A Citizenship Test Experience

Dateline: 05/22/98

The following article describes the actual experiences of persons taking the citizenship interview conducted by the INS as a vital part of the long and arduous process of becoming a citizen of the United States.

Recently, I received a letter from a reader who, after over a year since filing her application, would be taking her INS US Citizenship interview this May in Atlanta. She had tried our 100 Sample INS Question Test and asked what she could expect in the interview, and what other resources she might use in preparation.

"My impression is that the interview may be tailored to how much the examiner thinks the candidate for citizenship knows. In the case of those who speak good English and seem fairly well 'acculturared,' I've heard that the questions are brief, only a few pretty obvious ones. However, if the examiner has reason to believe that the candidate does not actually know what is required, then more time is spent on questioning."

Well, after practicing the sample questions and reading the study material, our candidate for citizenship finally took the exam on May 14, 1998. She was kind enough to write and share the questions asked and her impression of the interview:

"Dear Robert: On May 14th I finally had my citizenship interview. It was extremely easy as to the five questions I was asked by the Immigration Officer:

1. What is the supreme law of the United States?

2. Who was President of the United States during the Civil War?

3. Who will be President if both the President and Vice President are incapacitated?

4. When is Independence Day?

5. What was the year of Independence from Great Britain?

They were all easy questions that did not require any in-depth knowledge beyond the 100 sample questions.

The entire interview lasted about 10 minutes. I think it was very superficial due to the fact that I speak English rather well.

So, I can only recommend to everybody to practice the 100 question catalog and do the online self-test. That should suffice."

I would like to thank and congratulate this reader and all others who have chosen to go through the process of becoming American Citizens. It takes a very special level of effort and concern to see it through. Welcome to America!