Foreign nationals currently living in California who want to become American citizens will need to pass a formal citizenship test. The test is comprised of an English section as well as a civics section. If a person fails one or both sections of the exam, a retest will typically take place within 60 to 90 days of receiving the test results. It is important to note that passing the test doesn’t necessarily mean that an individual will be granted citizenship.
For instance, if a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USICS, official has to reason to believe that an applicant is lying, the application might be denied. This may be true even if a person did not intend to make a false or misleading statement. Those who have failed to pay taxes in previous years may be denied the ability to become a citizen until the issue is resolved.
Individuals who do not comply with physical presence or continuous residence requirements might find that their applications are denied. It is also possible that a case is continued while USICS officials obtain additional information about a person. Those who receive requests for more information are encouraged to submit their N-14 forms and requested information as quickly as possible by certified mail. Typically, applicants will have 30 days to respond to such a request.
Generally speaking, there are many steps a person must complete before he or she can become an American citizen. Therefore, it may be beneficial for those who are trying to become citizens to do so with the assistance of an attorney. Legal counsel may be able to help a person learn more about passing the citizenship test or what to do if a USICS agent asks for more information from that individual.
