US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

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[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 8USC1443]

 
                     TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
 
                 CHAPTER 12--IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY
 
             SUBCHAPTER III--NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION
 
               Part II--Nationality Through Naturalization
 
Sec. 1443. Administration


(a) Rules and regulations governing examination of applicants

    The Attorney General shall make such rules and regulations as may be 
necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this part and is 
authorized to prescribe the scope and nature of the examination of 
applicants for naturalization as to their admissibility to citizenship. 
Such examination shall be limited to inquiry concerning the applicant's 
residence, physical presence in the United States, good moral character, 
understanding of and attachment to the fundamental principles of the 
Constitution of the United States, ability to read, write, and speak 
English, and other qualifications to become a naturalized citizen as 
required by law, and shall be uniform throughout the United States.

(b) Instruction in citizenship

    The Attorney General is authorized to promote instruction and 
training in citizenship responsibilities of applicants for 
naturalization including the sending of names of candidates for 
naturalization to the public schools, preparing and distributing 
citizenship textbooks to such candidates as are receiving instruction in 
preparation for citizenship within or under the supervision of the 
public schools, preparing and distributing monthly an immigration and 
naturalization bulletin and securing the aid of and cooperating with 
official State and national organizations, including those concerned 
with vocational education.

(c) Prescription of forms

    The Attorney General shall prescribe and furnish such forms as may 
be required to give effect to the provisions of this part, and only such 
forms as may be so provided shall be legal. All certificates of 
naturalization and of citizenship shall be printed on safety paper and 
shall be consecutively numbered in separate series.

(d) Administration of oaths and depositions

    Employees of the Service may be designated by the Attorney General 
to administer oaths and to take depositions without charge in matters 
relating to the administration of the naturalization and citizenship 
laws. In cases where there is a likelihood of unusual delay or of 
hardship, the Attorney General may, in his discretion, authorize such 
depositions to be taken before a postmaster without charge, or before a 
notary public or other person authorized to administer oaths for general 
purposes.

(e) Issuance of certificate of naturalization or citizenship

    A certificate of naturalization or of citizenship issued by the 
Attorney General under the authority of this subchapter shall have the 
same effect in all courts, tribunals, and public offices of the United 
States, at home and abroad, of the District of Columbia, and of each 
State, Territory, and outlying possession of the United States, as a 
certificate of naturalization or of citizenship issued by a court having 
naturalization jurisdiction.

(f) Copies of records

    Certifications and certified copies of all papers, documents, 
certificates, and records required or authorized to be issued, used, 
filed, recorded, or kept under any and all provisions of this chapter 
shall be admitted in evidence equally with the originals in any and all 
cases and proceedings under this chapter and in all cases and 
proceedings in which the originals thereof might be admissible as 
evidence.

(g) Furnished quarters for photographic studios

    The officers in charge of property owned or leased by the Government 
are authorized, upon the recommendation of the Attorney General, to 
provide quarters, without payment of rent, in any building occupied by 
the Service, for a photographic studio, operated by welfare 
organizations without profit and solely for the benefit of persons 
seeking to comply with requirements under the immigration and 
nationality laws. Such studio shall be under the supervision of the 
Attorney General.

(h) Public education regarding naturalization benefits

    In order to promote the opportunities and responsibilities of United 
States citizenship, the Attorney General shall broadly distribute 
information concerning the benefits which persons may receive under this 
subchapter and the requirements to obtain such benefits. In carrying out 
this subsection, the Attorney General shall seek the assistance of 
appropriate community groups, private voluntary agencies, and other 
relevant organizations. There are authorized to be appropriated (for 
each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 1991) such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this subsection.

(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title III, ch. 2, Sec. 332, 66 Stat. 252; Pub. 
L. 101-649, title IV, Secs. 406, 407(d)(10), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 
5040, 5042; Pub. L. 102-232, title III, Sec. 305(m)(6), Dec. 12, 1991, 
105 Stat. 1750.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-232 substituted ``applicants'' for 
``petitioners'' in first sentence.
    1990--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-649, Sec. 407(d)(10), struck out 
``for the purpose of making appropriate recommendations to the 
naturalization courts'' before period at end of first sentence and 
struck out second sentence which read as follows: ``Such examination, in 
the discretion of the Attorney General, and under such rules and 
regulations as may be prescribed by him, may be conducted before or 
after the applicant has filed his petition for naturalization.''
    Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101-649, Sec. 406, added subsec. (h).


                    Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

    Section 305(m) of Pub. L. 102-232 provided that the amendment made 
by that section is effective as if included in section 407(d) of the 
Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-649.

  Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of 
                                Functions

    For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of 
functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under 
section 1551 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1457 of this title.