What Should I Do If I Don’t Understand the USCIS Officer During My Citizenship Interview?

You may know the information on your Form N-400. You may have studied English for weeks.

But during your real citizenship interview, you may hear a question that you do not understand.

Maybe the officer speaks faster than you expected. Maybe you do not know one word. Maybe you are nervous.

If this happens, do not guess.

Ask the officer to say the question again. Listen carefully. Make sure you understand what information the officer wants. Then answer.

USCIS says that during the naturalization interview, an officer asks questions about your application and background. Applicants who must meet the testing requirements also take the English and civics tests unless an exception or waiver applies.

Source: USCIS — Naturalization: What to Expect

At CivicsPrepUSA, we want you to practice more than correct answers. You should also practice what to do when you do not understand a question.

That is the skill we will practice here.

Quick Answer

USCIS guidance says officers are required to repeat and rephrase questions until they are satisfied that an applicant understands the question or does not understand English.

USCIS also says an applicant may answer with simple words or phrases when those words correctly answer the question.

Source: USCIS — Scoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test

Why Can a Spoken Question Be Hard to Understand?

Reading English and listening to English are different skills.

When you read a sentence, the words stay on the page. You can stop. You can look at them again.

When someone speaks, the words are gone as soon as you hear them.

During your interview, you may also be thinking about many things:

• your answer;
• your documents;
• your pronunciation;
• what the officer may ask next;
• whether you are making a mistake; and
• how nervous you feel.

All of this can make a simple question feel harder.

This matters because USCIS checks your speaking ability during the Form N-400 eligibility interview.

Your speaking ability is based on how you answer questions the officer normally asks during that interview.

Source: USCIS — Components of the Naturalization Test

So you are not only preparing to know the information.

The Five-Step Recovery Method

When you do not understand a question, use this method:

1. STOP

Do not rush to answer.

If you did not understand the question, a quick answer may be an answer to the wrong question.

Take a moment.

Your first job is not to answer quickly.

Your first job is to understand.

2. ASK

Politely ask the officer to say the question again.

Here are some simple phrases you can practice:

These are practice phrases. USCIS does not require you to use these exact sentences.

The important idea is simple:

If you do not understand, do not pretend that you do.

USCIS guidance says officers repeat and rephrase questions while checking whether an applicant understands English.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

3. LISTEN

When the officer asks again, listen to the whole question.

Do not think only about the one word you missed.

Listen for question words.

Also listen for subjects you know from your Form N-400.

The officer may ask about:

• your name;
• your address;
• your date of birth;
• your family;
• your work;
• your travel;
• your immigration history; or
• other information on your application.

Your goal is to find the main subject of the question.

4. CONFIRM

Before you answer, ask yourself:

“What information does the officer want?”

Imagine the officer asks:

You may not understand the whole sentence the first time.

Listen again.

Maybe you hear these important ideas:

when + living + current address

Now you know the officer wants information about when you started living there.

You do not need to repeat the officer’s sentence word for word.

You need to understand what the officer is asking.

This connects with the method from our previous CivicsPrepUSA lesson:

What should you do when you still do not understand?

5. ANSWER

Once you understand the question, answer clearly and truthfully.

Do not make your English harder than it needs to be.

USCIS says an applicant may use simple words or phrases when those words properly answer the officer’s question.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

For example, if the officer asks:

You do not need to give a long speech.

Give the information the officer asked for.

Clear communication is the goal.

What Is the Difference Between Repeat and Rephrase?

These words are important.

REPEAT means asking the question again with the same or almost the same words.

REPHRASE means asking for the same information in another way.

These are only practice examples. They are not a promise that a USCIS officer will use these exact words.

Repeating can help if you simply did not hear the question.

Rephrasing can help if the words or sentence were difficult to understand.

USCIS uses both terms in its official scoring guidance.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

What If I Understand Most of the Question?

You do not always need to understand every single word.

