There are two tests that most applicants for naturalized U.S. citizenship have to take when they attend their U.S. citizenship interview at an office of U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services (USCIS):
- the English language test, and
- the civics (U.S. history and government) test.
The combination can require a great deal of advance preparation and study, which does not come easily to many people, particularly if they are attempting to learn English as adults. Some older people, however, don’t have to take the English language test at all, and can take an easier version of the civics test. This article will explain who qualifies for these exam exemptions.
Naturalization Applicants Who Don’t Need to Take the English Test
USCIS excuses certain older people from taking the English language test, but only if they have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States (a green card holder) for a certain amount of time. USCIS recognizes that it’s harder to learn a new language as you get older, and that people who have been in the United States a long time without knowing English have probably found a way to get along just fine by relying on friends and relatives.
So, there are two requirements: age and length of residency.
Let’s start with age. There is no age-based exception for anyone under age 50. But if you are age 50 or older at the time you file your N-400 Application for Naturalization, you’re exempt from the English language requirement if you have lived in the United States for periods totaling at least 20 years after a lawful admission for permanent residence.
It gets easier if you’re 55 or older. Then you would need to have been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for just 15 years to claim an exception.
You can also look at the age-based exception starting with the number of years you have been living in the United States as an LPR. There is no age-based exception for anyone who has been an LPR for less than 15 years. But if you’ve been living in the United States as an LPR at least that long, you’re exempt from the English language requirement if you are at least 55 years old.
It’s easier if you have been living in the United States as an LPR for at least 20 years. Then you need to be only 50 or older.
Naturalization Applicants Who Can Take an Easier Civics Test
No one is excused completely from taking the civics test just because they are a certain age or have been living in the United States for a long time. However, USCIS recognizes that as people age, it becomes harder to learn and remember things, and that people who have been U.S. permanent residents for many years probably have a pretty good understanding of U.S. society and how to function within it. So if, at the time of filing the N-400, you are 65 years of age or older and have been living in the United States for periods totaling at least 20 years after a lawful admission for permanent residence, you qualify for an easier civics test.
First, because anyone who qualifies for the easier civics test will also qualify for an exemption from the English language test, you can request that USCIS allow you to take the civics test in whatever language you choose, using an interpreter.
More importantly, the test is easier. That’s because instead of having to study the entire list of possible exam questions, you only have to study for 20 questions. You'll find them on the main list by looking for the asterisks ("*"). However, you still have to correctly answer 6 out of the 10 questions the USCIS examiner chooses for you.
If You Don’t Qualify for an Exemption From the Naturalization Exam Requirements
If you don’t qualify for an age-based exception to the citizenship tests, your age still might make it easier for you to become a citizen. Although old age itself doesn’t qualify you for a medical disability exception to the interview tests, it might play a role in some sort of disability or impairment that qualifies you for an exception. (See Disability-Based Exceptions to Citizenship Interview Exam Requirements.)
If you must take the usual civics test, the USCIS officer will take your age into consideration when choosing questions, phrasing questions to you, and evaluating your responses.
Do You Need to Hire a Lawyer?
If you still have questions about applying for citizenship, or would like a lawyer to consult with you about your eligibility, prepare the paperwork, or accompany you to the interview, consider hiring an attorney. You might also want to check out Is It Worth the Cost of Hiring a Lawyer to Help Me Apply for U.S. Citizenship?.