Do I Need to Speak English to Naturalize and Become a United States Citizen?

If you are eligible to naturalize and become a United States citizen, one of the requirements of the application process is that you pass a series of reading, writing and speaking prompts to show that you have a basic understanding of the English language. When you arrive to your naturalization interview, the immigration officer will speak to you in English. They will ask you basic questions about yourself, such as your name, address and other identifying information. Similarly, they will walk through your application and will likely ask you questions pertaining to the information you provided. In doing so, they are testing your ability to carry a conversation and prove that you're capable of speaking the English language.

It is important to note that you do not have to be a fluent English speaker, but you do need to understand the language enough to hold a conversation and talk about information related to your application. In addition to the speaking portion of the interview, the immigration officer will also ask you to read and write one out of three sentences to further test your command of the English language. Fortunately, USCIS has provided study materials to help prepare for this portion of the interview and there is overlap with the civics portion of the interview, which is a test of your knowledge of American history and our government. These materials consist of basic vocabulary and tools to practice forming sentences in English.

If you've made it this far into the post, then you don't have to be concerned about the English language portion of the interview and its best to focus your efforts on passing the civics exam. However, if you have a family member who is eligible to naturalize but does not currently speak English, the best possible advice is to immediately enroll your relative into English language courses. Throughout New York City, there are often free courses and programs for teaching English, and in some locations there are even courses centered around learning English while also practicing for the naturalization interview and civics exam.

If your family member speaks some English, but not enough to carry a conversation, it is recommended that they enroll in English language courses because the naturalization interview is not something that should be improvised. In the event that you do not pass the English portion of the interview, you will be given 60-90 days to prepare for a second interview, where your English skills will be tested once more. If you do not pass during the second attempt, your application will be denied and you must start the entire process over again (including paying the application fees) as there is no appeals process for these circumstances.

While USCIS does provide exceptions to the English language part of the interview, most people do not qualify due to age (must be over 55 years old) and other factors (such as length of time in the U.S. and whether the applicant suffers from a physical or mental disability). Therefore, they are required to take and pass this part of the naturalization process. At a bare minimum, you must be able to: carry a conversation in English, talk about yourself and your application in English, and have the ability to read and write basic sentences in English.

If you have any questions about the naturalization process or the English portion of the interview, you are encouraged to reach out and speak with a qualified immigration attorney who is best suited to handle your situation.

Disclaimer: This blog post and similar posts are not to be considered as providing legal advice. The discussion here is meant for educational and informational purposes only and shall not create an attorney-client relationship with the readers of this content.