Public sentiment is largely negative and divided regarding the new USCIS regulations on citizenship for green card holders. Many commenters express anger and frustration, viewing the changes as discriminatory and potentially detrimental to families. While some highlight support for stricter immigration enforcement, the dominant perspective reflects anxiety over the implications of these policies on individual rights and family unity, alongside a yearning for clarity and fairness in the immigration process.

USCIS

Current U.S. Administration

12 out of 20 doesn't seem unfair. Technically it's more forgiving than 6/10 if you studied

SamWest98

This isn’t for a green card. This is for citizenship.

ehrgeiz91

For any regular person it should be okay, but I can see elderly people struggling with the new test.

InsuranceGuyQuestion

&gt;USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a press release: “American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world”

What? “Sacred” citizenship? Are people gonna have to swear that they accept Jesus as their lord and savior?

What a bunch of constitution-violating hacks!

Sheetz_Wawa_Market32

concerned_llama

I can apply in two years. By that time, HE will have had time enough to make it so difficult that naturalization will be impossible.

darthuna

The administration don’t even have good moral character lol

cocholates

QuantumLeaperTime

Wait so how do I provide good moral character evidence? Get letters from employer etc?

anneblythe

Nice. Make current citizens take the exam.

I know I could pass, but could the same be said for the people that love saying GIT DEM OUT?

Asianizer

It does not apply to you because you submitted your application before the October deadline.

Broccoli_Soup_Fiend

Actual-Strength1234

My son was in the navy and died during active service
My fiancé is an Air Force veteran 
Apart from a traffic ticket/misdemeanor for speeding, I hope o should be ok

anyone4tea1

Question if you apply on sunday October 19 would that change anything

zeey1

USCIS published Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Test in the Federal Register announcing it would administer the 2025 naturalization civics test to aliens who file their naturalization applications on or after Oct. 20, 2025.

To ensure sufficient time for the public to become familiar with the revised content and adequately prepare for the 2025 naturalization civics test, only those aliens applying for naturalization who file Form N-400 on or after Oct. 20, 2025, must take the 2025 test. Aliens who filed before that date will take the 2008 naturalization civics test.

Wallfinger

Guys, showing good moral character is easy. Letters from bosses, neighbors, priests, etc. Volunteer for non profits.  Show that you appreciate and love your new American community. No need to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

catholichusband24

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AutoModerator

I don’t see the problem. If you want to become a citizen of a country, you better learn the history, customs and important facts about the country you’re about to swear allegiance to

flairix0203

Speaking for my wife, who got her green card last week after a 4.5 year process. She told me that she finally feels 'free' and more secure for herself and our future together. Primarily, she is most excited about traveling to her home country to see her family after not seeing them in-person for 5.5 years. Obviously, I am very happy for her.

Longjumping_Ant3459

It may sound kinda weird, but being able to check 'no' on 'Do you need sponsorship now or in the future?' in job application honestly makes me wanna cry happy tears

AnnaisMirbel

Best part was I was able to say I wasquitting my job, which I've been at for 8 years, for one that paid almost double. I ended up staying for even more salary as they wanted to keep me. I couldn't have done these schenaniagns on my old L1 visa.

That and ease of travel, I was stuck in the US for 18 months during COVID which sucked. I never have to renew my stamp again.

My experience is pretty employment based skewed

postbox134

I travel a lot more. I was on a work visa before I got my green card, so work authorization was not an issue. But finding spots and having to travel to home country to renew my work visa was pretty painful. I have a PhD, so there was always the fear of background checks based on my field of research.

Having a green card let's me make concrete travel plans without hassle. My wife and I have visited 12 countries since we got our green cards 2.5 years ago.

One_more_username

Being worried constantly if it might get taken away based on the current happenings in the country 😔

[deleted]

I got my GC long time ago but before getting it I was on a student visa (language school) for 6 years. After getting my GC I travelled back to the country I’m from, was able to get a second job and save money to go to college without student loans, completed bachelor’s, then masters degree, got CPA license, remarried. Having GC opened many doors for me and gave me confidence and security

Longjumping-Kale2584

For me was traveling with no issues and less fears. I was on a student visa and going into OPT right before getting my GC. So it was awesome that I could accept another job offer that was better and not only the one I could get on OPT. It was not a miracle as I thought it would be 😂 but it definitely alleviate a big burden for me and my partner. Financially was great too, because now I dont need to keep changing my visa.

