Last year, I helped my mom become a US Citizen, mostly in the application preparation part. She doesn’t speak English very well, so she really needed help to prepare for the interview. Teaching her how to drive and helping for the interview were probably the two hardest tasks I’ve ever accomplished in my life. But all in all, it’s worth it because my brother, my sister, and their family can come to the US – hopefully, a better future for them.
At first, my mom never thought that she will be able to be a US Citizen. The scariest part for her was the interview. She thought that she won’t be able to pass the interview because she does not speak English very well. But the truth is you don’t have to speak perfect English to pass the interview.
During the waiting period before the interview, she worked very hard to remember the 100 civics questions. Doing mock interviews, listening to the audio CD, and frequently practicing questions on the US Citizenship test app has helped her be well-prepared in the interview.
After about a month of interview preparation, she eventually went to the oath ceremony and received her citizenship. For those who feel that you don’t have sufficient English skills, actually, there is a high chance you can pass the interview as long as you are willing to take the time to study the materials, and you have basic listening/reading/speaking English skills.
General requirements.
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You are a permanent resident for at least 5 years, or 3 years and married to a US Citizen.
- For a green card holder who have been in US for 3 years, you have not been out of the US for 18 months or more, and 30 months for those who have been staying for 5 years.
- For more complete information, you can review this naturalization eligibility worksheet.
Why bother applying for citizenship?
- You can sponsor a family member such as your parents, sisters/brothers, and married children of any age. Note: There is no waiting period for US citizen immediate relatives which include a US citizen’s spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21 years of age.
- No need to renew your green card every ten year .
- Be able to travel abroad for long periods of time. Unlike permanent resident, US Citizen do not need to maintain a residence in US.
- After you obtain your US passport, you can travel to 174 countries with no visa or visa on arrival (you get the visa when you arrive in the country). For instance, most European countries and Japan.
How much are the fees?
- Filling fee: $595
- Biometric service fee: $85
- Total: $680
How long will it take?
According to the USCIS website, it will take 5-8 months to complete after submitting the application. However, in my mom’s case, it actually took about 10 months from the application sent out till she actually got the naturalization certificate.
What are the steps?
- Fill Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization. I know it feels like forever to fill this form, there are 20 pages to go through, so take the time to finish the form as you may need to go through the checklist/application a couple times. Don’t forget to sign the form as well.
- After you submit the application, you will receive a notice from USCIS. You can also check your application online by inputting your receipt number.
- Go to bio-metric appointment.
You will receive an appointment notice and this will tell you where and when to take your fingerprint. - Complete the interview
You will receive a notice when and where the interview is. Arrive at the designated facility and bring the appointment notice with you. - If you pass the interview, you will receive a notice to attend the oath ceremony.
What to attach to the application?
- A photocopy of permanent residence card (both sides)
- Two passport-style photos
- A check/money order to Department of Homeland Security.
- You may also need to attach other documents depends on your circumstances such as your tax documents for the last three/five years. This is the complete document checklist.
What happens during the interview?
- The USCIS officer may ask basic info in your application, such as your address and your length of residence.
- The officer will test your ability to read and write in English. You need to write and read one sentence, out of three sentences.
- The officer will test your ability to speak English and civic knowledge. 6 out of 10 questions must be answered correctly. The 10 questions will be picked from 100 civic questions.
What happens after you pass the interview?
- You will attend an oath ceremony and once you have taken the oath, you will receive a naturalization certification.
- The officer will ask you to turn in your permanent residence card.
- You may also be able to apply passport at the office after the oath ceremony (current fee is $120).
Tips from my mom
- Memorize your data in the application. The USCIS office may ask you questions such as your address, your employer address, etc.
- Have US Citizenship Test questions installed in your phone and practice your civic knowledge with the flashcards
- Watch citizenship interview and test on Youtube
- Do mock interviews as many times as possible (especially for those who is not fluent in English)
- No need to be perfect in your English pronunciation
Study for the test
Yes – the process is not straightforward at all but it is still achievable with the right amount of preparation and dedication. But, I’m still amazed at my mom’s hard work and dedication considering the fact that she is not fluent in English.
Good luck if you are preparing for your citizenship application!
Vi, a software engineer with a keen interest in personal finance, had planned to retire once she reached her lean FI/RE (Financial Independence/Retire Early) goal. However, after achieving the goal, she took few months of a mini-retirement filled with travel and adventure and decided to continue her career.
For the past five years, Vi has been using Personal Capital (Empower), a free financial tool. Her favorite features include the dashboard for net worth, allocation, and planning, which help track her FI/RE goal and keep those investment fees in check.