Immigrants: You May Want to File for Naturalization before Oct. 20, 2025
On September 18, 2025, USCIS published a Federal Register notice to announce the new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. The purposes include “restoring integrity to the naturalization process,” ensuring applicants demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history, government, and civics in line with legal requirements.
The new test is a modified version of the 2020 test, which was rescinded on February 22, 2021. The old 2008 test has been in effect since then.
Summary of the major changes between the two tests
|
Feature |
2008 Test (Current) |
2025 Test (New) |
|
Number of possible civics |
100 |
128 (same as 2020) |
|
How many questions asked in |
Up to 10 oral questions |
20 questions |
|
Passing requirement (number |
6 out of 10 |
12 out of 20 |
|
Stopping early (fail or pass |
In 2008: the officer could stop |
In 2025: reimplementing 2020 |
|
Special consideration (65+ / |
Yes. For those 65 and over with |
Same under 2025: those 65/20 |
In either case, you may skip the English test but must take civics. You may take it in your language with a qualified interpreter who signs Form G-1256 at the interview.
If you’re 65+ with 20+ years as LPR, officers use a simplified civics set (10 questions from a 20-question list) and you pass with 6 correct. Under the new test, those who file on/after Oct. 20 will get their 10 questions from the 2025 pool; filers before that date get them from the 2008 pool. You can take these in your own language (with an interpreter).
If a medically determinable disability prevents you from meeting English and/or civics requirements, your doctor can complete Form N-648 to request for medical exception. It should be noted that regular body ailments do not qualify for exception unless they affect the applicant's mental health or their ability to learn.
The bottom-line
A larger study bank (128 questions) may mean more content to learn, especially for those whose English is their second or third language. Although there can be legal challenges to the quick implementation of the new test, it would be wise for immigrants to apply for naturalization before Oct. 20, 2025 to avoid the new test. This is especially true in light of the revised "good moral character" requirements recently announced by the Trump Administration, which add further uncertainties to the naturalization process.
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