{"abstract":"This final rule amends the Immigration and Naturalization Service (the Service) regulations relating to the educational requirements for naturalization of eligible applicants under section 312 of the Immigration and nationality Act (the Act), as amended by the Technical Corrections Act of 1994. This amendment provides an exception from the requirements of demonstrating an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage, and of demonstrating a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government of the United States, for certain applicants who are unable to comply with both requirements because they possess a ``physical or developmental disability'' or a ``mental impairment.'' The final rule establishes an administrative process whereby the Service will adjudicate requests for these exceptions while providing the public with an opportunity to comment on portions of the adjudicative process which the Service is altering in response to public comments from the previously published proposed rule.","action":"Final rule with request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE","name":"Justice Department","id":268,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/justice-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/268","parent_id":null,"slug":"justice-department"},{"raw_name":"Immigration and Naturalization Service","name":"Immigration and Naturalization Service","id":232,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/immigration-and-naturalization-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/232","parent_id":268,"slug":"immigration-and-naturalization-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1997/03/19/97-6686.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"229","title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"312","title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"499","title":8}],"citation":"62 FR 12915","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"1997-05-19","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective March 19, 1997. Written comments must be submitted on or before May 19, 1997.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["INS No. 1702-96"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"97-6686","effective_on":"1997-03-19","end_page":12928,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/03/19/97-6686/exceptions-to-the-educational-requirements-for-naturalization-for-certain-applicants","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/97-6686?publication_date=1997-03-19","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1997-03-19/97-6686/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":14,"page_views":{"count":143,"last_updated":"2026-08-23 20:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-03-19/pdf/97-6686.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1997-03-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1997/03/19/97-6686.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1115-AE02":{"issue":"199610","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1115-AE02/exemption-from-educational-requirements-for-certain-naturalization-applicants","title":"Exemption from Educational Requirements for Certain Naturalization Applicants","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=199610&RIN=1115-AE02&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1115-AE02"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-21T01:51:32Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":12915,"subtype":null,"title":"Exceptions to the Educational Requirements for Naturalization for Certain Applicants","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":62}