What it will take to become a U.S. citizen under Trump’s new USCIS rules
Another year of stricter immigration policies is beginning in the United States under the Trump administration, with new requirements affecting one of the most important benefits for immigrants: American citizenship.
In a summary of recent changes, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shared on social media several policies that were proposed and implemented throughout 2025.
Among those changes, one stands out for directly affecting a crucial step in the naturalization process: the citizenship test for permanent residents seeking to change their legal status.
USCIS launches tougher U.S. citizenship test under new Trump immigration rules
While praising President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for their “leadership”, USCIS highlighted the launch of a new U.S. citizenship test after reviewing the previous version.
“We have revised the naturalization test all applicants must pass to become U.S. citizens”, the agency wrote on Monday on its X account.
“Our new version of the test will ensure all new citizens understand the privilege of citizenship and what it means to be an American”, USCIS added.
The push for a more rigorous civics test emerged in 2025, with instructions issued to USCIS officials to assess applicants’ English proficiency, as well as their knowledge of U.S. history and “American values”.
Among the main changes are:
- An expansion to 128 possible history and government questions
- An interview with 20 questions (previously there were 10)
- To pass, the applicant must answer at least 12 correctly (previously, six were sufficient)
“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation”, USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a press statement.
“By ensuring only those aliens who meet all eligibility requirements, including the ability to read, write, and speak English and understand U.S. government and civics, are able to naturalize, the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness”, he added.
USCIS expands background checks for citizenship, including neighbors and employers
USCIS is not only implementing a new civics test, but has also tightened citizenship requirements more broadly. These changes include stricter background checks, tighter limits on medical waivers to avoid the test, more rigorous evaluations of “good moral character,” and even neighborhood investigations to verify applicants’ eligibility.
The agency highlighted this approach as one of its “achievements” in 2025, when it proposed expanding background checks not only to neighbors, but also to employers of citizenship applicants.
USCIS confirmed it was “visiting neighborhoods to meet with neighbors and employers to verify their eligibility to be here, their character, and their assimilation into our way of life.”
While continuing mass deportations, the Trump administration has raised barriers to legal status and increased the cost of applications under new laws.
USCIS announced it would begin administering the new version of the civics test on Oct. 20, 2025, for those applying for naturalization from that date onward.
The agency has previously stated that the changes to the citizenship test respond to one of Trump’s executive orders, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”.
