Biden admin reverses tougher Trump test for citizenship

Photo Courtesy: President Joe Biden-Facebook

In a move to make US citizenship more accessible to all eligible candidates, President Biden has reversed the difficult citizenship test unveiled by the Trump administration in November last year. Biden has also restored 2008 civics test module which needs less number of questions to be answered by legal residents compared to Trump’s test to pass.

The newly introduced 2008 version of citizenship test requires basic understanding of English to pass, unlike the older one which included a broader array of history and civics themes while requiring that legal residents answer twice as many questions correctly to pass.

The earlier test unveiled by Trump administration also required applicants to answer at least 12 oral questions correctly. Those taking the new test must still get at least 60 percent of the questions correct.

“US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has determined that the 2020 civics test development process, content, testing procedures, and implementation schedule may inadvertently create potential barriers to the naturalization (i.e.: citizenship) process,” states the immigration agency.

USCIS will offer both versions of the test until April 19, in order to assist those who were studying the 2020 civics test module. Candidates filing for citizenship on or after March 1, 2021, will take the earlier 2008 civics test.