In a Federal Register notice published Monday, the USCIS said it would scrap the redesign after critics said the changes would create unnecessary barriers, making the process harder for applicants. You will recall that in 2022, the agency announced plans to trial a new version of the test after subject matter experts reviewed the current version and suggested changes.
The path to U.S. citizenship will remain unchanged as USCIS abandons its planned naturalization test overhaul. The agency’s Monday announcement follows widespread criticism that the proposed changes would have made the process more challenging for aspiring citizens.
Established in 2008, the current test evaluates immigrants’ English proficiency through conversations about their application and tests civic knowledge through verbal questions about the U.S. government and history. Applicants must correctly answer 6 out of 10 civics questions to pass.
The rejected redesign would have replaced application-based conversation with photo descriptions and transformed the civics portion into a tablet-based multiple-choice format. Critics argued these changes would disadvantage applicants with limited formal education or digital literacy.
“The trial version of the test may increase burdens on applicants,” USCIS acknowledged in its Federal Register notice, citing feedback from over 1,300 public comments. The agency’s decision maintains its commitment to removing unnecessary barriers in the naturalization process while ensuring applicants demonstrate the required knowledge and skills.
For now, immigrants seeking citizenship will continue with the familiar format that has helped millions become Americans over the past 15 years.
