How to apply for citizenship for grand mom, pls help?

[huyluu85]

How to apply for citizenship for grandmother, pls help?

My grandmother obtains her GC for more than 20 years. She is illiterate. She failed her citizenship 2 times in the past 20 years. She is now 85 years old. I wonder If they have any exemptions for her case.(I heard about medical's condition or age...)

Your opinion will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

 

[baikal3]

My grand mom obtains her GC for more than 20 years. She is illiterate. She failed her citizenship 2 times in the past 20 years. She is now 85 years old. I wonder If they have any exemptions for her case.(I heard about medical's condition or age...)

Your opinion will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

See
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=ffe2a3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD
for information about various exemptions.

In particular, if an applicant is over 55 years old and has been a U.S. permanent resident for at least 15 years at the time of filing N-400, the applicant is exempt from the English language requirements.
The USCIS page says that such an applicant is still required to pass the civics test but mentions that "If you are age 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing for naturalization, you will be given special consideration regarding the civics requirement."

One can also file form N-648 to request an exemption even from the civics requirement based on medical disability, see
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
However, from reading the N-648 application instructions, it sounds to me that the form is meant for people with really severe disabilities, and it is not clear if your grandmother would qualify.

 

[huyluu85]

Thanks baikal3. Her health is in a good condition, I don't think she will be qualified for N-648. Even if she takes the civic test in our language, she will fail again, she's 85 years old and can't read and write

 

[baikal3]

Even if she takes the civic test in our language, she will fail again, she's 85 years old and can't read and write

That's not necessarily the case. The civics test is an oral test: the IO reads you the questions and you respond verbally.
So if someone properly prepares your grandmother for the test (by reading to her the questions and the answers, which, by the way, come from a fixed publicly available list), and she memorizes the answers, she may be able to pass it.

 

[natur08]

Thanks baikal3. Her health is in a good condition, I don't think she will be qualified for N-648. Even if she takes the civic test in our language, she will fail again, she's 85 years old and can't read and write

If I remember correctly, there was a similar case recently on this board where either a senator or congressman's office intervened and helped waive some of the requirements. There is some leeway for the USCIS that can be used in this kind of situation. Contacting the ombudsman might also be a possibility. It probably would not hurt giving it a try.

 

[Jackolantern]

Thanks baikal3. Her health is in a good condition, I don't think she will be qualified for N-648. Even if she takes the civic test in our language, she will fail again, she's 85 years old and can't read and write

The civics test is given by spoken word, and there are CDs and MP3 collections commercially available with the questions and answers that she can listen to. They are also available in some foreign languages.

 

[huyluu85]

The civics test is given by spoken word, and there are CDs and MP3 collections commercially available with the questions and answers that she can listen to. They are also available in some foreign languages.

Thanks, but she is 85 years old. She not gonna remember the 10 first questions. There are 100 questions to memory by heart

I will try to contact the ombudsman, do you think it gonna help her case?

 

[sanjoseaug20]

Check this ... the URL is long and hopefully does not get spoiled. If it does, find the naturalization test study material ... http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=7a649ddf801b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

People older than 65 and having GC for over 20 years need to learn only 20 questions.
[EDIT: It also says that these people quality to take the civics test in their language.]

 

[Jackolantern]

Thanks, but she is 85 years old. She not gonna remember the 10 first questions. There are 100 questions to memory by heart

She'll probably know some of them already just from living in the US for so many years. Go through the questions and find out what she already knows. And if she listens to the CD every day for 2-3 months, she'll probably eventually remember enough to pass.

I will try to contact the ombudsman, do you think it gonna help her case?

No.