WASHINGTON — Clutching a small American flag as she posed for a photo, Maria Montenegro wore the fatigued but satisfied smile of someone who had just completed a marathon. In a sense, she had.
Montenegro, 59, also was holding a piece of paper: a citizenship certificate that she and 24 other newly minted Americans had just obtained in a naturalization ceremony on the National Mall. Asked how long she had been waiting for the moment, the Mexican-born housekeeper said, "Thirty years."

In Emma Lazarus' poem on the Statue of Liberty, the nation's famous gateway is described as a "golden door." But it isn't open to everyone, and its hinges can be slow and squeaky for many. Becoming an American is a process that means waiting, sometimes for decades: first, for a visa to live in the USA and, then, to become a citizen.

Congress is debating how to stop illegal immigration, and President Bush wants the National Guard on the border. But some immigrant rights advocates say the solution is to allow more people to immigrate and to speed up the process. They say the lengthy wait faced by those who want to move here legally only encourages others to jump the line — as an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants have done already.

"We really need to fine-tune this system and make it so everybody who is willing to be legal can be legal," says Nancy Jane Shestack, director of Hogar Hispano, an immigrant assistance center operated by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Va., in suburban Washington. "Right now, nobody but a saint could follow these rules."

Legal immigration is open only to those who qualify because of family connections, job skills, fear of political persecution or the luck of the State Department's annual visa lottery. And it can be pricey on a limited budget — application fees for immigration and citizenship can run over $600.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., says a Senate plan to eventually grant citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants already in the USA doesn't reward lawbreakers. He notes that they would have to be in the USA as long as 16 years to qualify. Many who come to the USA legally wait much longer.

"The best way to answer how long it takes is, 'It depends,' " says Emilio Gonzalez, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It depends on preference categories and country quotas that Congresses and presidents have established over the years.

Spouses of U.S. citizens, as well as parents and children under 21, are granted immediate entry. Everyone else goes to the end of lines that vary in length according to country, the prospective immigrant's relationship to the U.S. sponsor and profession. According to the State Department, experienced laborers from India face a five-year wait for a visa, while Filipino siblings of Americans wait more than 22 years.

Gonzalez, a Cuban refugee who became a citizen at age 9, calls the system "needlessly complex" but adds, "That's the hand we drew."

Last year, America welcomed 946,142 legal immigrants. The record, set in 1991, was 1.8 million. But the number of immigrants applying for citizenship is rising.

Immigration officials expect to swear in 685,000 new citizens by Sept. 30, up 12% from last year. "I think the immigration debates right now are spurring a lot of people into saying, 'I want a voice. And I want to be part of the debate.' The best way to do that is to become a citizen," Gonzalez says.

Today's immigrants are more diverse than those who came to the USA before 1965, when Congress scrapped a quota system that favored northern and western Europeans at the expense of other parts of the world.

At Montenegro's citizenship ceremony earlier this month, 19 nations were represented. Mary Gyimah, 47, wore the colors of her native Ghana in her feathered hat. Sadiqua Virk wore the head scarf favored by women in her native Pakistan. Yitong Ma, a computer scientist from China, wore a tie adorned with an American eagle.

Foreigners who want to immigrate to the USA have a limited number of routes: Most are sponsored by a relative (who must be either a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident) or an employer. The only immigrants allowed into the country without a sponsor are refugees, asylum seekers or the 50,000 people annually who win the State Department's visa lottery.

Marta Johnson, 63, a Tucson resident who became an American in 1987 after marrying a U.S. citizen, applied for her 40-year-old son, Miguel, to immigrate from her native Chile five years ago. She says immigration officials have warned her the wait could be nine more years. "It looks like when you do things illegally in this country, you are a lot better off than if you follow the law," Johnson says.

Montenegro says she came into the country in 1977 with her husband, Manuel, a construction worker. She had to wait for him to become a citizen to sponsor her.

Long waits, clean records

Becoming a citizen begins when a foreigner wins permission to come to the USA as a legal, permanent resident — the holder of what's known as a "green card."

To obtain a green card, an immigrant must pay a $325 fee and $70 for fingerprinting, and undergo a physical and a criminal background check. After five years (three for the spouse of a U.S. citizen), permanent residents can apply for citizenship. That requires a $330 fee, plus $70 for a second set of fingerprints.

Applicants must know English and have a clean record. Drunken-driving violations, missed child-support payments or joblessness can be disqualifiers. They must pass an exam in U.S. history and civics that some native-born Americans might find difficult to ace without studying handbooks and sample questions provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The exam questions range from naming your home-state senators to the month the president is inaugurated (January). "Your average immigrant, when they undergo the naturalization ceremony, probably has a better understanding of American history and American government than the average American," says Bill Strassberger of the immigration service.