Try to understand the main idea.

Imagine you hear:

Maybe you do not know the word present.

But you understand:

how long + lived + address

You may still understand that the officer is asking how long you have lived at your current address.

This is why you should practice meaning, not only memorization.

Do not ask yourself only:

“Did I understand every word?”

Also ask:

“Do I understand what information the officer wants?”

What If One Word Confuses Me?

One difficult word can make you stop listening.

Try not to let that happen.

Listen to the other words around it.

Then ask yourself whether you understand the question as a whole.

USCIS says your ability to understand English is based on whether you respond to questions, directions, or prompts during the interview.

USCIS also says the officer does not test your understanding by asking you to give a definition of a word or phrase from Form N-400.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

That does not mean vocabulary is unimportant.

It means you are using English to communicate, not to give dictionary definitions.

Do Not Guess “Yes” or “No”

This is very important.

If you do not understand a question, do not automatically answer:

First make sure you understand what the officer asked.

The officer is reviewing information connected to your naturalization application.

If you do not understand, ask to hear the question again.

Then answer truthfully.

Understand first. Answer second.

Your Form N-400 Is an Important Study Tool

USCIS says the officer asks questions about your application and background during the naturalization interview.

USCIS also says the officer reviews Form N-400 for accuracy during the eligibility interview.

Sources: Naturalization: What to Expect and USCIS Scoring Guidelines

That is why you should review your own Form N-400 before your interview.

Do not practice only general English questions.

Practice talking about your information.

• your name;
• your address;
• your family;
• your work;
• your travel; and
• other information you gave USCIS.

Know what you put on your application.

Be ready to answer truthfully about it.

USCIS citizenship education materials also include Form N-400 interview skills as part of naturalization preparation.

Source: USCIS — Guide to the Adult Citizenship Education Content Standards and Foundation Skills

Not Everything the Officer Says Is a Question

The officer may also give you directions.

USCIS says understanding English includes responding to questions, directions, or prompts during the naturalization interview.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

So your listening practice should include simple directions too.

These are practice examples. They are not a list of exact instructions that every applicant will hear.

Try This Clarification Practice Drill

You can practice this with a friend, teacher, family member, or study partner.

Step 1 — Choose One Topic

Choose something from your Form N-400. For example: your current address.

Step 2 — Hear a Question

Step 3 — Ask for Repetition

Step 4 — Listen Again

Have your partner repeat the question.

Step 5 — Change the Wording

Step 6 — Find the Information

What information does this person want?

Answer: My current address.

Step 7 — Answer Aloud

Give your answer.

This drill teaches you two useful skills:

• asking for help when you do not understand; and
• understanding the same idea when the words change.

A Simple 10-Minute Practice Routine

Minutes 1–2: Review

Choose one part of your Form N-400.

Minutes 3–4: Listen

Hear questions about that information.

Minutes 5–6: Ask

Practice asking for repetition or clarification.

Minutes 7–8: Change the Words

Practice hearing similar information asked in more than one way.

Minutes 9–10: Answer

Answer the difficult questions aloud again.

If you already use our 15-minute citizenship study plan, you can use this exercise during part of your listening practice.

Do not practice only when everything goes perfectly.

Also practice what to do when you do not understand.

Five Mistakes to Avoid

1. Guessing Because You Feel Nervous

If you did not understand the question, guessing may lead you to answer the wrong question. Ask to hear it again.

2. Saying “Yes” or “No” Too Quickly

First understand what you are saying yes or no to.

3. Memorizing Only One Sentence

Do not depend on hearing one exact sentence. USCIS guidance says officers repeat and rephrase questions while checking an applicant’s understanding of English.

4. Practicing Only by Reading

Reading is useful. But the naturalization interview is spoken.

USCIS determines speaking ability from the applicant’s answers to questions during the Form N-400 eligibility interview.

