Trump-era Citizenship Test Rolled Back | What to Know

The naturalization process is long and complex. One important aspect of the process is the civics test. Recently, a lot of changes have been made to the test. For example, the Trump administration made the test longer and more difficult. This made it more difficult for immigrants to gain citizenship. Now, the Biden administration is working to roll back the Trump-era tests. Read on to learn more about the citizenship test and the changes being made.

A Brief Overview of The Naturalization Process

To become a United States citizen, there are three potential routes you can take: family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and refugee/asylum-based immigration. That being said, to qualify for naturalization, you will have to meet several requirements. First, you will have to take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States. You must also be at least 18 years old and be a permanent resident in the United States for at least five years, be present in the United States for at least 30 months, and you must live for at least three months in the state or district where you apply for citizenship.

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 Were Made?

A few months ago, the Trump administration altered the test to make it more difficult. For example, applicants would have to answer 12 out of 20 questions in order to achieve a passing score, rather than the initial 6 out of 12. The test also included more difficult questions. The New York Times states that simple geography questions had been eliminated and more complex questions have been added.

When Will the Test Be Updated?

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 citizenship test or any other aspects of the naturalization process, contact our firm today.

Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm

John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why If you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C. and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.

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