USCIS Revising Naturalization Civics Test

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that several changes are being implemented to the U.S. civics and history test that naturalization applicants generally must pass prior to being allowed to become U.S. citizens. Applicants will be asked twice as many questions as the current version of the test, and the pool of questions the USCIS will use is increasing by more than twenty-five percent. Applicants who file an N-400 application on or after December 1, 2020 will take the updated version of the test.

 U.S. Civics Test

Currently, during the citizenship test / interview, the USCIS examiner asks the applicant questions from a list of 100 possible questions in three categories: U.S. government, U.S. history, and integrated civics. All possible questions and their respective answers are available to candidates in advance on the USCIS website. Under current rules, the candidate must answer at least six-out-of-ten questions correctly.

Updated Version of Civics Test

The new version of the civics and history test will consist of a list of 128 possible questions. Each applicant will need to answer at least 12-out-of-24 questions, selected at random. The full list of 128 questions and answers is available on the USCIS website.

This new version of the test will be used for N-400 applications that are filed on or after December 1, 2020. However, the USCIS will continue to administer the 10-question version of the test for any N-400 applicant who is 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years.

Conclusion

The USCIS previously indicated that it is also seeking to make changes to the English language portion of the test. As of yet, however, no such changes have been made.

Copyright © 2020, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved