Requesting Interview/Exam Accommodations
If you have a disability or a medical condition, you have the right to ask for changes, called accommodations, to make the naturalization process easier for you. USCIS is required by federal law to provide these accommodations.
If you need any accommodation, please let a Project Citizenship staff member know during your eligibility screening. We will note it in your file and our legal team will submit the accommodation request to USCIS on your behalf as soon as we receive a notice from USCIS following the submission of your application.
There are many ways USCIS can adjust the citizenship interview and exam to fit your needs. Below is a quick overview of the most common accommodations, followed by more detail on each one.
| Accommodation | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Extra time & breaks | The officer gives you more time and can pause the interview when needed. |
| Sign language interpreter | USCIS provides a sign language interpreter if you are deaf or hard of hearing. |
| Reading test in Braille or large print | The English reading portion of the test can be given in Braille or large print. |
| Home visit/off-site interview | If you cannot travel to the USCIS office, the officer can come to you. |
| Nonverbal communication | You can communicate by blinking, nodding, pointing, or writing instead of speaking. |
| Support person present | A family member or other trusted person can come to your interview. |
| Help signing forms | If you cannot sign your name, a mark is acceptable; a family member may help. |
| Legal guardian/designated representative | If you cannot participate in the interview yourself, another person can do so on your behalf. |
Accommodations Explained
Extra Time and Breaks
USCIS understands that some applicants need more time than is normally scheduled. The officer can give you extra time to answer questions and allow you to take breaks during the interview if you need them. You should request this in advance.
Tell a Project Citizenship staff member if you think you’ll need extra time or rest breaks during your eligibility screening. We’ll flag this in your file and request it as part of your accommodation request.
Sign Language Interpreter
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, USCIS must provide a sign language interpreter at your interview—at no cost to you. The interpreter must use the specific sign language you use.
You are also welcome to bring your own interpreter if you prefer. Before the interview begins, you, the officer, and any representative should agree on how you will communicate.
To request an interpreter, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 800-767-1833), use USCIS’s online accommodations request form, or request it at the field office.
This accommodation request is also something we can handle for you. If you need a sign language interpreter, let a Project Citizenship staff member know, including which type of sign language you use, and we will submit the request to USCIS on your behalf.
Braille and Large Print
If you are blind or have low vision, USCIS can provide the English reading test in Braille or large print. You can also request that USCIS materials (like the civics questions) be sent to you in these formats. Please request Project Citizenship submit the accommodation request as soon as you receive your appointment notice to make sure the materials are ready in time.
Home Visit or Off-Site Interview
If your illness or disability makes it too difficult to travel to the USCIS field office, the officer can come to you instead. The interview can take place at your home, a nursing home, a hospital, a hospice, or another facility.
If traveling to USCIS would be a hardship for you due to a medical condition or disability, please let a member of the Project Citizenship team know. Our legal team can request an off-site interview on your behalf.
Nonverbal Communication
If you cannot speak during the interview, you have options. You can:
- Blink, nod, or shake your head
- Tap or use another agreed-upon signal
- Point to answers on the application
- Write out answers to the civics test
Before the interview starts, you, the officer, and your representative (if any) should agree together on how you will communicate.
Bringing a Support Person
You may bring a trusted person (a family member, friend, or caregiver) to your interview. Having someone familiar present can help you stay calm and focused. That person may also repeat the officer’s questions if it helps you respond.
Note: If that person becomes disruptive, the officer may ask them to leave and reschedule the interview.
Help Signing Your Forms
If you are not able to sign your name, a mark (like an “X”) is acceptable as your signature on your naturalization application and related documents. A family member may help you sign, initial, or make your mark on the application’s attestation section.
Important: Except in very limited circumstances, a family member cannot sign the full naturalization application for you—only assist you in making your own mark.
Legal Guardian or Designated Representative
In rare cases, if a person is completely unable to participate in the naturalization examination due to a physical disability, developmental disability, or mental impairment, a legal guardian, surrogate, or designated family member may be able to complete parts of the naturalization process on their behalf. In these cases, USCIS may waive the Oath of Allegiance, and the guardian or representative will attest to the applicant’s eligibility.
Who can serve as a designated representative (in order of priority):
- Legal guardian or surrogate (highest priority)
- U.S. citizen spouse;
- U.S. citizen parent;
- U.S. citizen adult child;
- U.S. citizen adult sibling (lowest priority)
The person acting on behalf of the applicant must provide proof of legal guardianship, or documentation to establish the familial relationship, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or adoption decree. In addition, the person must provide documentation to establish that they have the primary custodial care and responsibility for the applicant (for example, income tax returns, Social Security Administration documents, and affidavits from other relatives). A spouse, parent, adult child, or adult sibling who is not the legal guardian or surrogate must provide evidence of U.S. citizenship.
If you believe a client may need a guardian or designated representative to complete the naturalization process, please flag this for our legal team as early as possible.