Applicants who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, take the 2025 civics test: the officer asks up to 20 questions from a pool of 128, and 12 correct answers are needed to pass. USCIS also reviews time in status, continuous residence and prior records.
For many immigrant families in Greenpoint, Ridgewood or Maspeth, naturalization is the last step of a journey that began with a visa and a green card. A revised civics exam and strict rules on counting time in the country mean that, before filing, it pays to count not just years but months and days spent outside the United States.
Why some green card holders put off naturalization
A green card already allows permanent residence and work, so plenty of people see no reason to go further. John Nicelli & Associates lists the practical differences on its website: citizens vote in federal elections, can apply for federal government jobs, travel without the limits that come with permanent resident status and are protected from deportation. Under certain conditions, minor children who hold green cards also become citizens automatically when a parent naturalizes.
The reasons for waiting are usually ordinary. Some people are nervous about an interview in English, others about the history questions, and others are unsure whether an old ticket or a long trip could hurt their case. Each of those concerns can be checked against the paperwork ahead of time rather than becoming a reason to postpone indefinitely.
The 2025 civics test: 128 questions in the pool, 12 correct to pass
The change was announced in a USCIS notice published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2025. The 2025 version applies to applicants who filed on or after October 20, 2025. Questions are drawn from a pool of 128, the officer may ask up to 20, and 12 correct answers are required. The test ends early once the applicant answers 12 correctly or misses 9.
The same notice keeps the special consideration for older applicants. Anyone who is at least 65 and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years answers 10 questions from a designated set of 20 and passes with 6 correct. The English portion follows a familiar pattern: the applicant reads and writes a sentence, and the officer assesses speaking ability throughout the interview.
A step-by-step walkthrough, from Form N-400 to the oath ceremony, is available in our guide to preparing a naturalization application and interview, which also covers the shorter path for spouses of U.S. citizens.
Trips abroad and continuous residence
A summer with aging parents overseas, several months caring for a sick relative, seasonal work in Europe — long absences are common in immigrant families, and Polish-American households are no exception. Under the USCIS Policy Manual chapter on continuous residence, an absence of more than 6 months but less than 1 year creates a presumption that continuous residence was broken. An absence of 1 year or more breaks it automatically.
The presumption can be rebutted. USCIS gives examples of evidence: the applicant kept a job in the United States and did not work abroad, immediate family stayed in the U.S., and the applicant kept access to, owned or leased a home here. The catch is that few people collect that evidence while it is happening, and it is much harder to reconstruct years later.
Start with the calendar, not the form
The civics test can be studied for. What is harder is reconstructing several years of trips, moves and paperwork — and that is exactly what the officer compares the application against. That is why a citizenship case is best started with a calendar of trips, and only then the form.
Seen that way, the exam is only one part of the case. The firm’s website notes that errors or omissions on the application can lead to a denial and a fresh start, and that being untruthful with immigration authorities is disqualifying. Minor past offenses do not necessarily close the door to citizenship, but they should be reviewed with the court records in hand. More on the firm’s immigration practice is in its PolishPages directory profile.
John A. Nicelli, Esq. has practiced immigration law for more than 30 years, and the firm has served clients since 1985. He has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for over three decades. Consultations are available in English, Polish, Spanish and Portuguese — in person, by phone or by video.
What this means if you are planning to apply
In short, knowing the answers about the Constitution is not enough on its own. Before filing Form N-400, it helps to have a dated list of every trip abroad, copies of earlier immigration filings and any records of arrests or citations. Anyone who recently moved — from Brooklyn to New Jersey, for example — should also confirm they have lived in the new state long enough to file with the USCIS office there.
The firm describes its citizenship services — eligibility review, Form N-400 preparation, representation before USCIS, and preparation for the interview and test — on its citizenship and naturalization page. John Nicelli & Associates can be reached at 212-227-8020.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case requires an individual assessment — please contact John Nicelli & Associates about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.
