U.S. Citizenship Test Changes Could Raise Bar

U.S. citizenship test changes are once again on the horizon, just a year after a major overhaul, potentially adding new challenges for Korean American seniors and other applicants with limited English proficiency.

The Trump administration has begun developing new regulations that would revise the educational requirements for naturalization, including standards for English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history and government. Officials are also considering allowing outside organizations to administer the citizenship test, which is currently conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers during naturalization interviews.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s recently released regulatory agenda, USCIS is working on a proposed rule that would further define the English and civics standards required for naturalization. Details of the proposal are currently scheduled to be released in December.

U.S. Citizenship Test Changes Could Redefine Standards

The proposed changes would focus on the educational requirements used to assess an applicant’s English skills and knowledge of U.S. history and government.

Under current law, naturalization applicants must demonstrate an ability to read, write and speak English, as well as a basic understanding of U.S. history and government. DHS says existing regulations do not sufficiently specify how applicants must satisfy those requirements.

The agency aims to establish clearer standards and a more defined framework for determining whether applicants meet the educational requirements. However, specific details — including possible changes to test questions, passing scores and English-language assessments — have not yet been released.

Immigration attorney Brian Oh said the proposal should be viewed in the context of an overall tightening of the naturalization process.

“Considering the recent trend toward stricter citizenship screening, there is a very high possibility that these changes will also increase the burden on applicants,” Oh said.

Organizations that assist immigrants with citizenship applications are also raising concerns.

One organization representative said last year’s test changes have already created significant difficulties for Korean American seniors and applicants who are not fluent in English.

“If the test changes again, it could place an even greater burden on them,” the representative said.

Outside Organizations Could Administer the Test

The way the citizenship test is administered could also change.

DHS is considering giving USCIS greater discretion over test administration, including the possibility of allowing third-party organizations to conduct the exam. Currently, USCIS officers administer both the English and civics portions during naturalization interviews.

Oh warned that moving testing to specialized outside organizations could result in a more standardized — and potentially stricter — evaluation process.

“If a professional testing organization evaluates applicants under fixed standards, the process could become more rigid and uniform than it is now,” Oh said. “That could also lead to more applicants failing the test.”

Naturalization Requirements Have Been Tightening

The latest proposal comes amid broader changes that have raised the bar for obtaining U.S. citizenship.

A new citizenship test that took effect last October expanded the pool of civics questions applicants must study from 100 to 128. Instead of answering six out of 10 questions correctly, applicants can now be asked up to 20 questions and must answer 12 correctly to pass.

USCIS has also formally incorporated “neighborhood investigations” into its policy manual, allowing officers to seek information from an applicant’s neighbors, coworkers and others when evaluating character, activities and eligibility for naturalization.

The latest U.S. citizenship test changes, however, remain at the proposed-rule stage. The proposal is currently scheduled for publication in December, but the timeline could change.

Once published, the proposed rule would still need to go through a public comment period and the federal rulemaking process before any final regulations could take effect.