US Citizenship and H1-B Visa: Trump Eyes Tougher Rules

In a move that signals a deepening shift in U.S. immigration policy, Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), revealed this week that the Trump administration is considering significant changes to both the naturalization test and the H-1B visa program. These proposed US citizenship and H1-B visa changes are aimed at tightening standards for those seeking to become American citizens or work in the United States under skilled worker programs.

US Citizenship: Tougher Naturalization Test Under Consideration

Joseph Edlow, speaking to The New York Times, stated that the current U.S. citizenship test is too easy and fails to truly reflect the “spirit of the law.” At present, prospective citizens must study a pool of 100 civics questions and correctly answer six out of 10 during the interview. This standard, Edlow claims, is insufficient.

“The test as it’s laid out right now, it’s not very difficult,” said Edlow. “It’s very easy to kind of memorise the answers. I don’t think we’re really comporting with the spirit of the law.”

The Trump administration previously attempted to revamp the exam during the former president’s first term, increasing the number of questions and requiring applicants to answer 12 out of 20 correctly. That version was later dropped. Now, Edlow says USCIS plans to bring back a similar format, pending approval through the federal rule-making process.

Redesigning the H-1B Visa Selection

In tandem with the citizenship test revamp, the administration is pushing for a transformation of the H-1B visa process, aiming to shift from a random lottery system to a merit-based, wage-focused model.

Currently, the H-1B visa program—crucial for bringing in skilled foreign talent—allocates 85,000 visas annually through a lottery, including 20,000 slots for applicants with advanced U.S. degrees. But under the new proposal, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would prioritize petitions offering higher wages.

According to a 2021 final rule by DHS, the USCIS would select visa petitions based on the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage level, starting with level IV (highest) and moving downward. This would essentially prioritize companies willing to pay top dollar, favoring highly-skilled, senior-level professionals over entry-level or lower-wage workers.

A study by the Institute for Progress noted that prioritizing higher salaries over a random draw could elevate the average H-1B salary from $106,000 to an impressive $172,000. Such a shift would place pressure on outsourcing firms while benefitting research institutions, startups, and major tech companies seeking elite talent.

US Citizenship: Political and Industry Reactions

While some Republican lawmakers support the proposed US citizenship and H1-B visa changes, arguing they protect American workers, others remain skeptical. Vice President JD Vance recently criticized companies that lay off American employees only to fill the gaps with foreign workers. Meanwhile, some of Trump’s strongest tech supporters argue that the H-1B program is essential due to the ongoing shortage of qualified U.S. talent.

Doug Rand, a former Biden administration official, criticized the wage-based approach. “Like it or not, the H-1B program is the main way that U.S. companies can hire the best and brightest international graduates of U.S. universities,” Rand said. “Congress never allowed DHS to put its thumb on the scale based on salary.”

Despite the controversy, Edlow defends the initiative as a strategic enhancement rather than a replacement of the system. “I really do think that the way H-1B needs to be used… is to supplement, not supplant, the U.S. economy and U.S. businesses and U.S. workers,” he emphasized.

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