[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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