USCIS changes citizenship test requirements to emphasize American history
- The updated civics test will require applicants to study a broader range of questions focusing on American history and government.
- The changes reflect a response to congressional intentions and aim to ensure applicants are better prepared for civic participation.
- These developments highlight the ongoing complexities in U.S. immigration policies and their effects on naturalization rates.
In the United States, a new civics test has been implemented for applicants seeking U.S. citizenship, starting its application for citizenship applications filed after mid-October 2024. This change has introduced more stringent requirements focused on American history and government knowledge, with a shift from a previous test set in 2008. Applicants now have to study 128 questions and must correctly answer 12 out of 20 during an oral test, as opposed to the prior requirement of answering just 6 out of 10 questions correctly from a pool of 100. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that these modifications are intended to align with congressional intentions to enhance the naturalization process and ensure that new citizens are adequately prepared to engage in American civic life. The revisions were initially introduced during the Trump administration but were later withdrawn by the Biden administration. The latter argued that the previous version placed an unfair burden on immigrants seeking citizenship. Despite the swiftness of response during its recent announcement, the agency has seen fluctuations in the volume of applicants and naturalizations in recent years, indicating a complex interplay of policy, immigration trends, and the overall naturalization landscape. During 2024, over 818,000 individuals became naturalized citizens, although this was around 7% fewer than the previous year, highlighting the challenges faced amidst changing immigration policies and the pandemic’s impacts on processing times.