Prepare For Your Naturalization Interview The civics portion of the naturalization test is an oral test. The USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the civics test. Naturalization Civics Test The Government’s weird study guide for the test that they call “A More Perfect Union.”  All 100 Civics Questions in English  All 100 questions in Spanish 100 Preguntas y Respuestas de Educación Cívica All 100 questions in Chinese100題公民問題和答案 *You will have to take the test in English unless you qualify for an exemption. (or the 65/20 special considerations which use these questions).  *You can apply for a medical disability exemption by filing this Form N-648 WITH your N-400 application.  Other Sites I’d note that these practice tests are easy to access and seem to be accurate from wheat I’ve seen, but, they are not from the official USCIS.gov website or any other U.S. Government agency or non-profit so be careful.  Take a practice civics test online to see if you are ready for your USCIS naturalization interview so you don’t delay getting U.S. citizenship. You can take several different citizenship practice tests here as well. 

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA) The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and its subsequent reauthorizations amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allow abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and abused parents of U.S. citizen sons and daughters 21 years of age or older to file their own self-petition for immigrant classification. The VAWA self-petition is filed on the Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360).  An approved Form I-360 provides self-petitioners with immigrant classification as either immediate relatives or under a family-based preference category and allows them to apply for LPR status. It would then be the same as if the person had an approved I-130 petition from that family member. They can adjust status using an I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status. Who is eligible for VAWA? You may be eligible to apply for VAWA if you: 1. Be AND 2. you were abused by them. WHAT BENEFITS DOES VAWA PROVIDE? An individual who is approved for VAWA: WHAT DO I HAVE TO SHOW TO APPLY FOR VAWA? There are several requirements that need to be met and proven when applying for VAWA. You will need to demonstrate that you:

On September 13, 2023, a Federal District Court in Texas issued a ruling in Texas v. United States declaring DACA unlawful. This Judge had previously come to the same conclusion and it was appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals found that he erred in making his first decision and remanded the case back to the Judge to make a new decision. The Judge reviewed the case differently this time but ultimately came to the same conclusion with the same results. This new decision has left many people with questions about DACA. The most frequently asked questions are answered below. SEPARATE FEES FOR DACA & EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION USCIS indicated that it will no longer accept one bundled payment (check, money order, etc.) for all the forms included in your DACA renewal request. Be sure to include two separate checks: $410 for the I-765 $85 for the I-821D USCIS may reject the entire package if you include a combined check for $495. What is the status of DACA after the September 2023 Texas Decision?   The status of DACA remains the same as it was before the 2023 decision. DACA renewals continue and will be processed for those who are eligible.   DACA was implemented in 2012 through a memorandum issued by the Obama Administration. In 2021, a Texas Federal Court decision by this same judge found that the 2012 DACA policy was unlawful. This decision was appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals who agreed with the Texas Court. In the summer of 2022, the Biden Administration announced a new DACA rule that codified the DACA policy into a federal regulation with the intent of further protecting the program from legal challenges. This new DACA rule resulted in the Fifth Circuit remanding the case back to the District Court in Texas to consider if the new DACA rule fixed the issues. The Texas Judge ruled, again, that DACA was unlawful.   Will USCIS Process Renewals & New DACA Applications?  No new DACA application will be approved at this time. The Court’s decision has blocked USCIS from approving any new DACA cases. Only renewals of those already approved were stayed by the Federal Court’s injunction. Who Can Renew You may request a renewal if you met the initial 2012 DACA guidelines and you: Please note, if you file after your most recent DACA period expired, but within one year of its expiration, you may submit a request to renew your DACA. If you are filing beyond one year after your most recent period of DACA expired, you may still request DACA by submitting a new initial request. When to Renew USCIS recommends that you submit your DACA renewal application 120 to 150 days before the date your current DACA and EAD expire.  How to Renew

Is A Cover Letter Required With My Submission to USCIS? USCIS does not require you to submit a cover letter for any immigration benefit or visa application. They are commonly used though for any formal submission and filings with USCIS are no exception. Law firms will always provide a cover letter with a filing as it has many benefits and is also just standard practice. What Is a USCIS Cover Letter? A cover letter is just a printed letter that helps USCIS officers navigate your application materials. You can place a cover letter at the top of your application, petition, or any other package of documents being submitted. You let the person opening the package know who it is intended for, what is inside, and who sent it making it less likely that it goes to the wrong place or there are other clerical errors. Further, by outlining your reasons for applying and the contents of your application in a cover letter, you give your USCIS officer a useful overview of your case. You can also use your cover letter like a checklist to make sure you’ve included all necessary documents in your package. In some cases, you may want to use a cover letter to explain any special circumstances you want the USCIS officer to be aware of before they start reviewing your application. If you have a unique or complicated background, it is especially helpful to supplement your application with a cover letter. It will ensure that USCIS becomes aware of any special circumstances and can consider your application with this in mind. What Should My USCIS Cover Letter Include? When submitting a cover letter with your application, be sure to include the following: What Supporting Evidence? Your supporting documents for an application will depend on which forms you’re filing. You can determine which documents are necessary by reviewing USCIS’ webpage for your specific form. For example, USCIS lists the required supporting evidence on its webpage for Form N-400 applicants. Other Information You’ll also need to identify the right mailing address for your application. To do so, you should consult the USCIS website. For example, naturalization applicants can review USCIS’s webpage for Form N-400 direct filing addresses. Your filing fees will depend on your specific application type. You can use the USCIS Fee Calculator to determine your costs. For example, suppose you are filing for naturalization with Form N-400. You should select Form N-400 on the Fee Calculator and enter your age. USCIS may ask for additional information, such as your specific application category. Keep your cover letter brief. Do not provide any explanation or extra information unless absolutely necessary. The cover letter and any supporting evidence must be in English (any supporting evidence that is not in English should be accompanied by a certified English translation). TEMPLATE: COVER LETTER TO USCIS

