Pathway to U.S. Citizenship

Be at least 18 years old at the time 

 of filing the 

Be a lawfully admitted permanent 

 resident of the United States

At the time of filing the 

 application, have been a 

 permanent resident in the 

 United States for at least 

 5 years (or for at least

 3 years if you meet all 

 eligibility requirements 

 to file as a spouse of a 

 United States citizen)

 Have demonstrated 

 continuous permanent 

residence

 Have demonstrated 

physical presence

Have lived within the State or 

USCIS District for at least 

3 months prior to filing

Have demonstrated 

good moral character

Demonstrate an attachment 

to the principles and ideals of 

the U.S. Constitution 

Demonstrate an ability to 

read, write, speak, and 

understand basic English 

Demonstrate a basic knowledge 

of U.S. history, government, 

and civic principles 

Swear an oath of 

allegiance to the 

United States

Receive a 

Certificate of Naturalization

The Redesigned (New) 

Naturalization Test

Office of Citizenship

Preparing for the Test

What study materials are available and how 

can I find English language, civics, and/or 

citizenship classes?

About the Redesigned (New) Test

USCIS will begin administering a 

redesigned (new) naturalization 

test on October 1, 2008. The 

following guidelines will 

determine whether naturalization 

applicants will take the old test or 

the redesigned (new) test. 

An applicant who:

• Files* the Application for 

Naturalization, Form N-400, 

BEFORE October 1, 2008, 

and is scheduled for his or 

her naturalization interview 

BEFORE October 1, 2008, will 

take the old test.

• Files* the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, BEFORE

October 1, 2008, and is scheduled for his or her naturalization 

interview ON or AFTER October 1, 2008 up until October 1, 2009,

can choose to take the old test or the redesigned (new) test.

• Files* the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, ON or AFTER

October 1, 2008, will take the redesigned (new) test.

• Is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview ON 

or AFTER October 1, 2009, regardless of when he or she 

filed* the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, will take the 

redesigned (new) test. 

NOTE: If an applicant fails the English and/or civics test during 

the first examination, the applicant will be required to take the 

same version of the test, old or redesigned (new), when the 

applicant is retested, even if the retest is scheduled on or after 

October 1, 2009.

For additional information about the old and redesigned (new) 

test, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/citizenshiptest.

*The Application for Naturalization, N-400, is properly filed with USCIS on the date it is 

received by the appropriate USCIS Office with signature, correct fee, and the form is 

completed according to instructions.

Implementation Timeline

Which version of the test to take?

M-685 (rev. 09/08)

Background

In the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and 

meaningful naturalization process, U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS) redesigned the naturalization 

test. The redesigned test, with an emphasis on the fundamental 

concepts of American democracy and the rights and 

responsibilities of citizenship, will help encourage citizenship 

applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share 

as Americans.

The major aim of the redesign process was to ensure that 

naturalization applicants have uniform, consistent testing 

experiences nationwide, and that the civics test can effectively 

assess whether applicants have a meaningful understanding of 

U.S. government and history. Following a basic U.S. history and 

civics curriculum, the redesigned test will serve as an important 

instrument to encourage civic learning and patriotism among 

prospective citizens.

To accomplish these goals, USCIS initially piloted a new 

test—with an overhauled English reading and writing section, 

as well as new history and government questions—in ten 

sites across the country. The feedback from this pilot was 

then used to finalize testing procedures, English reading and 

writing prompts, and a list of 100 new history and government 

questions. To ensure the pilot accounted for a representative 

sample of candidates with a variety of education levels, the test 

was also piloted at adult education sites nationwide.

For more information on the redesigned (new) naturalization 

test, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/newtest.

The USCIS Office of Citizenship has developed a variety of study 

materials for the redesigned (new) naturalization test. These 

materials include Civics Flash Cards, 

Learn About the United States: Quick Civics 

Lessons, and translated versions of 

the civics questions available at 

http://www.uscis.gov/newtest.

