@nowthis: An update to the U.S. citizenship test could take effect next year, and some immigration advocates are already concerned for its potential disproportionate impact on those who don't speak English well. The test, which is one of the last steps before citizenship, was changed while former President Donald Trump was in office. His administration made the test harder and more extensive. When President Biden took office, he signed an executive order that changed the test back to its 2008 format. Recommendations for a new test came after U.S. officials noted that 15 years was a substantial time without an update. Currently, an applicant's speaking is assessed during the naturalization interview. An officer asks questions that the applicant responded to in their paperwork. Under the new test proposed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an officer would show the applicant pictures of everyday situations and ask the individuals to describe them. Per the AP, those scenarios would reportedly include daily activities, food, weather, and more. ‘For me, I think it would be harder to look at pictures and explain them,’ said Heaven Mehreta, an Ethiopian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen this year, via the AP. A change was also proposed for the U.S. history and government civics section. Instead of having to answer the questions orally, as applicants do now, they would get multiple choice questions. Many are concerned that this would hurt rather than help test-takers because it requires a greater breadth of knowledge about U.S. history. The proposed changes will be tested this year in a nationwide trial. After gathering public feedback, a group of experts will review the results and decide what adjustments need to be made before changes are permanently implemented, which could be as soon as next year. #news #citizenship #immigration

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Wednesday 05 July 2023 21:48:46 GMT