Biden Administration Rolling Back Trump-Era Citizenship Tests

The citizenship test is an important part of the naturalization process. Recently, the test was made more difficult by the Trump administration and is currently being rolled back by the Biden administration. Read on for more information.

What to Know About Naturalization

To qualify for naturalization as a United States citizen, individuals must meet several qualifications. To become a U.S. citizen, you will have to do the following:

• Be at least 18 years old and a permanent resident for at least 5 of those years.
• Prove your physical presence in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years before filing Form N-400.
• Prove you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply.
• Prove that you are a person of good moral character.
• Demonstrate that you are committed to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution.
• Communicate in English, via reading, writing, and speaking.
• Have a sufficient understanding of United States civics and history.
• Prove your continuous residence in the United States for at least 5 years before the date of filing Form N-400.

What Is the Citizenship Test?

Part of the naturalization process is testing an applicant’s knowledge of United States history. This test is meant to evaluate your knowledge of the U.S. government and the English language. There are exceptions to taking the test for certain applicants. Those over the age of 50 who have lived in the country for over 20 years are not required to take the language test. However, they must still pass a civics test. This is also the case for applicants over the age of 55 that has lived in the country for more than 15 years.

What Changes Have Been Made?

The Trump administration made the test more difficult. Before, applicants had to answer 6 out of 12 questions correctly, but this number was changed to 12 out of 20. Additionally, the new questions were arguably more difficult, and less straightforward.

What Changes Are Currently Being Made?

According to CNN, “the update goes into effect on March 1 and there will be a brief period during which the agency may offer both versions of the test to accommodate applicants who were already studying for the Trump-era version.”

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the immigration process, contact our firm today to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. We are here to walk you through the process every step of the way.

Contact Our Firm

Katona & Associates, PLLC is an experienced, highly dedicated New York City immigration law firm located in lower Manhattan. Our firm works with clients in all matters of immigration law, including employment immigration, family immigration, deportation defense, green cards, and citizenship. Contact us to discuss your case and get the help you need.