U.S. Citizenship Changes Effective Oct 20, 2025 for 2025–26 Applicants

Applying for U.S. citizenship in 2025–26 will feel different from what friends or family may have faced just a few years ago. The naturalization system is now more digital, a bit tougher on the Civics Test, and more detailed in how officers review your background and Good Moral Character (GMC).

If you plan to file Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) in late 2025 or anytime in 2026, it helps to see the journey as a clear step‑by‑step path, from checking your eligibility dates to taking the oath ceremony.

Below is a full walkthrough of that journey, with special focus on the changes already in effect from October 20, 2025.

Big Picture: What Changed for Citizenship Applicants in 2025–26

From October 20, 2025, anyone filing a new N-400 faces several notable changes:

• A new 2025 Civics Test
  • Question bank: 128 questions
  • You’ll be asked 20 questions in the interview
  • You must answer 12 correctly to pass
• Higher filing fees
  • Online N-400: $710
  • Paper N-400: $760
  • Biometrics is included in these amounts
• Electronic payments only
  • No cheques, money orders, or cashier’s cheques
  • Payment by ACH bank transfer or credit/debit card only
• A more detailed Good Moral Character review
  • Deeper look at taxes, immigration history, criminal issues, public benefits, and positive community ties
  • In some cases, extra verification checks, even in your neighborhood or community

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these changes do not make U.S. citizenship impossible, but they do reward careful planning and honest, thorough preparation.

Important takeaway: the process is more structured and digital. Preparation — especially for civics, documentation, and payment — matters more than ever.

Step 1: Confirm You’re Eligible to File N-400

Before you touch the form, make sure you’re allowed to apply.

3‑Year vs 5‑Year Rule

Most applicants qualify under one of two main rules:

1. 5‑year rule
   • You’ve had a green card for at least 5 years.
   • You’ve met continuous residence and physical presence requirements.
2. 3‑year rule (marriage to a U.S. citizen)
   • You’ve been a permanent resident for 3 years.
   • You’ve been married to and living with a U.S. citizen spouse for those 3 years.

You can usually file 90 days before you complete the 3‑ or 5‑year period, but you must meet all other rules on the day of your interview and oath.

What You Should Do at This Stage

• Check your green card dates carefully.
• Use the eligibility tools and policy pages on the official USCIS website to confirm which rule applies to you.
• If you had long trips abroad, write out your entire travel history for the last 3 or 5 years, with exact dates.

Green card holders who travel often, NRIs who split time between 🇺🇸 and abroad, and digital nomads should be extra careful. Long trips can break continuous residence or reduce physical presence, which can delay your path to citizenship.

Step 2: Prepare Early for the New Civics Test and English Requirements

The Civics Test is a key hurdle, and the 2025 changes require new preparation habits.

How the 2025 Civics Test Works Now

For all N-400 applications filed on or after October 20, 2025:

• The officer uses the 2025 Civics Test.
• Questions come from a bank of 128 questions.
• During your interview, you’re asked 20 questions.
• You must answer 12 correctly to pass.
• The test is oral, not multiple‑choice.
• The officer stops:
  • Once you get 12 correct answers (pass), or
  • After 9 wrong answers (fail)

Older applicants (age 65+ with at least 20 years as permanent residents) may still take a simplified 10‑question version, where 6 correct is enough to pass.

USCIS has updated study tools, flashcards, and audio files for the new test. Official materials for people who filed before October 20, 2025 still follow the 2008 version, but anyone filing after that date must switch to the new format.

Who Feels This Change the Most

• International students (F-1), OPT, STEM OPT alumni who never had deep U.S. civics study
• H‑1B professionals and other busy workers with limited study time
• NRIs and frequent travelers who learned civics outside U.S. schools

Actions You Should Take

• Download or print the official civics study materials from USCIS.
• Make a structured study plan, ideally 2–3 months before your expected interview.
• Practice with a friend, family member, or community group; speak your answers aloud, since the test is oral.

The new test reflects policy choices made under Executive Order 14161 (issued January 20, 2025), which calls for stronger civic preparedness.

Step 3: Plan Your Fees and Payment Method

Money and payment details can delay a case if ignored. USCIS has higher fees and now requires electronic payments.

Current N-400 Fees (2025)

• Online N-400 filing: $710
• Paper N-400 filing: $760
• Biometrics cost: Included in both fees

Reduced fees and fee waivers still exist, but:

• They’re only available through paper filing.
• You must qualify under USCIS income and hardship rules.
• You need to submit extra forms and supporting documents.

