US to make strict naturalization

Washington (dpa) — The administration of President Donald Trump is tightening the criteria for obtaining U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Wednesday.

In the future, applicants will have to answer up to 20 questions from a catalog of 128 in the knowledge test on the history, politics and institutions of the United States, and must get at least 12 correct to pass. Previously, the test comprised 100 questions, of which 10 were asked. Six correct answers were sufficient.

A similar change had already been introduced at the end of 2020 during Trump’s first term, but was reversed in 2021 by his Democratic successor, Joe Biden.

The stricter test applies to applications submitted from mid-October 2025. Applications submitted earlier will still be assessed under the previous procedure.

Naturalization in the U.S. is regulated by a uniform procedure. In addition to the knowledge test, applicants must also demonstrate sufficient English skills and “good moral character.”

However, how these requirements are interpreted can vary depending on the political stance of the government.

The USCIS mentioned in Wednesday’s announcement that this “is one of many steps in an ongoing effort to restore integrity to the naturalization process.”

Trump had announced at the beginning of his second term that he would tighten the requirements for future citizens.

In reviewing “good moral character,” there will now be a greater emphasis on evidence of positive contributions to society, and potentially the personal environment of the applicants may also be considered.