By 2025, the U.S citizenship scenery will have changed more than it had changed in decades. After a succession of executive orders and legislative initiatives, the federal government has implemented new guidelines that influence an entire process of naturalization of a person, as well as the traditional interpretation of birthright citizenship. These reforms are a multi-stage redesign of the priorities to focus on the civic knowledge and long-term residency.
The Redefinement of Birthright Rules
Among the most controversial reforms in 2025 is the Executive Order 14160 that aims at the reconsideration of the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. According to these new rules, automatic birthright citizenship is now in consideration to children born to parents whose status in the U.S. is temporary (e.g. tourist or student visa) or unlawful. Although this order has already been targeted by legal action and a Supreme Court hearing, the policy of the administration is to restrict birthright citizenship to children whose parents are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or those in active military service.
These are New Naturalization Civics Test Standards
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) used a modified Naturalization Civics Test to take effect on October 20, 2025. This revised version is also commonly known as the 2025 Test because it increases the number of questions used in the study to 128 (as compared to 100 questions previously). During the interview, the number of questions required to be answered correctly by the applicant has now raised to 20 questions and an officer needs to respond to at least 12 questions to pass. The transition is meant to make sure that new citizens have a better appreciation of American history and government as a policy preference on the preparedness of civic engagement and assimilation of the nation.
Emerging Requirements on Good Moral Character
In August 2025, the USCIS shifted its policy of a checks-and-balances approach to affirmative evidence model in determining Good Moral Character (GMC) of an applicant. In the past years, no criminal record was usually a major condition; today, the applicant is urged to present positive evidence of what he/she has done to benefit the society. This may include testimony of stable work, civic engagement, family care or academic achievements. Such a discretionary system enables the police to consider the applicant as an individual and not merely as a collection of background check findings.
Special Provisions of Long-term Residents
The government has continued to provide special consideration rules to older long time residents in spite of the trend towards more rigorous testing. The so-called 65/20 rule, citizens above 65 years old, who have resided in the US as legal permanent residents over 20 years, may take a simplified version of the civics test. Such applicants will just be required to learn a given series of 20 questions and are required to respond on 6 of them accurately. This is provided to make sure that even the most senior immigrants in the community stand a chance of viable citizenship pathway as accessible.
Important Dates and Deadlines of Filing
These changes will be determined by the date of your N-400 filing. Any application with a date as of less than October 20, 2025, will be done under the older test standards of 2008 (10 questions asked, 6 correct to pass). But every application submitted after October 20 or later should be subjected to the new 128 question bank and 20 question interview format. Since the Supreme Court is still in the process of considering birthright matters during its 202526 term, additional information on the subject of birth certificates and Social Security benefits entitlement of newborns might be provided.
Update Summary
| Update Type | Status for 2025 |
| Civics Test | 20 Questions (12 Correct to Pass) |
| Filing Threshold | Oct 20, 2025 (New Test Starts) |
| Birthright Rule | EO 14160 (Pending Supreme Court) |
| GMC Standard | Shift to Positive Evidence Model |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. Will the new birthrule have any impact on pre-2025 children?
No. Any changes suggested to the birthright citizenship as well as the changes to the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025 are all prospective in nature implying that they only apply to births after the date of official enactment of the law or order.
2. The ability to take the test in my native language, is it possible?
No, but after satisfying the age and residence exemptions of 50/20, or 55/15. In case you do it, you may invite an interpreter to your interview during the civics section.
3. What will become of me in case of a fail in the new 20 questions test?
The applicants usually have two opportunities to satisfy the English and civics requirements. In case, in your initial interview, you fail in part of the test, you will be retested in the part within 60 to 90 days.
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