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2008 civics test restored with a transition for recent applicants

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryUnited States
Operative dateMarch 1, 2021
CategoryCitizenship and naturalization
Policy toolCivics testing
Affected groupNaturalization applicants, with filing-date and initial-interview transition conditions

Policy effect

From March 1, 2021, USCIS restored the 2008 civics test for naturalization applicants who filed before December 1, 2020 or on or after March 1, 2021. Applicants who filed from December 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021 could choose the 2008 or 2020 test if their initial interview was scheduled before April 19, 2021. All applicants whose initial interviews were scheduled on or after April 19, 2021 were to take the 2008 test, regardless of filing date. Officers would stop asking civics questions once the applicant passed or failed either version. Statutory educational exceptions continued to apply.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: From March 1, 2021, USCIS restored the 2008 civics test for naturalization applicants who filed before December 1, 2020 or on or after March 1, 2021.; Applicants who filed from December 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021 could choose the 2008 or 2020 test if their initial interview was scheduled before April 19, 2021.; All applicants whose initial interviews were scheduled on or after April 19, 2021 were to take the 2008 test, regardless of filing date.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… ning Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, 3 USCIS will revert to the 2008 test. There will be a brief period during which USCIS may offer both versions of the test to accommodate certain naturalization applicants who filed on or after December 1, 2020 and before 1 See INA 312(a). An applicant may be eligible for an exception to the English requirements based on age and time as a lawful permanent resident. See INA 312(b)(2). An applicant who has a qualifying physical or developmental disability or mental impairment may be eligible for a medical exception to the educational requi … rements. See INA 312(b)(1). 2 This includes the initial examination and re-examination (if needed). See 8 CFR 312.5(a) and 8 CFR 335.3(b). Applicants may also have another opportunity to pass the failed portion of the tests if they request a rehearing under INA 336(a) of a denied naturalization application. 3 See Executive Order 14012, signed February 2, 2021. PA-2021-02: Revising Guidance on Naturalization Civics Educational Requirement Page: 2 March 1, 2021 and are scheduled for an interview before April 19, 2021. This is because such applicants may have already been studying for the 2020 ci … vics test. USCIS will provide notices to such applicants affected by the policy update. This update, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, becomes effective March 1, 2021. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the topic. Policy Highlights • Provides that USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to applicants who filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or who will file on or after March 1, 2021. • Provides that USCIS will give applicants the choice to either take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test in cases wh … ere applicants filed their naturalization application on or after December 1, 2020 and before March 1, 2021, and where the initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur before April 19, 2021. • Provides that USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to all applicants whose initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur on or after April 19, 2021 (regardless of filing date). • Provides that USCIS will only ask civics test questions until the applicant passes or fails either the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test. Citation Volume 12: Citizenship and Naturalization, Part E, …
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesPOLICY ALERT - Revising Guidance on Naturalization Civics Educational RequirementOpen official source
Retrieved from https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-CivicsTest.pdf

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp-face0e30fcbb39097f9e. Something wrong? Flag this record.

Other United States changes operative in 2021