New Developments in Naturalization

Big changes are afoot at USCIS. In this post, I will share what I know, as well as what I’m hearing unofficially.

New N-400 already implemented (with no prior notice)

A new edition of the N-400 has just been published on the USCIS website. It is backdated to inauguration day: 1/20/25 and it includes three changes (at least that’s how many I’ve spotted): the checkbox for “another gender identity” has been eliminated in part 2, the word “non-citizen” in question 2, part 9 has been changed to “alien,” and question 22 in part 9, which used to say “Are you a person born as male…” (and therefor required to register for Selective Service), now says “Are you a male…” I am still trying to get confirmation that applications already sent (or soon to be sent) using the 4/1/24 edition (with expiration date 2/28/27), will still be accepted. All it says on the USCIS website is “the currently effective version is the 1/20/25 edition.”

Another longer, more intrusive N-400 is on the horizon

The new administration has adopted a policy of “enhanced screening and vetting standards” to determine eligibility for citizenship and other immigration benefits. To this end, they have published a proposed new citizenship application form in the Federal Register for a two-month public comment period.

The proposed form would go from 14 pages to 26 pages and collect quite a bit more information, including:

  • City and state of birth
  • All current and prior countries of citizenship/nationality
  • Current and prior passport/travel document ID numbers, issue dates, and expiration dates
  • Phone numbers use in the past five years (and dates the applicant started and ended use of these numbers)
  • Email addresses used over the past ten years (and dates the applicant started and stopped using them)
  • A “point of contact” in the US, including name, phone number, and email address
  • Whether the applicant’s mother and father are alive or dead, and their dates of naturalization (if applicable)
  • The names, places of birth, dates of birth, and if applicable, and A-numbers of applicant’s mother, father, and all siblings (whether they are now alive or dead)
  • Gender of siblings
  • Addresses where parents and siblings have lived over the last five years (and the dates they lived there)—even if they are now deceased
  • Phone numbers used by parents and all siblings over the last five years (and the dates that they started and stopped using them)

Currently, married applicants only have to fill in sections 4-8 in Part 5 if they are basing their application on marriage to a citizen. On the new form, all married applications are asked to provide a spouse’s name, address, date/place of birth, date of marriage, date of naturalization (if applicable), number of times the spouse has been married, and documentation to prove that prior marriages have been terminated. In addition, the new form asks for:

  • Phone numbers used by spouse over the last five years (and the dates that spouses started and stopped using them)

On the current form, applicants only need to provide information on their minor children. The new form collects this information on all children, including children who are missing (no mention is made of those who may be deceased): names, addresses, dates of birth, relationships (e.g. adopted, biological, etc.), and whether applicant provided support (to minor children). In addition, the new form asks for:

  • A-numbers, gender, places of birth
  • Prior addresses of each child for the last five years
  • Phone numbers children used in the past five years

Although the proposed new form does not ask for social media handles of citizenship applicants, it appears that this is on the table, according to recent news reports.

While the stated intent of the changes is to flag any fraud or national security risks, the likely result will be a reduction in applications filed—particularly by those who come from families with mixed immigration status.

Other changes I’ve been hearing about

Here are some of things that I’m hearing, but I don’t have any solid verification of:

  • Trainings, stakeholder meetings, and oath ceremonies (other than those that take place in the field offices) are being cancelled.
  • Applicants who have checked “another gender identity” on their applications may have their cases delayed indefinitely.
  • Interviews are taking a lot longer now because examiners are asking more background questions, (particularly the long list of Part 9 “Have you ever…” questions) but scheduling hasn’t caught up with this change, so people are waiting longer to get into their interviews.
  • Applicants are getting more questions in their interviews about underlying applications—for example, details on how they got their green cards, how they were sponsored, or how they were approved for asylum.
  • For the civics test, examiners used to stop asking questions after an applicant responded correctly to six questions. They are now asking all ten questions anyway.
  • It is likely that a new version of the civics test will be implemented in the next year or so. It will likely be similar to the 2020 test that was ultimately rescinded by the Biden Administration.

Many of the changes I’ve outlined here will face public opposition and legal challenges that could potentially delay things for a long time. If/when a new N-400 application is implemented, there will be a new edition of Ready for the Interview to go along with it. And if there is a new civics test, the Civics and Literacy Book will be revised accordingly.

As always, you can count on me to keep you posted on new developments as they come along—and they’re coming along fast these days!

Posted: to Citizenship News on Wed, Mar 5, 2025
Updated: Wed, Mar 5, 2025