Blindness and USA Naturalization

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

A neighbor friend who is an immigrant living in USA for 10 years told me that she had applied for citizenship. I was surprised because her language is not good enough to pass the minimal testing given and I am certain she could not answer those sometimes rather trite questions given on the citizenship test. Her language is so poor that we had trouble communicating about the matter. I think she was trying to say that her vision problems exempted her from certain requirements (at any rate, she is illiterate and cannot read even her native language.) I think she said the word "blind" as she pointed to the eye from which last year she had a cataract removed. She said her doctor provided a letter for her application (I think). Her vision still seems fair to me, even though I know that after the surgery even glasses did not correct her vision as much as they'd hoped.

So anyway, I'm wondering, is there some special provision for the blind who wish to become citizens? If so, just how impaired must one be? ....She walks about the neighborhood alone; she shops; she uses knives, gas flames and all the regular implements to cook; she barbecues outdoors over charcoal, uses sharp garden pruners and a power mower, sews by hand and by machine, takes care of children. In short, her vision seems only a little poorer than my own. Maybe one eye is very bad and all her visual competency comes from the other eye. Could having one very bad eye give one special consideration in gaining citizenship? The only reasonable thing I could figure is that blindness would exempt one from having to personally fill out forms or pass any test that required reading. But I'm sure her degree of blindness would not prevent her from reading if only she knew how.

Now I'll be super duper surprised if anyone here can help with this question, but I'm hoping.

[PrincessPerky]

url=http://www.murthy.com/arc_news/a_nadis.html]naturalization and disability[/url]

A blind or deaf naturalization applicant, requesting an exemption from the English language and/or civics requirements, must file the N-648 but must establish how the blindness or deafness prevents him or her from learning English and/or the civics information required by section 312. If acceptable to the INS, they will allow the exemption....
An applicant who is blind may respond orally to questions on civics, and is not expected to read

but I don't see just how blind you would have to be

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Well thank you so much, PrincessPerky! I had googled without finding that.

I did find an interesting New York Times article from 1896 about blind immigrant women over 50 years old applying for citizenship. Apparently these women had to file for citizenship in order to be considered for city sponsored pensions for the blind, even though non-citizen immigrant men were not being required to file for citizenship.

I have more immigrants in my life than I ever would have fathomed just 20 years ago. And I gotta tell you, it is really convincing me that our diversity is good not just for the USA but for the rest of the world. It is not just platitudes and cotton-candy thoughts about how we are all the same inside. I really think it makes us change for the better over time. I will be pleased if my friend can become a citizen. She will be the last in her family to achieve it. Oh, and my immigrant friends make me appreciate this country more, too. If I get to go to a naturalization ceremony for this friend, I will be bawling my eyes out.

[zetta]

If she's over 55 and has been a legal permanent resident for 15 years, then there is no language or reading test:

1. Language Requirement

The prospective citizen must have an ability to read, write, and speak ordinary English. This is determined by testing by an immigration examiner. The portion of the English language requirement dealing with understanding and the ability to speak the language is determined by the alien's responses to questions asked by the immigration officer in the alien's interview. The alien's reading and writing proficiency is tested by written examination. The language requirement does not apply to:

1. 1. Those who are physically unable to comply due to disability
   2. Those who are unable to comply due to mental impairment
   3. Those who are at least fifty years old at the time of filing and lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least 20 years.
   4. Those who are at least fifty-five years old and lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least fifteen years.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Interesting, zetta. Thanks. Made me remember that she also found out that they had her down in the system as 44 years old, which is wrong. She cannot prove her age, as births were not normally recorded where she came from, and any records may well have been lost in war anyway. She is sure her own birth was never recorded. Her age was not generally even noted through her life (including no birthdays celebrated) so that she is not even certain of her age, but believes she is 56 or 57. I would have guessed her to be 65-70, but that is what a hard life will do.

She's been here only ten years and I don't know whether she had permanent residency from day one. So that 15 or 20 allowance probably wouldn't help.

[neatdesign]

Oh, and my immigrant friends make me appreciate this country more, too. If I get to go to a naturalization ceremony for this friend, I will be bawling my eyes out.

I totally understand what you mean. My husband naturalized last summer and it was more emotional for me than for him! (Although, it probably had as much to do with the fact that his naturalization meant we'd never have to deal with US immigration ever again!! LOL)

~ Jenney