These people are exempt from the new naturalization test in the United States
New changes to the US naturalization test have gone into effect. However, these individuals are exempt and can take the previous test.
In an effort to restrict access to U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced changes to the naturalization exam, with a new version having taken effect on October 20.
Previously, the official administering the exam would select 10 questions from a list of 100, and applicants had to answer at least six correctly. Under the new version, the question pool expands to 128, with greater emphasis on U.S. history and government. Applicants must now answer 12 questions correctly. During the exam, the official will continue asking questions until the applicant either answers 12 correctly or gets 9 wrong, whichever comes first.
It’s important to note that this is only one part of the exam; the second part assesses English language proficiency. However, some applicants are exempt not only from the updated civics test but also from the language requirement. Here’s who qualifies.
According to USCIS, individuals who meet the “60/20” rule are exempt from the new civics test. This rule applies to anyone 65 or older who has been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years. These applicants can follow the previous standard, answering six out of 10 questions correctly. They only need to study a shorter list of 20 questions, marked with an asterisk in the “Civics Questions and Answers” list on the official USCIS website.
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Additionally, these individuals may take the civics test in their preferred language and waive the English proficiency requirement if they meet the “50/20” rule—applicants 50 or older who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years. Applicants who qualify under the “55/15” rule—those 55 or older with at least 15 years of permanent residency—are also exempt from the language test.
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