USCIS reverting to old naturalization test - officially (merged)

[stm 61]

USCIS is going back to the 2008 Civic test. Glad I did not start preparing for it yet. 

 

Applicants who filed their application for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2021, likely have been studying for the 2020 test; therefore, USCIS will give these applicants the option to take either the 2020 civics test or the 2008 civics test. There will be a transition period where both tests are being offered. The 2020 test will be phased out on April 19, 2021, for initial test takers. Applicants filing on or after March 1, 2021, will take the 2008 civics test.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-reverts-to-the-2008-version-of-the-naturalization-civics-test

 

 

Applicants who filed their application for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2021, likely have been studying for the 2020 test; therefore, USCIS will give these applicants the option to take either the 2020 civics test or the 2008 civics test. There will be a transition period where both tests are being offered. The 2020 test will be phased out on April 19, 2021, for initial test takers. Applicants filing on or after March 1, 2021, will take the 2008 civics test

Edited February 22, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[tu2008 97]

This is great news!

[JFH 12,190]

Good use of our fees to draw up a whole new test only to scrap it a few months later! 

*~*~*moved from “progress reports” to “general discussion”*~*~*

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

27 minutes ago, JFH said:

Good use of our fees to draw up a whole new test only to scrap it a few months later! 

*~*~*moved from “progress reports” to “general discussion”*~*~*

Might want to add into existing thread in this section ?

[millefleur 5,046]

**Similar threads merged. Please keep all discussion to the citizenship test news to this thread.**

 

VJ Moderation

[HRQX 4,145]

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-CivicsTest.pdf:

• For December 1, 2020 or later filers that interview before March 1, 2021 it must be the new 2020 version of test. (I'm pretty sure this is no one because that would be an unrealistic processing time.)
• For December 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021 filers, the applicant can choose to take either the 2008 version or the 2020 version IF the interview is before April 19, 2021.
• Everyone that interviews on or after April 19, 2021 must take the 2008 version.

[Redheadguy03 505]

Okkkk so my wife is eligible soon. Check my timeline please, so when should she apply to make sure she takes the "easier" test?

[Wali1001 4]

my elder mom is eligible now. this is great news for us. we will send the application this week- GREAT NEWS

[BlueDevil 61]

1 hour ago, Redheadguy03 said:

Okkkk so my wife is eligible soon. Check my timeline please, so when should she apply to make sure she takes the "easier" test?

It doesn’t matter what your wife’s timeline is. If she has the interview prior to April 19, she will have the option to take either version of the test, assuming she filed between Dec 1 and Mar 1. All interviews after April 19 will only be given the 2008 version of the test. 

[BlueDevil 61]

4 hours ago, HRQX said:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-CivicsTest.pdf:

• For December 1, 2020 or later filers that interview before March 1, 2021 it must be the new 2020 version of test. (I'm pretty sure this is no one because that would be an unrealistic processing time.)
• For December 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021 filers, the applicant can choose to take either the 2008 version or the 2020 version IF the interview is before April 19, 2021.
• Everyone that interviews on or after April 19, 2021 must take the 2008 version.

I don't believe the highlighted sentence is accurate.  I think at this point, nobody will be forced to take the 2020 test, regardless of when their interview takes place.  Based on the policy update highlight below, it looks like folks who files between December 1 and March 1 will have the option to take either test.  Folks filing after March 1 will only be given the 2008 test.   

 

"Provides that USCIS will give applicants the choice to either take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test in cases where 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"

[HRQX 4,145]

19 minutes ago, BlueDevil said:

I don't believe the highlighted sentence is accurate.

It is accurate. The change isn't effective till: "This policy is effective on March 1, 2021 and will be incorporated into the Policy Manual accordingly." https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-CivicsTest.pdf Page 3

 

But like I mentioned, it's very unlikely that a December 1, 2020 (or later) filer has the interview by this Friday (USCIS usually wouldn't conduct the interview on Saturday or Sunday) :

4 hours ago, HRQX said:

(I'm pretty sure this is no one because that would be an unrealistic processing time.)

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by HRQX

[BlueDevil 61]

24 minutes ago, HRQX said:

It is accurate. The change isn't effective till: "This policy is effective on March 1, 2021 and will be incorporated into the Policy Manual accordingly." https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-CivicsTest.pdf Page 3

 

But like I mentioned, it's very unlikely that a December 1, 2020 (or later) filer has the interview by this Friday (USCIS usually wouldn't conduct the interview on Saturday or Sunday) :

 

Ah! Thanks for that.  I missed the effective date of the policy change.  Typical for USCIS to leave things rather fuzzy!  Here's one other thing I noticed:

 

"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..."

 

Notice that this sentence says "may offer" not will offer.  🙄

[INF 96]

Can someone explain to me the difference between the two tests? 2020 and 2008? 

[HRQX 4,145]

16 minutes ago, INF said:

Can someone explain to me the difference between the two tests?

For 2020 version, applicants had to study 128 questions to be prepared whereas with the 2008 version applicants just had to study 100 questions. Also with 2008 version, after applicant answered 6 questions correctly (but no more than 4 incorrect) the applicant passed and didn't have to answer more civics test questions. With 2020 version applicant had to answer 20 questions and passed if the score was 12/20 or better. Some questions were made harder in 2020 version: https://mobile.twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1327309164520099840 And some were controversial: https://mobile.twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1327312188269268997