Still, proving eligibility for citizenship can be difficult. Robert Plantadis, 53, a French-born chef who lives in Savannah, Ga., says he spent thousands of dollars to translate documents from jobs he held in Europe and South America to prove his work history. He became a citizen in March.

Ali Ali, 38, a Dearborn, Mich., truck driver, is still waiting 18 months after applying for citizenship. Ali says his family fled Iraq after being persecuted by Saddam Hussein's regime. Several relatives were killed, he says. His father, now a U.S. citizen, immigrated to the USA in 1992 and applied for his son. Ali, who arrived in 2000, says he was told it might take two years to finish his background check.

Prospective citizens must also demonstrate that they are of "good moral character." That means paying back taxes. For men 18 to 31, it also means registering for a possible military draft. And it also means having no major run-ins with the law. Some immigration attorneys say the standard is sometimes interpreted too strictly.

Mike Lim, a Seattle database manager who was 13 when his family immigrated from Korea, had to go to federal court after his citizenship application was denied over a traffic infraction. "It blew my mind," Lim says. He says his offense was speeding and changing lanes without a signal. "I was kind of late for my group study."

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has gone to federal court in 13 states over what it says are undue delays in processing citizenship applications from Arabs and Muslims. Denver lawyer Jihad Muhaisen says they "are slam-dunk cases."

Hisham Alhourani, who immigrated from Jordan in 1991 and now manages two Texas beauty salons, says he waited a year for a May 2 citizenship interview, only to receive a cancellation letter with no explanation. "Why?" asks Alhourani, who is waiting for further instructions. "We are good people. ... We're trying to avoid doing anything wrong."

Gonzalez, the top U.S. immigration official, makes no apologies. "Obviously, after 9/11, security is key," he says. "I remind our staff: If in doubt, don't do it."

Bill would add 500,000 slots

A bipartisan bill approved in March by the Senate Judiciary Committee would provide at least 500,000 new slots annually for legal immigrants, increasing the number of visas for both those who are entering the country to join family members and those who are coming to work. The current ceiling is 480,000, but that doesn't include immediate family members of U.S. citizens and legal residents, or some high-tech workers.

"Immigration is the key to our future progress, just as it was in the past," says Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The House passed a bill in December that focuses on border security, with no provisions to boost legal immigration.

Some experts say the nation needs to make immigration easier for engineers and computer experts because countries such as Australia and Canada are competing for them.

"What we want to do is attract those immigrants who would have the largest positive contribution to the American economy," Barry Chiswick, a University of Illinois economist, told at Senate panel in April. "And they will be ... immigrants with high skills in literacy, numeracy, scientific knowledge and technical training."

The newest Americans, like most of their fellow citizens, are divided about Congress granting citizenship to illegal immigrants. "It's very disturbing to see. I had to go through a very expensive thing and see people next to me who cheated all the way," Plantadis says.

Li Li, a new American from China, is sympathetic. She says all immigrants — whether they came here legally or illegally — share the same motivation. "They're seeking a better life."
Kat

yeah that test is very very hard, ill find it online and post it, the questions are insane, a college graduate would nt get

It's funny how half of the citizens couldn't pass that test and requirements, does that mean we can deport them too???? What do you think, new legislation to deport citizens who cannot pass the immigration test and requirements??????? And then we would have room for all the immigrants who can pass the requirements. Ah ha, a solve all.

I guess if you have to blame illegal immigration on something, it might as well be this!

Some of these people took so long because they procrastinated, others because thats the prescribed waiting period!

I, for one would like to say congradulations to these new Americans! You did it the right way, the legal way. Stand tall and be proud!
You rock!

Being an American was never meant to be easy or free!

If you think it should be easy or free, I suggest you tell that to the 3,872 dead Americans in Iraq, or the 445,000 that lie at rest in Europe or the thousands that died in the pacific, Vietnam, Korea, or the countless other wars where proud Americans paid the ultimate cost!

I cant believe some of the things I see posted (dragoness)!

Do you even think about what you say?

Proudly I say again, It's funny how half of the citizens couldn't pass that test and requirements, does that mean we can deport them too???? What do you think, new legislation to deport citizens who cannot pass the immigration test and requirements??????? And then we would have room for all the immigrants who can pass the requirements. Ah ha, a solve all.

This has nothing to do with dead soldiers, beloved baby shrub did that to us and all the other wars were not for or to treat humans in America as animals, except the civil war of course, but other than that none of those wars are over treating humans here as animals and dehumanizing them daily so they can perpetrate their hatred on them and make it look right. When treating any human as less than human is not right and you can talk about wars and soldiers and whatever it will not make it right.

lol thats wat our sergeant told us in rotc that we would be deported if we couldnt pass the test noone could

this is one of the OLD TeST a few years ago for mexican immigrants to get in the US

how many of u would pass who are already here


Current USCIS Test Questions
(Click on the question to see the answer.)