Source: USCIS — Components of the Naturalization Test

You also need to practice listening and answering aloud.

5. Making Your Answer Too Complicated

You do not need to make a simple answer sound advanced. USCIS says simple words or phrases can be acceptable when they properly answer the question. Keep your answer clear.

Does Asking the Officer to Repeat a Question Mean I Failed?

Asking for repetition does not automatically mean that you failed.

USCIS guidance says officers are required to repeat and rephrase questions while deciding whether an applicant understands English.

USCIS is still checking whether you can generally understand and respond in English.

Source: USCIS Scoring Guidelines

So do not panic because you needed one question repeated.

Listen again. Try to understand. Then answer.

What If I Still Do Not Understand?

Listen for the main idea.

Listen for familiar information and ask yourself:

If the officer says the question another way, listen carefully to the new words.

Try to connect the question with your Form N-400.

Do not invent an answer just to keep the interview moving.

Some applicants may qualify for an exception or waiver from part of the English or civics requirements. The rules depend on the applicant’s situation, so use current USCIS information if you think an exception may apply to you.

Is This the Same as the Civics Test?

No.

The Form N-400 interview and the civics test are parts of the naturalization process, but they are not the same thing.

During the naturalization interview, the officer asks questions about your application and background. Applicants who must meet the testing requirements also take English and civics tests.

Source: USCIS — Naturalization: What to Expect

This article is mainly about understanding the officer during the Form N-400 eligibility interview.

For the civics test, study the official USCIS materials for the test that applies to you.

CivicsPrepUSA’s virtual officers can help you practice hearing civics questions in different voices and delivery styles.

That listening practice can be useful, but our civics officers are not a complete Form N-400 interview simulator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Ask the USCIS Officer to Repeat a Question?

Yes. You can tell the officer when you need to hear the question again. USCIS guidance says officers are required to repeat and rephrase questions while checking whether an applicant understands English.

Can the Officer Ask the Question Another Way?

Yes. USCIS guidance provides for officers to rephrase questions while testing understanding. The example phrases in this article are for practice. You do not need to memorize them word for word.

Do I Need to Answer in a Full Sentence?

Not always. USCIS says applicants may answer with simple words or phrases when those words properly answer the question.

What If I Know the Answer but Do Not Understand the Question?

Do not guess. Ask to hear the question again.

Should I Memorize Interview Questions?

It is useful to practice common questions and vocabulary. But do not depend only on memorizing one exact sentence. The officer reviews your real Form N-400 and asks questions about your application and background. Your answers need to come from your own information.

What Else Should I Practice?

• listening to spoken English;
• asking for repetition;
• hearing questions in different ways;
• listening for directions;
• finding the main idea;
• reviewing your Form N-400; and
• answering aloud.

Practice With CivicsPrepUSA

Good practice should not prepare you only for the easy moments.

It should also prepare you for the moment when you think:

“I don’t understand.”

Practice what to do next.

Ask for the question again. Listen to the whole question. Find the important information. Then answer.

When you practice civics questions with CivicsPrepUSA’s different virtual officers, try more than one officer.

Different voices and delivery styles can help you practice listening carefully instead of becoming used to only one speaker.

Do not guess. Understand first. Answer second.

The Main Idea to Remember

If you do not understand a question during your citizenship interview, remember:

STOP before you guess.

ASK to hear the question again.

LISTEN to the full question.

CONFIRM what information the officer wants.

ANSWER clearly and truthfully.

Your goal is not to memorize every sentence an officer could say.

Your goal is to understand enough English to know what the officer is asking and respond clearly.

Sources

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Scoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test
USCIS Scoring Guidelines

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Components of the Naturalization Test
USCIS Components of the Naturalization Test

USCIS — Naturalization: What to Expect
USCIS Naturalization: What to Expect

USCIS — Guide to the Adult Citizenship Education Content Standards and Foundation Skills
USCIS Adult Citizenship Education Guide