Immigrants seeking US citizenship will have to answer questions on history, rights

The Trump administration has unveiled a revised citizenship test for immigrants, introducing new questions and a higher standard for passing.

Under the updated civics exam, applicants for naturalisation must now answer correctly 12 questions, chosen from a pool of 128, in order to demonstrate what officials describe as their “knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of American history, and of the principles and form of government of the United States.”

The announcement was made on September 17, which is observed federally as Citizenship Day. On the same day, the White House released a copy of the letter President Donald Trump is sending to prospective citizens.

“This rich heritage is now yours to protect, promote and pass down to the next generation,” Trump wrote. “Our history is now your history… And our Constitution is now yours to safeguard, honor and respect.”

The test was first rolled out during Trump’s initial term in office, but the Biden administration later reinstated the version developed in 2008, arguing at the time that the earlier test had been crafted over years of study and with input from a range of organizations.

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This week, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed it would phase in a new version of the exam, scheduled for 2025, building on changes introduced in 2020.

As with previous versions, USCIS will provide study materials and a full list of potential questions so applicants can prepare. The test covers topics such as the US Constitution, the structure of government, national symbols like the flag, and significant American holidays.

Sample questions from the updated US citizenship test include:

• Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
• Where is the Statue of Liberty?
• What did the civil rights movement do?
• Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
• George Washington is remembered for many achievements. Name one.
• There were 13 original states. Name five.
• What is one way Americans can serve their country?
• Name one power that belongs only to the federal government.

The exam is divided into themes such as system of government, rights and responsibilities, and the colonial period and independence.