Trump Administration Tightens US Citizenship Test Requirements: Stricter Standards Announced

WASHINGTON — The path to U.S. citizenship just became more challenging following the Trump administration’s recent modifications to the naturalization process announced on Monday.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has revamped the oral portion of the test, expanding it from its earlier format. Previously, applicants faced 10 questions and needed to answer six correctly to pass.

Under the new guidelines, applicants must achieve a minimum of 12 correct responses out of a possible 20 questions.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security explained that this adjustment aims to better integrate lawful immigrants into the fabric of American society, fostering a shared national identity and commitment to the country’s Constitution, laws, and foundational values.

The change went into effect immediately for those who filed for naturalization on or after Oct. 20. 

The test will stop immediately once a taker gets 12 questions correct or answers 9 incorrectly. 

Questions are randomly selected from the new total of 128, up from 100. They cover a variety of subjects, from listing the original 13 colonies to who makes federal laws, to specifics about the Constitution, to naming federal holidays and more. See 100 examples before the change here.

The Citizenship Test Working Group and more than 120 national, state and local organizations submitted a letter encouraging the changes to be delayed since they could pose “significant challenges” for people. 

“The administration has not presented substantial evidence that the changes are necessary to protect the integrity of the naturalization process, which it cites as a basis for justifying this shift,” the letter reads. 

Trump administration officials previously expressed they thought the test was “too easy” and needed a change.