If, after having filed your N-400 Application for Naturalization, you go to your in-person U.S. citizenship interview and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer tells you that you failed the English test, the civics test, or both, you will not be approved that day. Don’t give up your dream of U.S. citizenship yet, however—you will have a chance try to pass the tests again.
If You Fail the U.S. Citizenship Tests the First Time
Assuming the USCIS officer didn’t find some other basis upon which to deny your application for naturalized U.S. citizenship (such as a crime on your record or your having spent too much time living overseas to be eligible), they won't deny your application right away. Instead, you will be given a second, later chance to pass the English and/or civics tests.
USCIS will send you a notice scheduling you for a second interview, within 60 to 90 days after your first interview. That gives you a couple of months in which to study and practice. Perhaps now is the time to sign up for classes at an adult school, or further explore the online resources on USCIS's website.
The idea is that, at the second interview, the officer will again give you whichever test or tests you earlier failed. (You won’t have to retake any test you already passed.)
If you feel like you need more than 60 to 90 days to prepare for this interview, you can request a postponement after finding out when it’s going to be. You must make your request to USCIS promptly, and it must be reasonable. If you request a postponement to a date that is more than 90 days after your first interview, be prepared for USCIS to ask you to sign a waiver of your right to get a decision on U.S. citizenship within 120 days of your initial interview. (Instead, you’ll get your decision within 120 days of the second interview.)
Send your postponement request by mail to the USCIS office that interviewed you. The address will be on the interview notice.
Another option for postponing the naturalization test(s) is simply not showing up for the second interview and reapplying for citizenship when you’re ready. Of course, that means starting over with submitting Form N-400 and paying the processing fee again. As a courtesy, do let USCIS know you’re not going to show up for the interview.
If you want a second chance to pass the test(s) but you don’t show up to the interview without telling USCIS ahead of time, your citizenship request will be denied. An exception might be made if you have a good excuse for missing the interview, such as a medical issue or family emergency.
Denial in this situation simply means you go back to being a U.S. lawful permanent resident, as before. Be sure to renew your green card regularly (using Form I-90), particularly if you let that task slide while applying to naturalize. It expires every 10 years.
If You Fail the U.S. Citizenship Tests the Second Time
If your U.S. citizenship gets denied because you couldn’t pass the English and/or civics tests on your second attempt, you can ask USCIS for a hearing on the denial by filing USCIS Form N-336, with fee or fee waiver. At this third hearing, you will get a third chance to pass the test(s).
If you fail again, your citizenship application will be denied and you will have to reapply after studying and preparing some more.
You should also request a hearing on the denial if you feel that you passed the tests and the USCIS officer wrongly failed you. A different officer will give the tests at the hearing, so you have a final chance to pass them. (Study hard!)
Do You Need to Hire a Lawyer?
For any problem with your citizenship application that can't be cured by studying harder for the exams, you might want to consult an attorney. See Is It Worth the Cost of Hiring a Lawyer to Help Me Apply for U.S. Citizenship?.