For many applicants, adult education 

classes are an excellent place to learn 

English and prepare for the naturalization test. Many local school 

districts, community colleges, libraries, and other communitybased organizations offer English language and civics classes. 

These opportunities, however, are not centralized in one place. 

To find an appropriate class, try these options:

• Visit http://www.welcometousa.gov. 

• Look in the yellow pages of your telephone book under the 

heading “Language Schools.”

• Contact your local public library and ask if they offer English 

language or citizenship classes.

• Call your local community college or school district and ask 

about adult education opportunities.

• Call or visit a local community-based organization or place of 

worship and ask if they offer English language or citizenship 

classes.

H For Form N-400 and to learn more 

about specific eligibility requirements 

for naturalization, visit www.uscis.gov 

or call 1 800 375 5283

For an adult immigrant to become a 

U.S. citizen, he or she must go through 

the process of naturalization. GENERAL 

requirements for naturalization call 

for the immigrant to:

H
Components of the Redesigned (New) Naturalization 

Test

Redesigned (New) 

Naturalization Test Civics Test

Oral 

Test

Reading

Test

Writing

Test

Integrated Civics American Government Reading Vocabular

y

Writing Vocabular

y

English Test

A: Principles of American Democracy• What is the supreme law of the land?• What does the Constitution do?• The idea of self-government is in the first  three words of the Constitution. What are  these words? • What is an amendment?• What do we call the first ten amendments  to the Constitution?• What is one right or freedom from  the First Amendment?* • How many amendments does  the Constitution have?• What did the Declaration of Independence do?• What are two rights in the Declaration  of Independence?• What is freedom of religion?• What is the economic system  in the United States?*• What is the “rule of law”?B: System of Government• Name one branch or part of the government.*• What stops one branch of government  from becoming too powerful?• Who is in charge of the executive branch?• Who makes federal laws?• What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*• How many U.S. Senators are there?• We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? • Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators  now?* • The House of Representatives has how many  voting members? • We elect a U.S. Representative for how  many years?• Name your U.S. Representative.• Who does a U.S. Senator represent?• Why do some states have more  Representatives than other states?• We elect a President for how many years?• In what month do we vote for President?*• What is the name of the President of the United  States now?*• What is the name of the Vice President of the  United States now?• If the President can no longer serve, who  becomes President?• If both the President and the Vice President can  no longer serve, who becomes President?• Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?• Who signs bills to become laws?• Who vetoes bills?• What does the President’s Cabinet do? • What are two Cabinet-level positions? • What does the judicial branch do? • What is the highest court in the United States?• How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

• Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?• Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the  federal government. What is one power of the 

 federal government?• Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the  states. What is one power of the states? • Who is the Governor of your state now?• What is the capital of your state?*• What are the two major political parties  in the United States?*• What is the political party of the President now?• What is the name of the Speaker of the House of  Representatives now?C: Rights and Responsibilities• There are four amendments to the Constitution  about who can vote. Describe one of them.• What is one responsibility that is only for  United States citizens?*• Name one right only for United States citizens.• What are two rights of everyone living in the  United States?• What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge  of Allegiance?• What is one promise you make when you become a  United States citizen?• How old do citizens have to be to vote for  President?*• What are two ways that Americans can participate  in their democracy?• When is the last day you can send in federal  income tax forms?*• When must all men register for the  Selective Service?

