Trump Administration Plans Harder Citizenship Test and H-1B Visa Overhaul
USCIS chief confirms return to tougher naturalization exam and wage-based priority for skilled work visas.
In an interview published Thursday, the new head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, announced that the administration of President Donald Trump is preparing to implement significant changes to the H-1B skilled worker visa program, while also making the U.S. citizenship test more difficult.
As reported by The Hill, Edlow, who assumed office in mid-July, stated that the current version of the citizenship exam is not sufficiently challenging and that its answers are “too easy to memorize.” He added, “I don’t believe we’re really adhering to the spirit of the law.”
The Trump administration had previously introduced a more complex version of the citizenship test, featuring an expanded set of questions. That version was later rescinded during President Biden’s term. Edlow now confirmed that the government intends to reintroduce the tougher version of the exam.
During the same interview, Edlow explained that the administration plans to reform the H-1B visa program by prioritizing applicants with higher wage offers. He emphasized: “I truly believe the best way to use the H-1B program — and many other aspects of immigration — is as a supplement to the U.S. economy, American companies, and workers, not as a replacement.”
It’s worth noting that the H-1B program has been a contentious issue, even among Trump allies. In December — before Trump’s return to office — businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy faced backlash from MAGA supporters for defending the use of the program to hire high-skilled engineers.
According to The Hill, this move comes alongside Trump’s broader aggressive immigration stance, including efforts to restrict even legal pathways to immigration. Notably, the mobile app operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — originally used during the Biden administration to schedule asylum requests — now includes an option for self-deportation registration for migrants choosing to leave the country voluntarily.