Families should multiply fees by the number of adults filing. NRIs paid in foreign currency should plan for exchange‑rate impacts.

Electronic Payments Only

USCIS does not accept:

• Personal cheques
• Money orders
• Cashier’s cheques

Accepted methods:

• ACH bank transfer (linked to a U.S. bank account, referenced as Form G‑1650)
• Credit or debit card using Form G-1450

• If filing online, enter payment details through your USCIS online account.

• If filing paper, include a completed Form G-1450 to pay by card.

Actions You Should Take

• If you live in the U.S., open a U.S. bank account early.
• If abroad, arrange access to a U.S.-compatible credit or debit card.
• Decide whether you’ll file online or by paper (especially if you plan to ask for a fee waiver).

Payment planning is as important as gathering documents. A rejected payment can mean a rejected filing and costly delays.

Step 4: Gather Documents and Complete Form N-400

Now assemble your records and fill out Form N‑400 carefully.

What USCIS Expects You to Disclose

The form asks detailed questions about:

• Biography: name history, address history, job history
• Marital status and children
• Travel outside the U.S. for the last 3 or 5 years
• Tax history, including failures to file or unpaid taxes
• Criminal history: arrests, charges, convictions, even old/minor incidents
• Immigration history: overstays, unauthorized work, status violations

Under the newer Good Moral Character guidance (issued August 15, 2025), officers consider the “totality of circumstances.” That means they assess the whole picture, not just isolated events.

Your form must be complete, consistent, and truthful. Omitting an arrest, unpaid tax, or past overstay can cause worse outcomes than disclosing and explaining them.

Actions You Should Take

Gather these documents where relevant:

• Copies of tax returns or IRS tax transcripts
• Travel records, e.g., passport stamps and airline history
• Any court records for arrests or charges
• Documents showing marriage, divorce, or legal separation
• I‑20s, EAD cards, or H‑1B approval notices if applicable

If you had immigration troubles (F‑1 SEVIS issues, H‑1B gaps, unauthorized work), collect proof that explains or remedies those events.

Once you’ve completed the N‑400, double‑check all dates and answers. Mistakes on travel dates and marital history are common and can slow your case.

Step 5: Submit N-400 and Wait for USCIS Receipts

When ready, either:

• File online through your USCIS account, or
• Mail your paper N‑400 with supporting documents and payment or Form G‑1450.

If everything is correct, USCIS will:

• Accept your payment,
• Create a case number, and
• Send you a receipt notice (often called a “NOA”).

Estimated timeframe: from filing to receipt notice usually takes 2–4 weeks, though it varies by caseload and location.

Do not change your address without updating USCIS promptly. Missing an address update can cause you to miss biometrics or interview notices.

Step 6: Biometrics, Background Checks, and Extra Verification

Biometrics fees are included, but the appointment and checks are still essential.

Biometrics Appointment

You’ll receive a notice with date, time, and location for your Application Support Center (ASC) visit. At the ASC, USCIS will:

• Take fingerprints
• Photograph you
• Collect a signature

These are used for FBI and DHS background checks.

Deeper Background and GMC Review

With the 2025 GMC guidance, officers now review:

• Tax compliance
  • Missed returns, unpaid taxes, payment plans with the IRS
• Immigration history
  • F‑1 status violations, H‑1B employment gaps, past removal or voluntary departure
• Criminal history
  • Even old or minor offenses, traffic incidents involving alcohol or injury
• Public benefits usage that may raise questions

• Positive factors

  • Long‑term employment, caregiving, volunteering, religious and community activities

The policy explicitly allows, in some cases, community or neighborhood inquiries to confirm parts of an applicant’s story. This does not happen routinely, but it illustrates the depth of current GMC review.

Estimated timeframe: from biometrics to interview often ranges 6 to 12 months, depending on your local field office and caseload.

Step 7: The Citizenship Interview and Civics/English Tests

The interview is when the officer reviews your N‑400, tests English, and administers the Civics Test.

What Happens at the Interview

1. Identity check: show appointment letter, green card, passport, and other IDs.
2. Oath to tell the truth: you promise to answer honestly.
3. Review of your N‑400:
   • Officer goes through your answers and may ask for detail about travel, taxes, arrests, or tickets.
   • Under the new GMC standards, they may explore past issues more deeply.
4. English test:
   • You read a simple sentence in English.
   • You write a simple sentence in English.
5. Civics Test:
   • Officer asks up to 20 questions from the 128‑question bank.
   • You must answer 12 correctly.
   • The officer stops once you reach 12 correct or 9 incorrect.

