8 U.S.C. § 1423: Requirements as to understanding the English language, history, principles and form of government of the United States

an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language: Provided , That the requirements of this paragraph relating to ability to read and write shall be met if the applicant can read or write simple words and phrases to the end that a reasonable test of his literacy shall be made and that no extraordinary or unreasonable condition shall be imposed upon the applicant; and a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States. The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who is unable because of physical or developmental disability or mental impairment to comply therewith. is over fifty years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least twenty years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence, or is over fifty-five years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least fifteen years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence. The Attorney General, pursuant to regulations, shall provide for special consideration, as determined by the Attorney General, concerning the requirement of subsection (a)(2) with respect to any person who, on the date of the filing of the person’s application for naturalization as provided in section 1445 of this title , is over sixty-five years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least twenty years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence. “This Act may be cited as the ‘Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000’. was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos pursuant to section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1157 ); and served with a special guerrilla unit, or irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the United States military at any time during the period beginning February 28, 1961 , and ending September 18, 1978 ; satisfies the requirement of paragraph (1)(A); and was the spouse of a person described in paragraph (1) on the day on which such described person applied for admission into the United States as a refugee; or satisfies the requirement of paragraph (1)(A); and is the surviving spouse of a person described in paragraph (1)(B) which described person was killed or died in Laos, Thailand, or Vietnam. “The Attorney General shall provide for special consideration, as determined by the Attorney General, concerning the requirement of paragraph (2) of section 312(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1423(a)(2) ) with respect to the naturalization of any person described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 2 of this Act. original documents; an affidavit of the serving person’s superior officer; two affidavits from other individuals who also were serving with such a special guerrilla unit, or irregular forces, and who personally knew of the person’s service; or other appropriate proof. shall review the refugee processing documentation for the person, or, in an appropriate case, for the person and the person’s spouse, to verify that the requirements of section 2 relating to refugee applications and admissions have been satisfied; shall consider the documentation submitted by the person under section 4; may request an advisory opinion from the Secretary of Defense regarding the person’s, or their spouse’s, service in a special guerrilla unit, or irregular forces, described in section 2(1)(B); and may consider any documentation provided by organizations maintaining records with respect to Hmong veterans or their families. The Secretary of Defense shall provide any opinion requested under paragraph (3) to the extent practicable, and the Attorney General shall take into account any opinion that the Secretary of Defense is able to provide. “This Act shall apply to a person only if the person’s application for naturalization is filed, as provided in section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1445 ), with appropriate fees not later than 36 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [ May 26, 2000 ]. In the case of a person described in section 2(3), the application referred to in the preceding sentence, and appropriate fees, shall be filed not later than 36 months after the date of the enactment of this sentence [ Nov. 1, 2000 ]. “Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the total number of aliens who may be granted an exemption under section 2 or special consideration under section 3, or both, may not exceed 45,000.”