IMMIGRATION STANDARDS VARY WIDELY IN THE U.S.

For many reasons, the number of immigrants to the United States is growing by leaps and bounds. In 1992, some 300,000 immigrants applied for citizenship. This year, the number is expected to be an overwhelming 1.8 million people.

This surge in citizenship applications has had one clear effect: It has emphasized the fact that there is not standard test for those who seek to become naturalized Americans.

Indeed, the standards not only vary from state to state, but also from city to city or from one examiner to another.

In Maryland, the test amounts to three oral questions and the ability to write a sentence. In Virginia seven out of 10 questions must be answered correctly. California's exam is 10 tough questions.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service recognizes that its testing isn't consistent. Given the huge numbers of people seeking citizenship, the INS is looking for ways to cope. A full-scale review of the testing procedures is under way.

Consideration is being given to the idea that not every immigrant comes from the same background. As a result, the thinking goes, one test for all might not work well. And, the INS says, it doesn't want to set an English-language standard.

Why not?

For decades -- particularly during the great immigration era that turned American into a vast melting pot -- immigrants strove to meet certain standards, many of them self-imposed. Most were eager to learn a the common language of English, and the naturalization process provided them the opportunity.

A lot has changed since those days, however. New citizens must no longer be adults. Young children are given citizenship, and some of them are far too young to be tested on the Constitution on other aspects of American democracy.

The INS will have its hands full. At a minimum, it only seems fair that all immigrants have a passing knowledge of English before they become citizens.