MMcD

How can she take the citizenship test, which I believe requires reading and writing, if she's unable to do either?

AmerLisa

Pulaski

That is where English is different from, say, French. If English speakers can understand it, it's English, and it is the elasticity of English that has made it such a useful language.

SultanOfSwing

If you meet the 50/20 or 55/15 exemptions (age 50, 20 years of permanent residence or age 55, 15 years of permanent residence at the time of filing), you are exempt from the English requirement, but are still required to take the civics test in your native language, and bring an interpreter to the interview.

Illiteracy may be a hindrance when it comes to studying, but not one that couldn't be overcome.

kimilseung

Exceptions & Accommodations.
In fact by the time i get around to citizenship, I should be able to skip the English test.

SultanOfSwing

Yep.

I forgot to mention that the test is oral anyway. I don't think I had to write anything in mine.

Maud Araminta

Thanks for posting that. I just could not be fagged to look for it.

There are plenty of American citizens who can neither read nor write. (Being facetious.)

Oui, vous faîtes!

How do say huh? in French?

Pulaski

I thought "huh" is French, .... or at least it is if you shrug your shoulders while saying it.

MMcD

Wow!
She's 66 years old.
Has been here since '89.
Not certain when she got green card - but if she's had it for 15 years (and I think she probably has).....

.......then are you saying she would not have to demonstrate she could read or write a sentence in any language (neither Eng. nor Spanish)?

SultanOfSwing

It would appear so:

Exceptions & Accommodations | USCIS

Provided she meets all the requirements listed.

Michael

My favorite story is from my grandfather on my mother's side. He decided to immigrate first, find a job, and then send money back to my grandmother in Yugoslavia to pay for the trip for her and my mother to come to the US. In Yugoslavia it was customary for the wife to stay with his parents when he was away so my grandmother and mother stayed with his parents and worked the farm. When he arrived in the US, he found out that there were good paying jobs in the open pit mines in Northern Minnesota so he went there and got a job.

After a year, he saved enough money to bring his wife and my mother to the US and sent the money in the mail. About a month later he received a letter back saying that she isn't ready to move yet and the money was spent for necessities. This continued for 10 years with my grandfather sending money and getting a response that she was not ready to come yet. Finally my grandmother, who was illiterate, thought there was something fishy going on since each time a letter was received, my grandfather's father always said the same that "times are tough but next year I'll send the money". So each morning she waited by the mail box and when she recognized a letter from my grandfather, she took it to the local priest. In the letter it said, "I've sent you money many times but you never come and I am fed up." She then had the priest write a letter explaining that she never received any money and to send the money to the priest. The money arrived and her and my mother (then 16) immigrated.

I said to my grandfather, "I bet you were really mad at your father" and he said "no, that's just life".

scrubbedexpat091

Go to Richmond near Vancouver and it's the same, lucky if the signs for businesses are in English which has ruffled some feathers. You can find people there here for decades and can't speak English.

Maud Araminta

Only if you have a Gitanes cigarette hanging out of your mouth.

Great story!

MMcD

Really helpful

Thanks for link (y muchas gracias de Erminia también)...thanks from Erminia, as well.
I just spent time on links from your link...and it looks like maybe she could just about manage/qualify to overcome the hurdles....

Giantaxe

I know a Greek woman who hardly speaks a word of English. She's lived in the US for almost 60 years!