April 15, 2008: Tax Day. July 4, 2008: Independence Day. October 1, 2008: New Citizenship Exam Day! Are you ready for it? How do you avoid it? What is it? Well, “in the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and meaningful naturalization process,” the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has redesigned the naturalization exam applicants must take and pass in order to become a United States Citizen. The USCIS claims that in redesigning the exam, (the first since it was created in 1986 as a standardized examination) it will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans. ”
The goal of this redesigned exam was to produce a test that would 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.
The USCIS initially piloted a new exam–with an overhauled English reading and writing section, as well as new history and government questions–in ten sites across the country. The final redesigned exam was introduced to the general public on September 27, 2007. Before USCIS included a question/answer item on the final exam, it was analyzed for its cognitive and linguistic characteristics, and to see if it met one or more of the following criteria:
1. Does the item involve critical thinking about government or history?
2. Does the item offer an inferred or implicit concept of government, history, or other areas?
3. Does the item provide a geographical context for a historical or current event?
4. Does the item help the applicant better utilize the system? Is it useful in their daily lives?
5. Does the item help the applicant better understand and relate to our shared history?
The USCIS claims that many items added to the exam either directly or indirectly help applicants learn more about their rights and responsibilities. So, the new naturalization exam covers 40 content areas, including geography, instead of the previous 23. In addition, the reading and writing portion of the test are now more civic-focused as well.
What this all means to most applicants wanting to apply for U. S. Citizenship is that the exam will be more difficult and confusing. Currently, most of the questions on the exams are questions of fact where there is usually one correct answer. On the new version, there will be conceptual questions such as “What is the ‘rule of law’?” and “What is the economic system in the United States?” and “What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?” Oftentimes, there will be more than one “right” answer and the individual must really understand the concept of the question in order to answer it. For example, a question such as “What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?” can have numerous answers, including but not limited to: vote, join a political party, join a community group, run for office, write to a newspaper, call Senators and Representatives, and help with a campaign. In addition, the expanded geography section will ask applicants to name rivers, oceans and countries bordering (or within) the United States, as well as U. S. states that border countries such as Canada and Mexico.
Anyone who files an N-400 Application for Naturalization on or after October 1, 2008 will be taking this new redesigned exam. Questions from the current and redesigned Naturalization exam are posted on the USCIS website (www. uscis. gov) in addition to study materials. The overall format has not changed, only the content. Legal immigrants who are eligible to become citizens must pass the civics exam as well as a test of English proficiency in reading and writing. In a one-on-one oral examination, an immigration officer asks the applicant 10 civics questions of varying degrees of difficulty selected from the list of 100. To pass, the applicant must answer 6 of those 10 questions correctly.
If, however, someone files for Naturalization before October 1, 2008 but has the naturalization interview after October 1, 2008, the applicant will have the option of taking the new exam or the current one. In addition, applicants who are 65 year old or older and have been a legal permanent resident for 20 years or more, they may just study the easier questions marked with an asterisk (*).
If you think you are eligible to apply for Naturalization, seek the advice of an experienced immigration attorney and apply before October 1, 2008. Many experienced immigration attorneys provide free consultations and are aware of the many dangerous consequences of applying for naturalization if you do not qualify.
(213) 620-0222
Jacobson & Han LLP, Los Angeles Immigration Attorneys
Nikki Mehrpoo Jacobson is a founding partner of Jacobson & Han LLP. She is an experienced attorney and immigration rights advocate. Ms. Jacobson has been practicing law since 1997 and has successfully represented hundreds of clients before the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS – formerly INS), the United States Federal Courts and the Superior Courts of California.
Ms. Jacobson has extensive experience in Immigration Law; including, deportation and removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has successfully represented clients in political asylum, withholding of deportation, cancellation of removal, and criminal and fraud waiver cases.
Additionally, she represents clients from all over the world before the USCIS, U. S. Embassies, and Consulates assisting them with consular processing, visas, adjustment of status, citizenship, naturalization hearings, various waivers, corporate immigration and employment matters, labor certifications, non-immigrant visas, and permanent residency options.
Ms. Jacobson is a member and very active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (Southern California Chapter: Immigration Court-EOIR Liaison), the Los Angeles County Bar Association (Executive Member of the Immigration Law Section), Culver Marina Bar Association and several other legal associations.
E-mail: Nikki@GreenCard4You. com
Related posts:
- Social Security Disability Advices From Ssd Attorneys Every year, thousands of the working class participates in the enormous Social Security disability program across America. This implies that the same amount of the working populace suffers from some form of disability. An unlikely fact, but this is indeed true. However, the craziest part with all these influx of applicants is that, [...]...
- If Illegal Aliens Are Not Receiving Welfare, Why Ask For Reform? Advocates on here claim illegals are not soaking up welfare and our gov. services. If they are not, Why would activist ask for welfare to end for illegal alien lawbreakers? ______________________________________… Activists Seek End to $640M Calif. Welfare Program for Illegals Monday, July 13, 2009 11:53 AM By: Dave Eberhart Activists in California are pushing for [...]...
