A relative applied for citizenship

[juan01 0]

Hello everybody.

Thanks in advance for any help.

A relative of mine applied for US citizenship, she is 71 and does not speak English too much, she has been here only about 9 years. so it is understandable.

She went to the interview and even thought she knew how to answer the questions well in English in practice runs, she could not understand the officer.

She got denied.

She filed for a form to show her impairment to learn and she went to a second interview with a doctor's letter. She received a certified letter today that this was insufficient evidence to show impairment. She has 30 days to file for a hearing to appeal.

Does anybody know what to do in this situation?

Thanks again.

[Mononoke28 135]

juan01,

My aunt is also in her 70s but has only been in this country since 1999. She was told that they only way they can exempt her from taking the language portion of the interview is if she had been living here for more than 20 years, so there's nothing she can do about it now.

Diana

[Boiler 45,952]

ESL classes?

Language

Applicants for naturalization must be able to read, write, speak, and understand words in ordinary usage in the English language. Applicants exempt from this requirement are those who on the date of filing:

have been residing in the United States subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for periods totaling 15 years or more and are over 55 years of age;

have been residing in the United States subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for periods totaling 20 years or more and are over 50 years of age; or

have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, where the impairment affects the applicant’s ability to learn English.

[Mononoke28 135]

It's not that easy. Someone who is already into her 70s, close to 80 years-old does not learn English in a few years by taking ESL classes. I'm sure there a few out there who might and more power to them, but on average that's not the case.

The rules are the rules and if it's less than 20 years and it's difficult for them to learn it, then citizenship is not an option.

[juan01 0]

True.

It is easy to say ESL classes.

But I've seen many people who are US Born, in their 20's and have trouble even learning a few sentences in a different language.

But thanks anyway for you inputs.

[Boiler 45,952]

It's not that easy. Someone who is already into her 70s, close to 80 years-old does not learn English in a few years by taking ESL classes. I'm sure there a few out there who might and more power to them, but on average that's not the case.

The rules are the rules and if it's less than 20 years and it's difficult for them to learn it, then citizenship is not an option.

15 years not 20.

I have been on Spanish courses in Mexico, there were quite a few older ladies.

Big problem is keping it up when you return home.

I am ####### at languages, I have the exam results to prove it, but I have always fund it much easier when you are immersed.

[Boiler 45,952]

It's not that easy. Someone who is already into her 70s, close to 80 years-old does not learn English in a few years by taking ESL classes. I'm sure there a few out there who might and more power to them, but on average that's not the case.

The rules are the rules and if it's less than 20 years and it's difficult for them to learn it, then citizenship is not an option.

15 years not 20.

I have been on Spanish courses in Mexico, there were quite a few older ladies.

Big problem is keping it up when you return home.

I am ####### at languages, I have the exam results to prove it, but I have always fund it much easier when you are immersed.

PS OP said 71 and been here since 62.

[Nancy2015 2]

There are people who are incapable of learning a language, no matter how young or old they are. But even those who are good at it will probably need a lot more time to learn after the age of 70.

I remember volunteering at a place where they prepare people for citizenship interviews. I had to act as an interviewer, and most of these folks didn't even understand English beyond "Hi, how are you?". I stopped volunteering after a couple of days - it was too much for me...