The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced an update to its Policy Manual that re-introduces a modified version of the 2020 Civics Test—now called the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. The update, once adopted, will apply to applications for naturalization (Form N-400 Application for Naturalization) filed on or after October 20, 2025, and aims to reinforce the importance of civic knowledge, assimilation into the U.S. society, an understanding of the Constitution, laws, and founding principles of the United States. Why This Change Matters Naturalization is the process by which lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens—gaining full rights and responsibilities in American society. Under Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), most applicants must demonstrate both proficiency in the English language and knowledge of U.S. civics and government. The USCIS notes that strengthening these requirements is part of its broader goal to ensure that new citizens are well-prepared
If you are applying for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: “What is the EB-5 visa processing time?” The truth is, EB-5 processing times vary greatly depending on many factors, such as your nationality, the project you invest in, how the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) handles the Form I-526/I-526E Petition (“Petition”), and timing regarding the approval of Petitions, and timing regarding visa availability. On average, it can take 12 to 30 months for many Petitions to be approved, but the official USCIS posted times may show 2–4 years or longer. EB-5 Visa Process Overview There is a 3-step process to obtaining lawful permanent residence in the U.S. via the EB-5 immigrant investor visa category. First, an investor files a Form I-526 or Form I-526E Petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Once the Petition is approved, an investor
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”)_ has posted a notice on its website that on November 12, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado issued a decision in Moody v. Noem staying certain EB-5 related petition and application fees that were implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) in its 2024 fee increases. The Court determined that the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 precluded DHS from adjusting EB-5 program fees in the 2024 Fee Rule. Effective immediately and in accordance with the Court order, USCIS will accept the fees that were in effect until March 31, 2024. The USCIS has updated its Form G-1055 Fee Schedule to reflect the new fees. As a result of the Court ruling, EB-5 Investor Petitioners will only need to pay an I-526/I-526E Petition filing fee of US$3,675, and EB-5 Investor Petitioners who are filing Form
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