USCIS Announces New Naturalization Test – 11/13/2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on November 13, 2020, that Naturalization applicants are now required to take a more difficult and longer test.

Who Does the New Test Apply To?

The new test will apply to any person who files a citizenship application after December 1, 2020.

What Has Changed?

• The total number of test questions that need to be studied by applicants has increased from 100 to 128.
• The total number of test questions applicants are verbally asked has increased from 10 to 20, and they are required to answer at least 12 questions correctly in order to pass the test, up from 6 out of 10.
• The test questions are more complicated and complex.

A longer and more difficult test will likely prevent some applicants from becoming citizens. It will also increase the current backlogs and delay the citizenship process for many more applicants who have been waiting for months to have their applications adjudicated.

USCIS stated that one of the goals of the new test is to ensure that applicants learn more about civics and history and aren’t simply memorizing names and dates. Opponents of the new test view it as an attempt by the Trump administration to make it harder for immigrants to become a U.S. citizen. In support of their position,  they point to USCIS’s recent announcement of much higher naturalization filing fees, USCIS’s tremendous increase in vetting of citizenship applicants, and long backlogs in adjudication of citizenship applications. Regardless of your position, it is clear that the path to citizenship has become much more challenging for many immigrants.

If you have any questions about the new citizenship test, or any other immigration matter, contact our attorneys at the Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C. Our experienced immigration attorneys can address your concerns and advise you of the proper course of action.