The US Citizenship and Immigration Companies (USCIS) has unveiled the primary modifications to the naturalization civics take a look at as a part of a multi-step overhaul of American citizenship requirements.
Naturalization is the authorized course of by means of which a non-citizen turns into a full citizen of a rustic.
The 2025 take a look at is designed to higher assess candidates’ information of U.S. historical past and authorities, making certain that new residents totally perceive the rights and duties of American citizenship.
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser mentioned the modifications guarantee solely eligible candidates who perceive English and U.S. civics can naturalize
“At present, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies posted a Federal Register discover asserting implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics take a look at. The 2025 take a look at assesses an alien’s understanding of U.S. historical past and authorities in keeping with the statutory requirement and is one in every of many steps in an ongoing effort to revive integrity to the naturalization course of and meet congressional intent,” they mentioned
Backstory
The U.S. had signaled potential reforms to the H-1B visa program and the naturalization civics take a look at.
The brand new head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, indicated that the H-1B system wants a elementary overhaul to higher serve the home labor market. He emphasised that this system ought to complement, not supplant, the U.S. financial system and employees.
Mr. Edlow additionally mentioned the administration wished to vary the naturalization take a look at required by potential U.S. residents.
As of now, immigrants examine 100 civics questions after which should reply accurately to 6 out of 10 inquiries to cross that portion of the take a look at. In the course of the first Trump administration, the company elevated the variety of questions and required candidates to reply accurately to 12 out of 20 questions.
Candidates will now face:
- USCIS is restoring sturdy vetting for all candidates looking for naturalization.
- The company is conducting stricter opinions of incapacity exceptions to the English and civics necessities.
- Officers have been given steerage to evaluate candidates’ good ethical character by on the lookout for constructive contributions to American society, reasonably than simply the absence of unhealthy conduct.
- USCIS is resuming neighborhood investigations to make sure that candidates meet statutory necessities and are worthy of U.S. citizenship.
- Clarification that unlawfully voting, unlawfully registering to vote, and making false claims to U.S. citizenship disqualify candidates from demonstrating good ethical character.
The company famous that within the coming weeks and months, it should announce further steps to reinforce the integrity of the naturalization course of additional.
What it’s best to know
The U.S. has carried out a number of vital modifications to its visa insurance policies affecting Nigerian vacationers. These changes influence visa validity, software procedures, and compliance necessities.
- In July, the U.S. launched a brand new visa reciprocity schedule for Nigerian residents. Most non-immigrant visa classes, together with B1/B2 (enterprise/tourism), F, M, and J (pupil and change customer), now have a single-entry validity of simply three months.
- Along with the decreased visa validity, the U.S. has launched new software necessities. Candidates beneath the F, M, and J visa classes should now make their social media profiles publicly seen. Candidates are additionally required to reveal all social media usernames or handles used within the final 5 years on purposes such because the DS-160. Failure to take action can have an effect on the eligibility of the appliance.
- The U.S. additionally carried out new immigration-related charges for a number of visa classes, efficient July 22, 2025. A $100 software price has been launched for Type I-589 (asylum purposes), together with a $100 annual price for pending purposes.
Employment Authorization Doc (EAD) purposes beneath particular classes now require a $550 price for preliminary purposes and $275 for renewals or extensions. Moreover, a $250 submitting price has been launched for Particular Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) circumstances beneath Type I-360. These charges are non-waivable and should be submitted with purposes postmarked on or after July 22, 2025.