Mistyleica

Being able to plan a trip to my home country after almost 6 years. Oh shit, it’s almost 6 years…

NoahX97

We’re planning a trip to Mexico, where I was born. I was 6 when I left Mexico and have not returned since, it feels weird planning a trip to a country I barely remember.

RepresentativeForm12

The freedom to come and go, work, and study.. it is just the freedom feeling.

Lucky-Cover9811

This journey has truly changed my life. I got married in October 2020, and my wife was fully aware of my situation—she chose to stand by me and support me every step of the way. We hired a lawyer and started the process immediately.

In March 2022, I received my Green Card. That allowed me to go back to school and finally complete my degree in IT and software development. I graduated in August 2024, and just two months later, I landed my first real job in my chosen career! After working in restaurants and factories for over 10 years, I was incredibly grateful to start a 9-to-5 job—with the added bonus of being able to work remotely.

I applied for U.S. citizenship in December 2024, and by June 2025, I was taking the Oath of Allegiance. The fight is finally over... for me.

Now, I’m in the process of petitioning for my parents. I also have an 11-month-old daughter and bought a house a year ago. I’m beyond grateful for everything that has happened. Life has changed in the best possible way.

Prototype095

for me it’s that my first time ever in the u.s is as a resident. it feels a little weird but i like being here 😸

xalwolky_q

First, the freedom to travel freely, though that's debatable for some people right now. Secondly, no more indentured servitude with work visas which were just like golden handcuffs. Apart from that, life was the same 

hucchnanmaga

I got a lot less worried about losing my job. There was a round of layoffs immediately before I got my green card and I was extremely stressed about it. I became a lot less stressed about a lot of things but this was a big one.

This is kind of a silly thing but I got into a creative hobby that involves selling things online to other hobbyists. It isn't something that really makes money, it's a sort of pass the same $10 bill around type thing, but since it's technically working it's not something I could have done before. I could still participate in the hobby, but not to the same degree. I also was worried about like volunteering and stuff, if it could technically be considered unauthorized working, but now I don't have to worry about that. I also took a class at the local community college just for fun, and previously I wasn't sure if it would be allowed. All small things but the small things add up. There's a lot of stuff I probably could have done without a green card but I would have wanted to consult a lawyer to be sure and it wasn't worth paying for that.

seedlinggames

All the things you mentioned...basically being a functional human being in a capitalistic society!

For me it was unnerving to depend on another person to do a lot of things "legally"...being able to travel outside the US (while waiting to be approved, I sometimes felt trapped), things like finding a job, signing a lease, opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etcetc.

It's also a funny sensation to line up at airports on the "Green Card Holders" line. I'd been to the US a million times before, as a tourist, so...having an officer say "welcome back" is pretty peculiar (for me).

HecKentucky

I have my interview coming up. I've accomplished so much with Daca a lone that the greencard will probably feel lack luster.  This admin doesn't seem to really care if you got a green card or not. They already openly said it out loud. It was never about doing it the rightway after all. Its honestly heart braking. Well we will ride out the next 3 years just like last time.

KslersPlaid

For me it’s the opportunity that allows me to now apply for the military because I’m clocking 39 and I always fear I might miss the chance if I don’t get my GC sooner. But thank God I made it, I’m so happy..

Stock-Hat-6543

Those small things are actually huge! They really add up, to the point where you're buried under the weight of them and you don't realize it. And then it's gone.

BoopsYourNoseBoop

Gee, I’m sure there’s no chance the Trump admin will apply these standards in a bigoted manner. None at all.

HeimLauf

Basically the Trump administration doesn’t want immigrants, got it!

No-Anteater5184

Per article:
“A greater emphasis will be placed on positive attributes and contributions such as community involvement, family caregiving, educational attainment, stable and lawful employment history, length of lawful residency in the U.S. and compliance with tax obligations and financial responsibility, USCIS said.”

I think those are good reasons. They’re the same reasons used in the past. Before becoming a green card holder or a US citizen you have to prove you won’t be a burden. I just wish they would allow people to bring families over quicker if you can prove you can support them while they’re going through the process. Instead making families wait 15-20 years.

WorstHumanWhoExisted

1. You can vote. I think this is extremely important, others may disagree.
2. You can never be deported, you are no longer subject to the whims of some future administration canceling your green card.  You can leave the US and return in 20 years and nobody cares.
3. You can serve on a jury.
4. You can run for office, if you feel so inclined.
5. You can work for Federal jobs, and get a security clearance.

