The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its first major revisions to the naturalization civics test as part of a broader effort to strengthen the nation’s citizenship process.
Naturalization is the procedure through which foreign nationals become full U.S. citizens.
The newly introduced 2025 version of the exam aims to more accurately evaluate applicants’ understanding of American history and government, ensuring they are fully aware of the rights and duties that come with citizenship.
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser explained that the changes will help guarantee that only qualified candidates who possess sufficient English skills and civic knowledge can successfully naturalize.
“Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted a Federal Register notice announcing implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test,” Tragesser stated. “This assessment meets the statutory requirement to measure an applicant’s grasp of U.S. history and government and reflects our ongoing commitment to maintain the integrity of the naturalization process.”
Background
Earlier signals from the agency hinted at broad immigration reforms, including updates to the H-1B visa program and the naturalization exam.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow has said the H-1B system needs a complete overhaul to better support the domestic workforce, stressing that the visa should complement rather than replace American labor. He also noted plans to revise the citizenship test required of prospective citizens.
Currently, immigrants study 100 civics questions and must correctly answer at least six out of ten to pass. During the first Trump administration, that threshold temporarily increased to 12 correct answers out of 20.
New Measures for Applicants
The updated approach includes:
USCIS indicated that further steps to reinforce the naturalization process will be revealed in the coming months.
Key Visa Policy Changes for Nigerians
Alongside the test overhaul, Washington has also adjusted several visa rules affecting Nigerian travelers
Shorter visa validity: As of July, most non-immigrant visas including B1/B2 (business/tourist), and student or exchange visas (F, M, J) now carry a single-entry validity of only three months.
Social media disclosure: Applicants for F, M, and J visas must list every social media username used in the past five years and keep their profiles public during the application process.
New immigration fees: Effective July 22, 2025, USCIS added a $100 filing fee for Form I-589 (asylum applications) plus a $100 annual charge for pending cases. Employment Authorization Document (EAD) filings now cost $550 for first-time applicants and $275 for renewals. Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions (Form I-360) require a new $250 fee. These charges are mandatory and non-refundable.
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