If you fail English or civics on the first try, USCIS usually gives one more chance within a few months.

How New GMC Rules Play Out in the Interview

Officers may probe:

• Why you missed a tax filing and how you settled it.
• The circumstances of any police contact, even if charges were dropped.
• Gaps in immigration status or employment history.
• Your daily life: family, job, community ties.

They look for problems and also for positive factors that demonstrate rehabilitation, stability, and attachment to the U.S.

Step 8: USCIS Decision and Possible Delays

After the interview, outcomes include:

• Approval on the spot
  • Officer may recommend approval and give information about your oath ceremony.
• Request for Evidence (RFE) or further review
  • USCIS may ask for additional documents (tax transcripts, court records, proof of marital status) or need more time for background checks or community verification.
• Denial
  • If they find you don’t meet residence, English/civics, or GMC requirements, they can deny the N‑400.
  • Often you can appeal or reapply after addressing the issues.

Estimated timeframe: decisions can come the same day, or take weeks to months. Cases with GMC concerns, long travel histories, or complex backgrounds can take longer.

Step 9: The Oath Ceremony and Final Steps

Your citizenship is final only after you:

• Attend the oath ceremony, and
• Take the Oath of Allegiance.

At the ceremony:

• You surrender your green card.
• You receive your naturalization certificate.
• From that moment, you’re a U.S. citizen with rights to vote, apply for a U.S. passport, and sponsor certain relatives.

Typical post‑naturalization tasks:

• Apply for a U.S. passport.
• Register to vote.
• Update Social Security and employment records.

How the 2025–26 Changes Affect Different Groups

These changes affect people differently. Below are key points for several groups.

Green Card Holders Close to Eligibility

• Review travel history, especially trips over 6 months.
• Check tax returns for each year you were required to file.
• Start civics study early because of the larger question bank.

International Students and Recent Graduates (F‑1, OPT, STEM OPT)

Early mistakes can surface at citizenship:

• Unauthorized work, cash jobs, or off‑campus work without authorization
• SEVIS problems or dropping below required course load
• Missing U.S. tax filings when you had income

Keep records to show how issues were fixed: I‑20s, EADs, and tax returns.

H‑1B Workers and Skilled Professionals

• Keep H‑1B approval notices, pay stubs, and employment letters.
• Document any gaps or employer changes clearly.
• Maintain perfect tax filing records; immigration and tax systems are interconnected.

NRIs, Frequent Travelers, and Digital Nomads

• Long stays abroad can break continuous residence.
• Working for foreign clients while physically in the U.S. raises tax questions.
• Track where you lived, worked, and paid taxes year by year.

For remote workers who move between countries, documenting U.S. residence and tax filings is critical for a smooth GMC review.

Practical Checklist for 2026 Citizenship Applicants

Use this as a working list as you move through the process.

6–12 months before filing N-400
– Confirm whether you qualify under the 3‑year or 5‑year rule.
– Review your time outside the U.S. and consider waiting if you have long trips.
– Gather IRS tax transcripts and file any missing returns.
– For students/former students, collect F‑1 records (I‑20s, SEVIS, EADs).
– For workers, assemble H‑1B / employment documentation.

3–6 months before filing
– Start serious Civics Test preparation using the 128‑question USCIS list.
– Practice English reading and writing if needed.
– Open or confirm access to a U.S. bank account or credit/debit card for electronic payment.
– Decide if you’ll apply for a fee waiver (requires paper filing).

Right before filing
– Complete the N‑400 carefully; review all dates and answers.
– Double‑check travel history, marital status, and employment history.
– Make copies of everything you submit.

After filing
– Monitor mail and your USCIS online account for biometrics and interview notices.
– Continue civics study up to the interview day.
– If you receive an RFE, respond by the deadline with full documents.

For more technical details on the test changes and policy basis, review the Federal Register notice, “Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Civics Test” published on September 18, 2025, available through the Federal Register notice.

The U.S. naturalization process in 2025–26 is more structured and more digital than before, with a tougher Civics Test, higher N‑400 fees, electronic‑only payments, and a deeper Good Moral Character review. With honest answers, early planning, and organized records, most long‑term residents can still move through these steps and reach the oath ceremony with confidence.