A: Colonial Period and Independence• What is one reason colonists came 

 to America?• Who lived in America before the  Europeans arrived?• What group of people was taken  to America and sold as slaves?• Why did the colonists fight the British?• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?• When was the Declaration of Independence  adopted?• There were 13 original states. Name three.• What happened at the Constitutional  Convention? • When was the Constitution written?• The Federalist Papers supported the passage  of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the  writers.• What is one thing Benjamin Franklin  is famous for?• Who is the "Father of Our Country"?• Who was the first President?*B: 1800s• What territory did the United States buy from  France in 1803?• Name one war fought by the United States in  the 1800s. • Name the U.S. war between the North  and the South. • Name one problem that led to the Civil War.• What was one important thing that Abraham  Lincoln did?*• What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?• What did Susan B. Anthony do?C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information• Name one war fought by the United States in  the 1900s.*• Who was President during World War I?• Who was President during the Great  Depression and World War II? • Who did the United States fight  in World War II? • Before he was President, Eisenhower was a  general. What war was he in?• During the Cold War, what was the main  concern of the United States?• What movement tried to end racial  discrimination?• What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*• What major event happened on September 11,  2001, in the United States?• Name one American Indian tribe in the United  States.

A: Geography• Name one of the two longest rivers in the 

 United States.• What ocean is on the West Coast  of the United States?• What ocean is on the East Coast  of the United States?• Name one U.S. territory.• Name one state that borders Canada. • Name one state that borders Mexico.• What is the capital of the United States?*• Where is the Statue of Liberty?*B: Symbols• Why does the flag have 13 stripes? • Why does the flag have 50 stars?*• What is the name of the national anthem?C: Holidays• When do we celebrate Independence Day?*• Name two national U.S. holidays.

American Histor

y

If you are 65 or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the UnitedStates for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

*

Speaking

PEOPLE• Abraham  Lincoln• George  Washingto

n

CIVICS• American flag• Bill of Rights• capital• citizen• city• Congress• country• Father of Our  Country• government• President• right• Senators• state/states• White HousePLACES• America• United State

s

• U.S.HOLIDAYS• Presidents’  Day• Memorial Da

y

• Flag Day• Independence Day• Labor Day• Columbus Day• Thanksgiving

QUESTION WORDS• how• what• when• where• who• whyVERBS• can• come• do/does• elects• have/has• is/are/was/be• lives/lived• meet• name• pay• vote• wantOTHER (FUNCTION)• 

a

• for• here• in• of• on• the• to• weOTHER (CONTENT)• colors• dollar bill• first• largest• many• most• north• one• people• second• south

PEOPLE • Adams• Lincoln• WashingtonCIVICS• American  Indians• capital• citizens• Civil War• Congress• Father of  Our Country• flag• free• freedom of  speech• President• right• Senators• state/states• White HousePLACES• Alaska• California• Canada• Delaware• Mexico• New York  City• Washington• Washington,  D.C.• United StatesMONTHS• February• May• June• July• September• October• November

HOLIDAYS• Presidents’  Day• Memorial Da

y

• Flag Day• Independence

 Day• Labor Day• Columbus Da

y

• ThanksgivingVERBS• can• come• elect• have/ha

s

• is/was/b

e

• lives/lived• meets• pa

y

• vote• wantOTHER (FUNCTION)• an

d

• during• for• here• in• of• on• the• to• we

OTHER (CONTENT)• blue• dollar bill• fifty/50• first• largest• most• north• one• one  hundred/ 100• people• red• second• south• taxes• white

Each reading test administered to an applicant 

contains no more than 3 sentences. Applicants must read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to 

demonstrate an ability to read in English. To help applicants prepare, USCIS released a reading 

vocabulary list containing all the words found in 

the English reading portion of the redesigned 

(new) test. The content focuses on civics and history topics.

An applicant will be asked up to 

10 questions from the list below. 

Applicants must answer correctly at least 

six of the 10 questions to pass 

the civics test.

An applicant’s ability to speak English will continue to be determined by the USCIS Officer from the applicant’s answers to questions normally asked during the eligibility interview on the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400.

Each writing test administered to an applicant 

contains no more than 3 sentences. Applicants must write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly in order to 

demonstrate an ability to write in English. To help applicants prepare, USCIS released a writing 

vocabulary list containing all the words found 

in the English writing portion of the redesigned 

(new) test. The content focuses on civics and history topics.