The Trump administration is planning significant changes to the H-1B visa program, which allows skilled foreign workers to take up employment in the United States. In an interview with The New York Times, Joseph Edlow, the newly appointed head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), confirmed the administration’s intent to reform the system.
Edlow also voiced concerns about the current U.S. citizenship process, stating that the test is not challenging enough and needs to be revised. “The test, as it’s laid out right now, it’s not very difficult. It’s very easy to kind of memorize the answers. I don’t think we’re really complying with the spirit of the law,” said Edlow to The New York Times.
As it stands, immigrants preparing for U.S. citizenship test are expected to study 100 civics questions and correctly answer at least six out of ten during the test. During Trump’s first term, that requirement was made more rigorous, doubling the number of questions to 20 and raising the passing threshold to 12 correct answers. According to Edlow, the government is planning to bring back a similar, more demanding version of that exam in the near future.
Further elaborating on his remarks, Edlow offered insight into how the agency would function during President Trump’s second term in regard of immigration enforcement. He indicated that USCIS would play a more assertive role in advancing the administration’s broader agenda, which includes sweeping deportation measures and stricter immigration controls across the board.
READ: Binal Patel named new executive director of Neighborhood Villages (July 28, 2025)
In a recent move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS submitted a proposal to the White House that seeks to revamp how H-1B visa applications are evaluated. Instead of relying on the current approach, the new system would rank applicants based on key factors such as educational background, work experience, and the salary offered by employers.
According to Edlow, the changes are designed to benefit employers willing to offer higher wages to foreign workers, signaling a shift toward rewarding merit and compensation over random selection. This shift signs in response to the allegation that states that the working sectors hires outsiders in less wages compared to the Americans.
READ: Three Indian American-led firms among TIME100 Most Influential Companies (July 24, 2025)
“I really do think that the way H-1B needs to be used, and this is one of my favorite phrases, is to, along with a lot of other parts of immigration, supplement, not supplant, U.S. economy and U.S. businesses and U.S. workers,” Edlow claimed.
The proposed changes to the H-1B visa and citizenship process reveal a clear push toward a more selective and merit-driven immigration system. With a renewed focus on qualifications, wages, and stricter testing, the Trump administration appears set on tightening the path to both work and naturalization. For skilled immigrants hoping to build a future in the U.S., and for businesses that rely on global talent, this signals a tougher road ahead.