US Citizenship Application Rules Changing from October 20, 2025
If many lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), becoming a U.S. citizen (naturalization) is a long-cherished goal. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced significant changes to its naturalization process, beginning October 20, 2025, that will raise the bar in both the civics exam and the assessment of moral character. These changes will apply to those who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. Applicants whose paperwork is already pending, or filed before that date, will continue under the older standards. Below is a breakdown of what these changes entail and what applicants should prepare for. 1. Harder Civics Test From “6 out of 10” to “12 out of 20” Under the current system, naturalization applicants are asked up to 10 civics questions (drawn from a standard pool) and must correctly answer at least 6 to pass. Starting October 20, 2025, the new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test will require applicants to answer up to 20 ques...