 "US citizenship test too easy? Trump bringing back 2020 naturalisation format")
The new director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) stirred a debate after he said that the present US citizenship test is easy and can be memorised. The US citizenship test, officially known as the Naturalisation test, is an examination that an applicant has to take to become an American citizen.
The test is not for green card holders unless they are applying for citizenship. Joseph Edlow, the new director of USCIS, said that since the tests are too easy, the Trump administration is planning to bring back the 2020 version of the test.
For the test, applicants have to submit a former N-400 seeking naturalisation. They would be required to pass a background check and meet residency tenure, along with other requirements. After this, they will have to attend an interview where they take two tests: One is an English test, and the other is a civic test.
About the citizenship test
As per the USCIS website, when it comes to the civic test, there are more than 100 questions. An immigration officer asks the applicant 10 questions, out of which the applicant must answer at least six correctly.
During the first term of US President Donald Trump, there was a new rule for a very brief time, where there were 128 questions. At that time, applicants were asked 20 questions and they had to get at least 12 right. Under the new Trump administration, the USCIS is planning to bring back some version of this type of test.
It is pertinent to note that before 2008, the test was random, but the Bush administration introduced the 6 out of 10 questions benchmark. Edlow emphasised that the present version of the test is not really “in line with the spirit of the law”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsInterestingly, the development regarding the US citizenship test came as the Department of Homeland Security proposed sweeping changes for the H-1B visa program. The visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers.
According to the latest DHS proposal, H-1B will not be for entry-level workers. It will be only for high-skilled jobs for which there will be a higher salary. If the changes get implemented, US graduates will not lose out on jobs in the entry level, and tech companies will not be able to hire foreign workers at a lower wage, the DHS argued. However, it will put a major dent in the aspirations of foreign workers who want to live the American dream.
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