization interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). There will also be tests in both Civics and English. How do you prepare for that interview and those tests?
Use review materials to get ready
The USCIS actually provides both a comprehensive list of the potential Civics questions that they will ask and vocabulary words that may come up during the English language test. Using those study guides will put you in the best possible position to pass the test on your first attempt.
Both tests will be mostly oral. The Civics test focuses on United States history and government, and the interviewer will ask you questions that you must answer out loud. The English language test involves speaking and listening, as well as reading and writing. Older adults who have been in the country for 15 years or more may sometimes qualify for an exemption for those testing requirements.
What about the interview?
The tests aren’t the only part of the interview process. You will also have to answer questions about your application, your time in the country and your motivation for wanting to become a United States citizen.
The more you prepare for the interview and those tests, the greater your chances of success during your first attempt. The USCIS does allow one makeup exam, although it is easier and less stressful to simply pass the first time you take the test.
Connecting with the right support and properly preparing can help you successfully complete the naturalization process and become a citizen.