- Preliminary Knowledge Before Pursuing Disability Claims in Los Angeles The Hard Part of Disability Sustaining any type of disability, in fact, is a remorseful that any person may encounter in his entire life or career. Notwithstanding his physical pain and agony, a disabled individual may also has to carry some sorts of financial problems for his medical bills and other daily expenses. Without [...]...
- Basic Concepts of the Business Law in Los Angeles When deciding to engage in a business venture in the United States, Los Angeles is one of its states to be considered. It is one of it states where there is an abrupt raise on economic condition. What is Business Law? Business law commonly known as commercial law is a body of law that governs [...]...
- Los Angeles Personal Attorney Los Angeles Personal Attorney Generally, people who accept incurred claimed injuries in adverse situations such as accidents generally alternate to book accuse adjoin the behindhand parties. It is sad that while the victims ache abundant from affliction and misfortune, the offenders calmly get abroad from it. These experiences may also create a deep impact [...]...
- How Attorneys Can Help You Understand and Apply Corporate Law in Your Business Corporate Law, also known as Business Law or Commercial Law, is considered in Los Angeles, California as one of the hardest and booming fields of law. It would be difficult for a person to understand the technical provisions of Corporate Law without the aid of an attorney who specializes in that area. Here [...]...
- Is There A List Or An Outline Of Tax Deductions To Have Ready In Order To Fill The Irs F1040 And For Ca F540? My wife worked in 2007 for only 9 months as an independent contractor for an attorney office in Los Angeles, CA and got paid in cash and by checks without a W-4 form filed, but was given a 1099-MISC form with all her earnings but taxes were not taken out at all. . . [...]...
- Learn the Bankruptcy Basics from a Los Angeles Bankruptcy Lawyer Bankruptcy: Article I, Section 8, of the United States Constitution authorizes Congress to enact “uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies. ” Under this grant of authority, Congress enacted the “Bankruptcy Code” in 1978. The Bankruptcy Code, which is codified as title 11 of the United States Code, has been amended several times since [...]...
- Types of Tax Law Attorneys If you’ve come to the conclusion that you need a tax law attorney to help with your current tax problems or for tax advice, then you’ll want to know what kind of tax law attorney you need. The fact is that tax attorneys come in different shapes and sizes, and they also come with a [...]...
- Have You Been Fired? Get Help From Termination Laws Attorneys In California, there is a provision known as “at-will” employment. Under this rule, employees may be fired by their employers for whatever reason they see fit. In general, employers can fire their employees only when the grounds are stipulated in the contract. This is not applicable, however, to at-will employees. In [...]...
- Social Security Death Benefits Guide From a Los Angeles Attorney This article will tackle about Social Security Death Benefits, in matters of its purpose, coverage and entitlement, including the value of Attorney representation in claims of this sort. A good way to start would be to discuss significant points regarding Social Security Death Benefits. Social Security Death Benefits Everyone who works in the [...]...
- Scottsdale Dui Attorneys There are many organizations out there that are against drunk energetic, who also propose along with the government to not simply aid conceive laws then again take action on the dangerous acts commencing every thoughtless drivers. Organizations such as M.A.D.D in addition to D.A.D.D, moms as well as dads against drunk dynamic, as well as [...]...
- Dui Attorneys In Tampa - Together with this in opinion, do your research. What are other workers saying with reference to Dui Attorneys In Tampas? Boast you heard of several enormously superior ones? Construct a catalog of several professionals who seem promising in addition to proceed from there. While it is serious to arrange for a Dui Attorneys In [...]...
- Estate Planning in Los Angeles Tips for Estate Planning 1. Implement a business succession plan. If you are the co-owner of a business, implement a buy-sell agreement with your business partners to ensure that the family of a deceased partner receives a fair price for the business interest while ensuring the continuation of the business itself. If [...]...
- Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney Referrals 661-310-7999 Can’t Pay! You can make Debt Vanish with a Bankruptcy! Is this true? No, it’s not. If you file for Bankruptcy, your debt can grow! Penalties and interest don’t stop accruing in the time it takes for a Bankruptcy to be approved. So watch out. Don’t fall into this trap. 5 [...]...
- Recall Of Los Angeles Mayor, The District Attorney And Nunez’? We have been hijacked by 3rd world criminals whose only concern is gathering more photo-ops. . . Please give the District Attorney of Los Angeles a phone call, and ask him why he still has a job after ripping off the city, and his wife that drives on suspended license and no insurance. . . [...]...
- Should Prosecutors Be Able To Seize Tax Records To Find People Who Commit Identity Theft Etc..? Is it legal since it they were seized from the tax preparer? Is this a way to end identity theft and illegals fraudulently using social security cards and ITIN numbers? Paying taxes comes back to bite illegal immigrants By Ivan Moreno Associated Press Writer Updated: 05/30/2009 11:18:25 AM MDT GREELEY, Colo. – Immigrant advocates say they’ve seen nothing like [...]...
