The United States government has eased the naturalisation requirements for certain older lawful permanent residents, allowing eligible green card holders to apply for citizenship without taking the mandatory English language test.
The exemption, administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applies to applicants who meet specific age and residency requirements when they file their naturalisation applications.
Under the rules, green card holders aged 50 or older who have lived in the United States as lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years qualify for an exemption from the English language requirement.
Similarly, applicants aged 55 or older who have maintained lawful permanent resident status for at least 15 years are also exempt from the English test.
USCIS further states that applicants aged 65 or older who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years qualify for the English exemption and receive special consideration when taking the civics test.
The agency refers to the two main exemptions as the “50/20” and “55/15” exceptions.
“Age 50 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident (Green Card holder) in the United States for 20 years,” USCIS states regarding the 50/20 exception.
The 55/15 exception applies to applicants who are “age 55 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident in the United States for 15 years.”
The provisions could benefit thousands of immigrants, including Kenyans who have held U.S. green cards for extended periods and are seeking to become American citizens.
However, qualifying for an English language exemption does not mean applicants are automatically exempted from the civics requirement.
Applicants covered by the age and residency provisions must still demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government by taking the civics test.
Under the current rules, applicants who qualify for the English language exemptions may take the civics test in their native language with the assistance of an interpreter.
“Even if you qualify for the '50/20' or '55/15' English language exceptions listed above, you must still take the civics test,” USCIS said.
U.S. citizenship regulations also provide another exemption for applicants who are unable to meet the English and civics requirements because of a qualifying medical disability.
Applicants seeking a medical disability exception must submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, completed by an authorised medical professional.
Depending on the circumstances, the medical exemption may apply to the English requirement, the civics requirement, or both.