U.S. Citizenship Test – What happens if you fail it?

To get your U.S. citizenship, you must pass a U.S. Citizenship Test. So what happens if you do not pass your test the first time?

If you fail your test the first time, you will be given only one more chance.

The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) officer must give you a notice of results (form N-652) at the end of the interview that will tell you if you passed or failed, or if for some reason your case is continued.

There are a number of reasons that the USCIS might not approve your citizenship application the first time.

U.S. Citizenship Test – English Test and Civics Test

You might have failed the English portion of the U.S. citizenship test (the speaking/comprehension test, the writing test, or the reading test) or, you might have failed the Civics portion of the test. You will be retested only on the portion of the test that you have failed and your retest will take place within a maximum of 60 to 90 days of the date of your first interview.

U.S. Citizenship Test – Additional Information to provide

The officer might not be able to make a decision because you have failed to provide additional information relevant to your citizenship application (maybe, for example you forgot to include a relevant document in your first application). In this case, the officer will give you a written request, called Form N-14, for the specific documentation or information you have failed to provide. The written request will also explain to you how to respond to the request. You may respond by mail by a certain date (in general you have 30 days to respond with the appropriate additional information); or in person at the next interview. It is very important that you clearly understand what kind of documentation or information is requested of you on the N-14 form. If it is not clear to you, ask the officer for an explanation.

If you have to send additional information by mail, make sure that:

● you include a copy of your N-14 form

● you mail your N-14 form a timely manner so that USCIS receives it before the deadline

● you use a certified or express mail service so that you get a proof of mailing

If you fail to follow the instructions, USCIS could deny your application.

U.S. Citizenship Test – Common reasons for U.S. citizenship application to be permanently denied

There are some reasons that will cause your application to be permanently denied, with no possibility of a second chance.

For example, if you have ever been charged with murder or an aggravated felony, the USCIS will most likely deny your application permanently. The USCIS runs a criminal background check for all citizenship applications. They are likely to find all of your convictions, even in foreign countries, so don’t think you can hide anything. If you have ever been arrested, you should seek the advice of an immigration lawyer before filling out an N-400 form and applying for citizenship.

Another example that could disqualify for citizenship is the continuous residence and/or physical presence requirement. To understand these requirements in detail, click here.

You could also be denied citizenship permanently if you fail to pay taxes and you cannot prove to the USCIS that you are in the process of dealing with this issue.

You could also be denied citizenship permanently for lying or making false statements, even if the errors are non-intentional, so it very important that all of your answers are truthful and accurate. You will also be denied if USCIS finds out that you have lied in the past in order to get immigration benefits.

To find all the reasons why you could be permanently denied citizenship, seek the advice and guidance of USCIS and/or an immigration lawyer.

If the officer denies your application, he/she must give you (or your lawyer, or representative) a written denial notice within 120 days of the initial U.S. citizenship test. In this case, you may choose to request an appeal hearing with a USCIS officer. If you choose to request an appeal hearing you must fill out form N-336 and send it, along with the fee, within 30 days from the receipt of your denial letter.

Study for your second U.S citizenship test

If you have failed the English or Civics Tests, you will be tested again on the portion of the test that you have failed. If you fail at your second attempt, your citizenship application will be denied. So you need to be well prepared! We offer a FREE U.S. Citizenship Test complete online training program to help you pass your test. Good luck on your U.S citizenship test!