Strict citizenship test reinstated in the United States
In a move that harks back to the policies of the previous administration, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans to tighten the criteria for obtaining U.S. citizenship. These changes, initially introduced under U.S. President Donald Trump, were reversed in 2021 by Joe Biden, but are set to make a comeback.
The stricter test will require future applicants to demonstrate a more comprehensive knowledge of U.S. history, politics, and institutions. Applicants will need to know up to 20 questions from a catalog of 128, with at least 12 correct answers to pass. This is an increase from the previous test, which consisted of 100 questions, with only 10 being asked, and 6 correct answers being sufficient.
In addition to the knowledge test, the USCIS is planning to revise the standards for "good character". The revised "good character" standards will place more emphasis on demonstrating positive contributions to society. The personal environment of applicants may also be taken into account in the revised "good character" review. However, it's important to note that the revised "good character" standards have not been implemented yet.
The stricter test will apply to applications submitted from mid-October 2025. Applications submitted earlier will still be processed under the current procedure. This multi-stage process to revise citizenship requirements is being led by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, who, during Trump's administration, was Chad Wolf.
It's worth mentioning that during Trump's second term, he announced plans to tighten citizenship requirements. The stricter test was initially introduced at the end of 2020 during his first term.
These changes aim to ensure that those seeking U.S. citizenship have a deeper understanding of the country's history and institutions, and demonstrate a positive impact on society. The USCIS encourages all applicants to prepare accordingly for the updated requirements.
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