You should also consider that your home country may deprive you of citizenship, so check with them to see what they say about that.

zerbey

Never having to deal with USCIS ever again? Pro.

Zrekyrts

You can decide which loser politician you dislike least and vote for them!

All cynicism aside, though, voting does matter and it is a reason to become a citizen.

Some things you can do as a citizen but not as a permanent resident:

+ vote
+ be eligible for government assistance 
+ be eligible for government jobs 
+ be eligible for scholarships/grants only available to citizens if you go back to school
+ serve jury duty
+ if legal in your state, safely use recreational marijuana 
+ travel abroad for longer than 6 months

curie2353

You couldn’t be deported if you committed a crime after receiving your citizenship. You might not be planning any crimes now, but you might change your mind. 😎

user-110-18

I suggest going to your favorite Internet search engine, then type "pros and cons of us citizenship", you'll get plenty of info.

Also FYI, when married to a US citizen, you only need 3 years as a permanent resident instead of 5 before becoming eligible for naturalization.

StuffedWithNails

It depends on which country you are a citizen of. For example, I'm a citizen of the country that's 80th in the world rankings of passports. Meaning there's only a handful of countries I can go to without visa. In that sense getting a US passport is a huge benefit.

BTW, if you are married to a US citizen, you only need to wait 3 years to apply for citizenship, not 5.

FlyingCatalan

Depends if you have to give your other passport up

nizzok

1. Travel privileges - If you are from a developing nation then you know how difficult it is to travel to the most desired destinations. With a US passport, they will roll out the red carpet for you.

2. You can come and go as you please without fear of losing access.

MILF-LoverXXX

You can lose your Greencard, for any number of reasons, and be removed and barred from the US.  Unless you commit immigration fraud you cannot ever lose your US citizenship once attained.  If you don't want to be separated from your future husband, having the same passport/nationality gives you that surety.  Plus all of the other pros/cons you'll find in the responses.

N4003604

If you get popped for something like smoking a joint you get a ticket instead of deported.

NVPSO

Many people here gave great examples on what you gain with a US Passport.

For me, the US Passport is the key to adventurous travel.

So much of the world is restricted with my current passport and even as a green card holder constantly applying, paying and dealing with visa's from multiple countries is added stress I never wish I had to go through.

I have been a green card holder for 7 years, although almost 4 of those years were waiting for my green card to be renewed. I'm now a citizen and I can't tell you how glad I am to never have to deal with USCIS again. Other things I like about it is that no matter what my ability to love in this country isn't bases on my husband or employment and I have the same rights as those who were born in America.

galactictictac

As a citizen, you don't have to worry about renewing your green card or getting deported. You will have a powerful passport. You will be able to apply for government jobs. And you will be able to vote for presidents.

You will get the benefit of your bf no longer being on the hook for you financially should you ever need public assistance.

No_Consideration7318

As my husband said, "I'm already paying the taxes, I may as well get the right to vote."

Athrynne

Here's a big benefit of citizenship that I haven't seen anyone mention yet: If you ever have children, as a citizen you are not at risk of being separated from your children. Weather that's deportation, or just different treatment at the airport when you travel. (If you have kids in the US they will be us citizens. Don't you want to be assured that you can stay in the same country with your kids?)

jmeesonly

Yeah perhaps the biggest is that you can leave the US for as long as you like without losing your Greencard. On a green card you can’t just leave the US for a year and then come back. You lose it! But a citizen you can leave as long as you like and come back any time.

astroboy__

If you have minor infractions, you could be easily deported if you are not a citizen.

The only big benefit I see is the passport, but that depends from what country you were from.

Fantasy71824

The MAJOR reason for not becoming a US Citizen is that if you do and later decide to live in another country, you must pay income taxes to the US.

_gosh

Well I don’t care for the US citizenship benefits but I do care to keep my home country citizenship/benefits and passport (higher ranking than the US) so I haven’t naturalized ever since being eligible for a few years. So far the green card has been good enough.

Also, if you get US citizenship then you are taxed by the US anywhere you go, like even if you later decide to go live somewhere else.

ok_woof

I wish my country would allow me to get dual citizenship. I may keep GC till 65 y/o...

wildVikingTwins

You can sue people and you get to yell, "I'm an American muthafucka." When people question your decisions.

Old-Item2494

In my view it ultimately comes down to if you have significant relationships (wife, kids, friends), work, and assets (real estate, financial, and other) that anchor you to the US. 

