The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on February 22, 2021 that it will revert to the 2008 version of the naturalization civic test.
The Trump-era citizenship test is lengthy and doubled the number of questions immigrants must answer correctly to pass. In keeping with President Biden’s executive order directing federal agencies to “restore faith” in the immigration system and make naturalization more accessible, the USCIS will administer the 2008 civic test instead.
The civics test is administered to applicants who apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization and is one of the statutory requirements for naturalizing. Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles, and form of government of the United States. The decision to naturalize demonstrates an investment in and commitment to this country. USCIS is committed to administering a test that is an instrument of civic learning and fosters civic integration as part of the test preparation process.
According to the USCIS, applicants who filed their application for naturalization on or after December 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2021, likely have been studying for the 2020 test; therefore, USCIS will give these applicants the option to take either the 2020 civics test or the 2008 civics test. There will be a transition period where both tests are being offered. The 2020 test will be phased out on April 19, 2021, for initial test takers. Applicants filing on or after March 1, 2021, will take the 2008 civics test.
