Moroccan American legal immigration advice

Immigration Services had decided to change the questions concerning the citizenship test.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had decided last week to change the questions concerning the citizenship test. Many immigration attorneys, if not all, have concluded that these newly issued questions are very hard for an ordinary person. They also feel that this change will make it more difficult to obtain U.S. Citizenship.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez announced the release of these new questions and answers for the pilot test of a new naturalization exam.

As an attorney, I have never seen questions of this caliber before. Try to ask some native borne U.S. Citizens these questions and see if they can answer them. Many of my American-born neighbors could not answer these questions.

To apply for naturalization an alien must reside in the U.S. for a period of five years after an admission as a permanent resident. If an alien is married to an American, then he or she must reside in the U.S. for a period of three years after an admission as a permanent resident.
However, for the purpose of filling N-400, you deduct three months.

Knowledge of U.S. History and Government is also required.
Applicants must take a naturalization exam.
These current civics questions in the naturalization exam were established in 1987.
However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin using the newly released citizenship test in the spring of 2008.

The USCIS will start this new pilot test with 5,000 volunteer applicants in 10 different cities such as Albany; Charleston; Miami; Tucson; Boston; and Denver.

You must answer 10 questions. If you answer six correctly, then you pass.

Keep in mind that the English portion remains the same.

Unlike the current test, the applicants will not be given multiple-choices and then pick an answer. Instead, they will be required to write out an answer.

This revised test is estimated to cost $6.5 million.

Applicants for citizenship will still take the current test from now until the spring of 2008. My initial reaction to these new questions is to have your lawyer file for your U.S. Citizenship as soon as possible so you can take the current test. Your application needs to be carefully and diligently looked at now.

I have selected some of the newly issued questions and answers.

Pilot Exam Questions and Answers for citizenship

102. Name one of the major American Indian tribes in the United States.
A: Cherokee, Seminoles, Creek, Choctaw, Arawak, Iroquois, Shawnee, Mohegan, Chippewa, Huron, Oneida, Sioux, Cheyenne, Lakotas, Crows, Blackfeet, Teton, Navajo, Apaches, Pueblo, Hopi, Inuit

55. What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution is a constitution of limited powers?
A: The federal government has only the powers that the Constitution states that it has.
A: The states have all powers that the federal government does not.

1. Name one important idea found in the Declaration of Independence.
A: People are born with natural rights.
A: The power of government comes from the people.
A: The people can change their government if it hurts their natural rights.
A: All people are created equal.

3. What does the Constitution do?
A: It sets up the government.
A: It protects basic rights of Americans.

10. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A: Announce the independence of the United States from Great Britain
A: Say that the U.S. is free from Great Britain

29. Why do we have three branches of government?
A: So no branch is too powerful

30. Name one example of checks and balances.
A: The President vetoes a bill.
A: Congress can confirm or not confirm a President’s nomination.
A: Congress approves the President’s budget.
A: The Supreme Court strikes down a law.

48. What does the judicial branch do?
A: Reviews and explains laws
A: Resolves disputes between parties
A: Decides if a law goes against the Constitution

88. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
A: The Constitution was written.
A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

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71. What is self-government?
A: Powers come from the people.
A: Government responds to the people.

72. Who governs the people in a self-governed country?
A: The people govern themselves.
A: The government elected by the people.

73. What is the “rule of law”?
A: Everyone must obey the law.
A: Leaders must obey the law.
A: Government must obey the law.

74. What are “inalienable rights”?
A: Individual rights that people are born with

89. Why did the colonists fight the British?
A: They had to pay high taxes but did not have any say about it. (Taxation without representation.)
A: The British army stayed in their houses. (boarding, quartering)
A: The British denied the colonists self-government.

95. Why were the colonists upset with the British government?
A: Stamp Act
A: They had to pay high taxes but did not have any say about it. (Taxation without representation.)
A: The British army stayed in their houses. (boarding, quartering)
A: Intolerable Acts

100. Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers?
A: James Madison
A: Alexander Hamilton
A: John Jay

101. What group of essays supported passage of the U.S. Constitution?
A: The Federalist Papers