more extensive and difficult and with an investigation of the applicant

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun this Monday to implement a new, longer and more difficult citizenship exam as part of the goal of President Donald Trump’s administration to make the naturalization process more rigorous.

The new exam, focused on civic education, includes 28 new questions with respect to the previous one.

Applicants for citizenship The same percentage must answer correctly as before (60%). The number of possible questions increased from 100 to 128.

The new exam had been designed in the first Trump administration (2017-2021). But The Administration of Democrat Joe Biden (2021-2025) repealed the test and reinstated the one used since 2008.

In a statement, Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson called these changes “crucial” and “the first of many.”

Trump’s version places greater emphasis on aspects of history and the United States political system.

The spokesman stressed that the White House seeks to guarantee that only those foreigners who meet “all eligibility requirements”including the ability to read, write and speak Englishand understand US government and civic education, can be naturalized, which will provide assurance that new citizens will “fully integrate and contribute” to the country’s development.

Rigorous research

USCIS has already announced several changes to the naturalization process, including the restoration of a rigorous background investigation for applicants and stricter reviews of disability exceptions for taking tests and interviews.

Additionally, the Trump Administration has instructed that foreigners applying for citizenship must demonstrate that “they have been and continue to be people of good moral character.”

Positive attributes may include a active community participation, educational achievements, family ties, a stable and legal work historyand responsible financial conduct, such as compliance with tax obligations, among others.

Under the new policy, officials can also expand the definition of disqualifying factors, if the official deems it, such as repeated traffic violations.

The agency is also resuming interviews with neighbors and co-workers of applicants for US citizenship, as part of the vetting process.