1. What are the colors of our flag?

2. How many stars are there in our flag?

3. What color are the stars on our flag?

4. What do the stars on the flag mean?

5. How many stripes are there in the flag?

6. What color are the stripes?

7. What do the stripes on the flag mean?

8. How many states are there in the Union?

9. What is the 4th of July?

10. What is the date of Independence Day?

11. Independence from whom?

12. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?

13. Who was the first President of the United States?

14. Who is the President of the United States today?

15. Who is the vice-president of the United States today?

16. Who elects the President of the United States?

17. Who becomes President of the United States if the President should die?

18. For how long do we elect the President?

19. What is the Constitution?

20. Can the Constitution be changed?

21. What do we call a change to the Constitution?

22. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?

23. How many branches are there in our government?

24. What are the three branches of our government?

25. What is the legislative branch of our government?

26. Who makes the laws in the United States?

27. What is the Congress?

28. What are the duties of Congress?

29. Who elects the Congress?

30. How many senators are there in Congress?

31. Can you name the two senators from your state?

32. For how long do we elect each senator?

33. How many representatives are there in Congress?

34. For how long do we elect the representatives?

35. What is the executive branch of our government?

36. What is the judiciary branch of our government?

37. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?

38. What is the supreme court law of the United States?

39. What is the Bill of Rights?

40. What is the capital of your state?

41. Who is the current governor of your state?

42. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die?

43. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

44. Can you name thirteen original states?

45. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death."?

46. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?

47. What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?

48. How many terms can the President serve?

49. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

50. Who is the head of your local government?

51. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of these requirements.

52. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate?

53. Who selects the Supreme Court justice?

54. How many Supreme Court justice are there?

55. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?

56. What is the head executive of a state government called?

57. What is the head executive of a city government called?

58. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the Americans colonists?

59. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?

60. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

61. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?

62. What is the national anthem of the United States?

63. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?

64. Where does freedom of speech come from?

65. What is a minimum voting age in the United States?

66. Who signs bills into law?

67. What is the highest court in the United States?

68. Who was the President during the Civil War?

69. What did the Emancipation Declaration do?

70. What special group advises the President?

71. Which President is called the "Father of our country"?

72. What Immigration and Naturalization Service form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen?

73. Who helped the Pilgrims in America?

74. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?

75. What are the 13 original states of the U.S. called?

76. Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

77. Who has the power to declare the war?

78. What kind of government does the United States have?

79. Which President freed the slaves?

80. In what year was the Constitution written?

81. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?

82. Name one purpose of the United Nations?

83. Where does Congress meet?

84. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

85. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?

86. Name one benefit of being citizen of the United States.

87. What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?

88. What is the United States Capitol?

89. What is the White House?

90. Where is the White House located?

91. What is the name of the President's official home?

92. Name the right guaranteed by the first amendment.

93. Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

94. Which President was the first Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

95. In what month do we vote for the President?

96. In what month is the new President inaugurated?

97. How many times may a Senator be re-elected?

98. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?

99. What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S. today?

100. How many states are there in the United States today?


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That's all stuff we are taught in school. I'll be damned if I could answer all those. Nor do I want too.
Since I cannot stand politics, that is a subject that makes no sense to me anymore. The whys, what fors and who's of it all. The unfairness, and the lies just urk (erk?)(irk?) me to no end. We should change the entrance exams. To something worthy and truthful. Something that matters.
Some of those questions seemingly do not concern us anymore as a collective whole.
Kat

Those questions look fair to me!
If your not a US citizen, want to be, and cant learn that then I feel you dont belong!
Sorry!!

I agree fanta. Those would be fair questions back in the day when we were fair and just. When our politicians were something to admire and trust. When those things were real and not to be broken and used for a personal gain. I am not going to tell ya how many I actually got correct. It doesn't matter to me.I am a little smarter than one may want to think me.
But, I will tell ya this. Too many people cannot answer MOST of these same questions.
Kat

But Kat,
Their parents, granparents, and great grandparents have already paid the price for them to be American!

Or, maybe they, their Brother or sister, aunt or Uncle are paying that price now in Iraq or Afganistan!

hey my dad has gone to iraq 4 times already no price to be paid we shuldnt even be over there

How old are you?

Fanta, you lost me honey. Brain fart I guess.
Kat

19

I am talking about the Americans Kat, that cant pass that test!
They shouldnt have to. It does not apply to them!





gdr441, Didnt your father teach you to listen and not talk when Adults are?

I know he did!!!

only a little bit is taught, in school, but they are from a different country how are they gonna know this, its like u going to another country being asked these questions