Sponsors (8)
The bill standardizes naturalization testing to ensure consistent rules for all applicants, but it makes citizenship harder for many older long-term residents and increases administrative burdens.
Immigration applicants face uniform English and civics testing standards so the same rules apply to all naturalization applicants, increasing consistency and perceived fairness of the process.
Older long-term lawful permanent residents (e.g., applicants who previously qualified for age-and-duration exemptions such as 50/55/65+ rules) will lose those special English/civics exemptions and must meet standard language and civics requirements, likely making naturalization harder and increasing the risk of delays or denials for elderly applicants.
USCIS and the Department of Justice will need to revise procedures and may face more appeals, accommodation requests, and processing workload and costs to implement the changed testing rules.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes two age-and-residency exemptions so older longtime green-card holders are generally subject to standard English and civics naturalization tests.
Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate certain exceptions to the naturalization requirement as to understanding the English language, history, principles, and form of government of the United States.
Introduced July 16, 2026 by Brandon Gill · Last progress July 16, 2026
Removes two age-and-residency exceptions to the English and civics requirements for naturalization applicants. Applicants who previously qualified for reduced or waived English/civics testing because they were over certain ages with long-term lawful permanent residence would instead be subject to the standard English and civics rules unless another provision applies. The change updates federal citizenship law by deleting the two exceptions that permitted older long-term green card holders to bypass or receive special consideration on the English-language and civics tests during naturalization processing.