It’s Official! Changes to the U.S. Citizenship Exam Take Effect

Changes to the US Citizenship Exam

USCIS Announces New Measures

Naturalization Requirements Increase

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a more demanding version of the naturalization exam this Monday, marking a significant shift for thousands of immigrants seeking to obtain US citizenship.

The agency confirmed the implementation of the so-called 2025 naturalization civics exam, a test designed to measure understanding of US history and the functioning of the federal government.

According to a federal notice, the assessment corresponds to an update of the 2020 civics exam, introduced during the first term of Donald Trump and later suspended by the administration of Joe Biden.

USCIS reminded applicants that every candidate must demonstrate the ability to “read, write, and speak English and understand US government and civics.”

Changes Increase the Difficulty of the Citizenship Exam

US citizenship exam changes take effect-Photo: Shutterstock

The version now in effect increases the total number of questions from 100 to 128, one of the most significant changes compared to the previous format.

During the naturalization interview, the officer may ask questions until the applicant answers 12 correctly or accumulates 9 incorrect answers, changing the approval dynamic compared to prior years.

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USCIS explained that several questions were rewritten to make them “more complex and less direct,” requiring greater precision and more developed responses.

“These critical changes are the first of many,” the agency stated, signaling that this adjustment will not be the last step toward a stricter exam.

A Renewed Exam With Familiar Roots

The 2025 update brings back elements of the 2020 exam, which had replaced the 2008 version by increasing both difficulty and the number of questions.

However, in 2021, Biden rolled back the changes implemented under Trump and reinstated the 2008 exam, arguing for the need to simplify the naturalization process.

The civics exam in place until now had remained unchanged since its creation in 2008 during the administration of George W. Bush.

“US citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world,” said Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesperson, who insisted the process should be reserved for those who “fully adopt our values and principles as a nation.”

More Changes to the US Citizenshop Exam Announced in the Coming Weeks

USCIS warned that this reform is part of a phased hardening process aimed at significantly raising the requirements for US citizenship.

The agency indicated that in the coming weeks and months it will announce new measures, including deeper evaluations of an applicant’s “good moral character.”

These measures also include the reactivation of “neighborhood monitoring,” through which officers may speak with neighbors or even coworkers to verify an applicant’s conduct.

A Process That Could Become Even More Demanding

Two weeks ago, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the current exam is “too easy” and confirmed that additional changes are being evaluated, such as raising the minimum passing score.

Another possibility under consideration is the introduction of a written essay, which would further increase the academic and language burden of the naturalization process.

With these changes, the path to US citizenship becomes more rigorous and demanding, making it clear that USCIS is moving toward a stricter selection system for those seeking to become citizens, according to Telemundo Orlando.