WASHINGTON, D.C. – A more difficult citizenship test and stricter criteria for applicants are set to take effect in mid-October, making the path to naturalization more challenging for prospective U.S. citizens.
The new test, which was briefly implemented in late 2020 before being reverted, will require applicants to answer 20 questions from a pool of 128, a significant increase from the current version, which requires six correct answers from a pool of 100 questions. To pass, an applicant must get at least 12 questions right. If they fail, they will get a second chance.
The new questions will delve deeper into American history and politics, with sample queries including:
- “Name five of the original 13 colonies that became states.”
- “What is one American technological innovation?”
- “Why were the Federalist Papers important?”
In addition to the revised test, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced it is tightening the criteria for assessing an applicant’s “good moral character.” This new standard will require applicants to demonstrate positive contributions to society, not just the absence of criminal behavior. The new rules also state that unlawfully voting or registering to vote, as well as making false claims to U.S. citizenship, will disqualify an applicant from meeting the “good moral character” requirement.
The agency has also reinstated the practice of sending government investigators to interview an applicant’s neighbors and coworkers to corroborate their eligibility for naturalization. These changes are part of a broader effort to make the naturalization process more rigorous.
