[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 25080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12004]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1918-98]


English Language, American History and Civics, Standardized 
Naturalization Test

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the termination of the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service (Service) Standardized Citizenship Testing 
Program, currently conducted by five non-government companies on behalf 
of the Service. The program, established under a 1991 Notice of Program 
in the Federal Register, will end at midnight on August 30, 1998. After 
the August 30 termination date, the Service will commence citizenship 
testing at the newly opened Application Support Centers as part of the 
ongoing effort to re-engineer and streamline the entire naturalization 
process.

DATES: The Citizenship Testing Program will terminate effective at 
midnight, Eastern Daylight Time, August 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Howie, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office of 
Naturalization Operations, 801 I Street, NW., Suite 900, Washington, DC 
20536. Telephone: (202) 305-0539.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Standard Citizenship Testing Program?

    The Service established a standardized citizenship testing program 
pursuant to a Notice of Program published in the Federal Register on 
June 28, 1991, at 56 FR 29714-15. The program's model was similar to 
the testing program used with Legalization applicants as provided in 
section 254A(b)(1)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act). 
The citizenship testing program was designed to facilitate the 
naturalization of persons who otherwise might be hesitant to apply for 
naturalization.
    Section 312 of the Act requires most applicants for naturalization 
to demonstrate a basic understanding of the English language and an 
understanding of United States history and government. Traditionally, 
applicants are tested on English and United States history and 
government as part of the mandatory naturalization interview. The 1991 
Notice established criteria that non-government organizations were 
required to meet in order to be authorized to conduct citizenship 
testing on behalf of the Service. These criteria included requirements 
for the administration of a multiple choice test on United States 
history, government, and written English. Naturalization applicants who 
take and pass one of these tests normally are not questioned on these 
topics during the mandatory naturalization interview before an officer 
of the Service.
    Since publication of the 1991 Notice, the Service approved six 
national organizations to administer citizenship tests. Five national 
organizations currently are administering citizenship tests through 
networks of local testing centers across the United States. The Service 
has no contractual or financial ties with any of the companies 
authorized to conduct citizenship testing.

Why Has the Service Decided To Terminate the Current Testing 
Program?

    The Service has been engaged in a complete re-engineering of the 
naturalization process. Part of this process involves developing new 
methods for applicants to demonstrate compliance with various 
naturalization requirements under the Act. For example, last year the 
Service embarked upon a new method for applicant fingerprinting. 
Fingerprints for all Service applications or petitions are now taken at 
Application Support Centers (ASCs). The Service now plans to commence 
citizenship testing at the ASCs so that applicants may fulfill these 
particular requirements at one time, with one visit. The Service 
anticipates publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register later 
this year, outlining our regulatory proposal for citizenship testing at 
the ASCs. The authority for this decision to end the current testing 
program is found in section 332(a) of the Act which authorizes the 
Service to determine an applicant's admissibility to citizenship.

How Long Will Testing Certificates Issued by the Current Testing 
Organizations Be Valid?

    The Service will allow the current testing organizations to 
continue administering tests through midnight, Eastern Daylight Time, 
August 30, 1998. Test certificates issued noting a testing date on or 
before August 30, 1998, will be honored in accordance with Service 
regulations found at 8 CFR 312.3(a)(1). For example, an applicant who 
is tested on August 30, 1998, passes, and is issued a certificate, has 
until August 30, 1999, to file an N-400, Application for 
Naturalization, in order for the certificate to be honored. If the 
applicant has already filed an N-400 and is awaiting an interview, the 
certificate will be valid until a final determination on the 
application has been made, regardless of how long the time period is 
between the date of the test and the date of the final determination on 
the application. Service officers interviewing naturalization 
applicants will retest persons presenting certificates only if the 
officer has reason to believe that the certificate was either 
fraudulently issued or otherwise inappropriately granted. While not a 
requirement, the Service urges all applicants desiring to be tested by 
the current testing organizations to submit a copy of the passing 
certification as an attachment to the N-400 at the time of filing, and 
to bring the original certificate to the naturalization interview.

    Dated: April 15, 1998.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12004 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
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