If you do, you are far, far less secure with a greencard than with US citizenship. You can (and people do lose their GC all the time) lose your GC, but not your citizenship. 

If you don’t have any of those anchoring points, or you don’t care if you lose them,  then keep the GC

tzzp6r

You can become one of us. Why wouldn’t you? 😊

Ok-Tiger7714

Voting &amp; Passport, both of which hold far less impact than yesteryear globally … I can recall 20 years ago a US passport was gold and… now just get in line with everyone else

Appropriate_Two_3491

You can vote in the country where you live. You don't have to renew your green card. And even if you decide to stay out of the US, your status as US citizen doesn't expire. Also (there's detailed conditions to this), you can make US citizen children even when living abroad.

WorldlyDay7590

As a U.S Citizen since last June, I after I graduated from a College of Engineering, now I can work for the largest US DEFENSE contractor in the world, which green card holders never have a chance. Don’t think about the benefits the country offers yet, think of what you can do for the country first as a citizen. That’s my $0.02.

AncientBookkeeper100

You're probably a bit young to be thinking about it. Citizenship protects your social security. As a citizen, you can live out of the country for years and years and still receive your social. As a green card holder, they stop paying social security once you've been out of the country for 6 months. They only start paying again once you return.

Gentleigh21

Some institutions limit credit lines/loans for GC holders vs US Citizens

Librastar23

GC is access and benefit 

Citizenship is a right too..

You can also think of it this way , I have NEVER heard the US government say --- ""We are negotiating with kidnappers to release our *permanent resident""

PuzzleheadedFalcon19

If you're from the EU, getting a US passport is more of a downgrade. I'm German and the passport here is much stronger.

One of the big downsides of having a green card, which I didn't know is that you cannot stay outside of the US for more than a year. 6 months is already questionable. For someone like me who is a world traveler and my ultimate goal is to to travel the world for 2-3 years having a greencard is a big hindrance. The only way is for me to obtain my US citizenship so I can leave the country lol

Timbo2510

If you get married and get your green card through marriage, you can apply for citizenship two years after getting your green card. You still have to be in the marriage, though. If you get divorced before applying for citizenship, you will have to do the full five years and then apply for citizenship

eaglesNest-1625

How did trump as a president made sure about movement of unused visas? Any link to that?

s33d5

Any changes impacting a GC coming up for renewal?  My 10 year is expiring next year.

wnoble

&gt;killing S386 bill which would have eliminated per country cap in employment based visa

So, this is good for smaller country citizens?

yoohoooos

Thank god he vetoed killing the country cap.

Acrobatic_Set5419

Telugu’s from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are mostly fraud.

racvo001

He also raised prevailing wage on certain positions/professions to an insanely high amount making it impossible for businesses to proceed with Green Card petition. My prevailing wage was higher than my boss’s salary. My company could not possibly pay me that amount so they had to shelve the application. It went back to a reasonable number under Biden and i got GC, two and a half years delay though. I would have been a citizen by now.

hnn7

Look at eb2 and eb3 while he was in office. It was current. So I say it’s good

Edrickun

Hi everyone, I know I’m off topic but I’m asking for h3lp to get groceries for me and my kids . Please

Brief-Dream8196

Only people who come here for education should be given priority. This will help the United States build a strong workforce.

Yes thats why im waiting since 2016 till today , so far nothing just pending 3218 days so far, have 3 businesses, bought a house, paying all taxes on time, after almost 9 years still nothing, this is bs

Formal-Ratio-5441

Will he make changes in f4 visa category?

Muzna2614

Trump didn't do anything to "make sure all the unused family based visa move to Employment based." It's by law that unused FB nos. get allocated to the following year's EB quota.

He didn't kill S386 it was Dick Durbin and democrats. stop spreading lies and fear mongering.

karma_ontheway

Trump did not kill the green card bill. The bill that was passed in the house HR 1044 and the senate version S386 were different to the point that the house and senate would need to vote again after the other chamber made changes and passed it. 

I remember following that bill closely and there were various politicians from both sides (Senator Rick Scott, Senator Durbin and various members of the House of Representatives). Eventually the differences became pretty irreconcilable and Nancy Pelosi did not even introduce the bill for a vote.

curious_mindz

I believe Diversity Visa(50k per year) was stopped

New USCIS regulations will tighten requirements for green card holders applying for U.S. citizenship, prompting concerns around immigration policy and its implications for many families.

US Citizenship and Green Card Changes

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