USCIS plans to tighten the citizenship test and modify H-1B visas: Here are the changes

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is gearing up to implement significant changes in the naturalization process and in the H-1B visa system for skilled foreign workers.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, the new director of the agency, Joseph Edlow, outlined the government's vision under Donald Trump for the future of the country's immigration policy, marking a new phase in its tightening.

An "overly easy" exam

One of the central points discussed by Edlow was the naturalization test, which he believes has lost its rigor.

“The exam, as it is currently structured, is not very difficult”, affirmed the official.

"It is very easy to memorize the answers. I don't think we are truly fulfilling the spirit of the law," he added.

Currently, citizenship applicants are required to study a list of 100 civics questions, from which 10 will be asked, and they must answer at least six correctly.

This version was adopted after the arrival of President Joe Biden, who in 2021 eliminated the more stringent version introduced by Trump in 2020, in which respondents were required to correctly answer 12 out of 20 questions.

Edlow explained that the administration's intention is to return to a more rigorous format, in which immigrants were required to demonstrate a deeper knowledge of the history, political structure, and civic values of the United States.

Changes driven by a tougher political vision

This reform to the citizenship exam is part of a broader and more restrictive immigration policy that has been a hallmark of the Trump administration.

Edlow, confirmed by the Senate to lead USCIS, clearly expressed alignment with this stance.

Under her leadership, the agency also aims to strengthen other elements of the immigration system, such as the selection of work visas and the processing of asylum cases.

During his brief interim management in 2020, Edlow was involved in decisions that tightened access to legal residency for migrants utilizing public benefits, although he clarified that he does not intend to reinstate that measure.

However, he made it clear that the current approach remains restrictive, although selective.

"I believe it should be absolutely a positive balance," he said.

"And if we focus on the people who come, who come especially to promote certain economic programs we have and to benefit the national interest in other ways, that is absolutely what we need to take care of."

H-1B Visas: Priority to Those Who Pay Better

In addition to the citizenship test, USCIS plans to modify the H-1B visa allocation system, a key program that allows U.S. companies to temporarily hire highly skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology sector.

Historically, the program has operated under a lottery system, granting up to 85,000 visas annually without prioritizing economic criteria.

However, Edlow suggests that USCIS prioritize companies offering higher wages as a strategy to prevent employers from using the program to cut their labor costs.

"I truly believe that the way the H-1B should be used, and this is one of my favorite phrases, is, along with many other aspects of immigration, to complement, not replace, the U.S. economy and American businesses and workers," he stated to the Times.

This proposal addresses the criticisms from the more hardline faction of the Republican Party, which argues that the program, in its current form, displaces local workers.

In fact, Vice President JD Vance has spoken out against companies that "lay off their own employees and then hire foreign workers."

Critiques from opposing sectors

Edlow's plan has not been without objections. Doug Rand, a former Biden administration official and expert in immigration policy, warned that prioritizing wages could have adverse effects.

"Like it or not, the H-1B program is the main way that American companies hire the best and brightest foreign graduates from U.S. universities, and Congress never allowed the DHS to tip the scales based on salary," he stated.

Tech companies, including some close to Trump, have defended the program as an essential tool to address the shortage of national talent in specialized fields.

The H-1B visa, while not a direct path to permanent residency, is often the first gateway for many skilled migrants.

With the resumption of Donald Trump's second term, U.S. immigration policy is entering a new phase of systematic tightening.

Edlow confirmed that his agency is ready to implement this vision, which includes greater rigor in naturalizations, more control over asylum programs, and a more restrictive criterion for granting immigration benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions about Changes to the Citizenship Exam and H-1B Visas in the U.S.