When a person arrives at a port of entry seeking entry to the United States they will either be admitted or paroled into the country (if they are permitted to enter). A person who is being permitted to enter on a temporary basis or under special conditions because they lack a proper visa or immigration status to enter will typically be “paroled.” A legal permanent resident or a noncitizen arriving with a valid visa are “admitted” to country. Often times the admission is marked in the person’s passport, though that is becoming less common. The class of admission can be seen on an I-94 as a code as well in some internal agency documents you may find in the responsive record of a FOIA request. Legal Permanent Resident cards “green cards” will display the class of admission code which indicates the manner in which their residency was obtained. The classes of admission and the corresponding codes are listed below broken down into several different categories of types of admission. Immigrant Classes of Admission A lawful permanent resident (LPR) or “green card” recipient may live and work anywhere in the United States and may apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility and admissibility requirements. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides several broad classes of admission for foreign nationals to gain LPR status, the largest of which focuses on admitting immigrants for the purpose of family reunification. Other major categories include economic and humanitarian immigrants, as well as immigrants from countries with relatively low levels of immigration to the United States. IMMEDIATE RELATIVE PETITIONS The largest category of new LPRs consists of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 and older). Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are not subject to numerical limits and typically account for more than 40 percent of new LPRs annually. IR1 Spouses, new arrivals IR6 Spouses, adjustments CR1 Spouses, new arrivals, conditional CR6 Spouses, adjustments, conditional IB1 Spouses, new arrivals, self petitioning IB6 Spouses, adjustments, self petitioning IW1 Spouses, widows or widowers, new arrivals IW6 Spouses, widows or widowers, adjustments CF1 Spouses, entered as fiance(e), adjustments, conditional IF1 Spouses, entered as fiance(e), adjustments IR2 Children, new arrivals IR7 Children, adjustments CR2 Children, new arrivals, conditional CR7 Children, adjustments, conditional AR1 Children, Amerasian, new arrivals AR6 Children, Amerasian, adjustments IB2 Children, new arrivals, self petitioning IB7 Children, adjustments, self petitioning IB3 Children of IB1 or IB6, new arrivals IB8 Children of IB1 or IB6, adjustments IW2 Children of IW1 or IW6, new arrivals IW7 Children of IW1 or IW6, adjustments CF2 Children of CF1, adjustments, conditional IF2 Children of IF1, adjustments IH3 Children adopted abroad under the Hague Convention, new arrivals IH8 Children adopted abroad under the Hague Convention, adjustments IH4 Children to be adopted under the Hague Convention, new arrivals IH9 Children to be adopted under the Hague Convention, adjustments IR3 Orphans adopted abroad, new arrivals IR8 Orphans adopted abroad, adjustments IR4 Orphans to be adopted, new arrivals IR9 Orphans to be adopted, adjustments IR5 Parents of adult U.S. citizens, new arrivals IR0 Parents of adult U.S. citizens, adjustments IB5 Parents battered or abused, of U.S. citizens, new arrivals, self petitioning IB0 Parents battered or abused, of U.S. citizens, adjustments, self petitioning FAMILY PREFERENCE CATEGORIES Family members not included in the immediate relative class of admission may be eligible for immigration under family-sponsored preferences. These categories also allow for the beneficiary to bring derivative family members. Categories are organized by priority. More about family preference categories. A11 Unmarried Amerasian sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals A16 Unmarried Amerasian sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments F11 Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals F16 Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments B11 Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals, self petitioning B16 Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments, self petitioning A12 Children of A11 or A16, new arrivals A17 Children of A11 or A16, adjustments F12 Children of F11 or F16, new arrivals F17 Children of F11 or F16, adjustments B12 Children of B11 or B16, new arrivals B17 Children of B11 or B16, adjustments F21 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals F26 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments B21 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning B26 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, self petitioning C21 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional C26 Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional FX1 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals FX6 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments BX1 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning BX6 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments, self petitioning CX1 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, conditional CX6 Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments, conditional F22 Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals F27 Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments B22 Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning B27 Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, self petitioning C23 Children of C21, C22, C26, or C27, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional C28 Children of C21, C22, C26, or C27, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional B23 Children of B21, B22, B26, or B27, subject to country limits, new arrivals B28 Children of B21, B22, B26, or B27, subject to country limits, adjustments F23 Children of F21, F22, F26, or F27, subject to country limits, new arrivals F28 Children of F21, F22, F26, or F27, subject to country limits, adjustments C25 Children of C24 or C29, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional C20 Children of C24 or C29, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional B25 Children of B24 or B29, subject to country limits, new arrivals B20 Children of B24 or B29, subject to country limits,