Becoming a citizen is a multi-stage process. It begins with a petition filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If the petition is complete and the immigrant passes the necessary background check, they might then need to attend an interview conducted by the USCIS.
During that interview, the immigrant must pass two tests. Unless they qualify for an exemption, immigrants must prove that they are proficient in the English language. They also need to pass a Civics test, which is conducted orally in English. What happens if an immigrant doesn’t pass the tests?
The USCIS allows a single retake
Nervousness, difficulty sleeping the night before or even cold symptoms could affect someone’s performance during the naturalization tests. Thankfully, they have the option to retake the test once.
Immigrants who fail the naturalization tests can request a retake shortly after the first test. If they pass, they can then move forward with the naturalization process, including the oath-taking. If they fail again and still want to pursue citizenship, they have to reapply. They have to pay the fee again, and they still have to pass the tests. Immigrants can apply for naturalization as many times as they need to pass the tests. There are no penalties for failing the test that might affect an immigrant’s status. They can retain their visa or green card, and the test results don’t affect their ability to renew either.
Knowing what to expect during naturalization testing can help immigrants better prepare. Those who don’t pass the test can retake it and may eventually be able to become citizens.