Latest news with #JosephEdlow
Fox News
15 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Top DHS official says current citizenship test is 'too easy,' needs a revamp
New Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow previewed upcoming changes to the citizenship test, H1-B visas, and backlogs in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
U.S. immigration policy overhaul threatens opportunities for African skilled workers
Joseph Edlow, the newly appointed director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has signalled a major restructuring of the H-1B system and changes to the U.S. citizenship test, moves that many analysts believe will disproportionately affect immigrants from developing regions, including Africa. In remarks made shortly after assuming office, Edlow revealed that the current structure of the H-1B system no longer serves the needs of the American labor market and requires urgent restructuring. Edlow told The New York Times that the current U.S. citizenship test is too easy and in need of reform. ' The test as it's laid out right now isn't very difficult,' he said. 'It's easy to simply memorize the answers, and I don't think that truly reflects the spirit of the law.' He added that the H-1B visa should be used to " supplement, not supplant" American workers and businesses, a sentiment consistent with calls from conservative lawmakers. In addition to H-1B changes, Edlow announced plans to revise the U.S. naturalization test, a mandatory assessment for immigrants seeking citizenship. The current test requires applicants to study 100 civics questions and answer six correctly out of 10. Edlow indicated a return to a stricter version used during the Trump era, which expanded the question pool and raised the passing requirement to 12 out of 20. How the H-1B program supports African professionals The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign nationals for roles in specialty occupations—positions that require specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. It also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. Designed to fill gaps in the American labor market, the program helps companies access talent they cannot find domestically. The visa programme, which issues 85,000 slots annually through a lottery system, has long served sectors such as technology and healthcare. However, critics argue the system has been abused to replace U.S. workers with lower-cost foreign labor. For many African professionals, the H-1B program serves as a critical entry point into the U.S. workforce, offering opportunities in fields like engineering, healthcare, information technology, and academia. It not only opens doors to global career advancement but also contributes to the transfer of skills and remittances that benefit families and economies back home. The proposed reforms come amid growing political pressure on immigration practices. Vice President JD Vance recently criticized corporations for laying off American workers and hiring cheaper foreign labor through the H-1B channel. These proposed reforms, however, will not take immediate effect. Any changes to visa policy or naturalization procedures must first undergo the federal rule-making process before implementation.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
US citizenship test too easy? Trump bringing back 2020 naturalisation format
The new director of the USCIS stirred a debate after he said that the present US citizenship test is easy and can be memorised. The Trump government is considering changing the rules of the game read more The Department of Homeland Security is exploring the idea of participating in a television series where immigrants would compete for a chance to become US citizens. File image/ Reuters The new director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) stirred a debate after he said that the present US citizenship test is easy and can be memorised. The US citizenship test, officially known as the Naturalisation test, is an examination that an applicant has to take to become an American citizen. The test is not for green card holders unless they are applying for citizenship. Joseph Edlow, the new director of USCIS, said that since the tests are too easy, the Trump administration is planning to bring back the 2020 version of the test. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For the test, applicants have to submit a former N-400 seeking naturalisation. They would be required to pass a background check and meet residency tenure, along with other requirements. After this, they will have to attend an interview where they take two tests: One is an English test, and the other is a civic test. About the citizenship test As per the USCIS website, when it comes to the civic test, there are more than 100 questions. An immigration officer asks the applicant 10 questions, out of which the applicant must answer at least six correctly. During the first term of US President Donald Trump, there was a new rule for a very brief time, where there were 128 questions. At that time, applicants were asked 20 questions and they had to get at least 12 right. Under the new Trump administration, the USCIS is planning to bring back some version of this type of test. It is pertinent to note that before 2008, the test was random, but the Bush administration introduced the 6 out of 10 questions benchmark. Edlow emphasised that the present version of the test is not really 'in line with the spirit of the law'. Interestingly, the development regarding the US citizenship test came as the Department of Homeland Security proposed sweeping changes for the H-1B visa program. The visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers. According to the latest DHS proposal, H-1B will not be for entry-level workers. It will be only for high-skilled jobs for which there will be a higher salary. If the changes get implemented, US graduates will not lose out on jobs in the entry level, and tech companies will not be able to hire foreign workers at a lower wage, the DHS argued. However, it will put a major dent in the aspirations of foreign workers who want to live the American dream. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Donald Trump govt mulls changes to US citizenship test, H-1B visa program: What it means?
Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Joseph Edlow said this week that President Donald Trump's administration is considering changes to the test to become a US citizen. Earlier, it was reported that the administration was planning to change the visa system for skilled foreign workers by doing away with the H1-B visa lottery system. Joseph Edlow, the director of USCIS, told the New York Times on Thursday that the administration wanted to change the naturalisation test required by prospective US citizens. As of now, immigrants study 100 civics questions and then must respond correctly to six out of 10 questions to pass that portion of the test. During the first Trump administration, the agency increased the number of questions and required applicants to respond correctly to 12 out of 20 questions. Edlow said the agency plans to return to a version of that test soon, the NYT reported. In an interview with The New York Times, Joseph Edlow said the test to become a US citizen was too easy and should change. 'The test as it's laid out right now, it's not very difficult,' Edlow said on Thursday, adding. 'It's very easy to kind of memorise the answers. I don't think we're really comporting with the spirit of the law.' Edlow's proposed changes would have to be approved through the federal government's rule-making process. The Donald Trump administration is reportedly planning to revamp the H1-B visa lottery system, aiming to replace it with a more weighted and wage-linked selection process. The proposed changes aim to give preference to certain applicants based on additional criteria—potentially including wages—thereby benefiting highly-skilled and higher-paid professionals. Currently, the system is quite simple. Applicants who are eligible for H1-B visa submit their applications, and a computer-run lottery randomly selects the recipients. Each year, about 85,000 H-1B visas are issued, including 20,000 reserved for individuals holding a Master's degree or higher from a US university. On January 8, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule to modify its process for selecting H-1B petitions when registrations surpass the annual limit of 85,000. So, what changes does the administration propose? As per Forbes, in the final rule in 2021, DHS described the new selection process as: 'The USCIS will rank and select the petitions received on the basis of the highest Occupational Employment Statistics wage level that the proffered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification code in the area of intended employment, beginning with OES wage level IV and proceeding in descending order with OES wage levels III, II, and I.' A study by the Institute for Progress earlier this year found, as reported by the Hindustan Times, that if higher salaries were given priority instead of using a random lottery, the average salary of an H-1B visa holder could rise from around $106,000 to $172,000. That would likely make things much harder for outsourcing firms who rely on hiring large numbers of lower-wage workers, but could be a big plus for researchers, PhD holders, and senior-level tech professionals, the report added. Doug Rand, a former Biden administration official, said changing the H1-B process to favour higher-wage earners was misguided. 'Like it or not, the H-1B program is the main way that US companies can hire the best and brightest international graduates of US universities, and Congress never allowed DHS to put its thumb on the scale based on salary,' he said. Regarding the plan to change the H-1B visa program for foreign workers, it has been the subject of debate within the Republican Party. Edlow said it should favour companies that plan to pay foreign workers higher wages. the proposed changes to the system could alleviate criticism from those in the right wing of the Republican Party who say the program attracts workers willing to accept lower salaries than American workers. This week, US Vice President JD Vance had criticised companies that lay off their own employees and then hire foreign workers. But some of Trump's most prominent backers in the tech industry said they rely on the H-1B visa program because they can't find enough qualified American workers. Edlow was quoted by NYT as saying, '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, US economy and US businesses and US workers."
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Administration Plans Changes to Skilled Worker Visas and Citizenship Tests
The Trump administration is planning changes to the visa system for skilled foreign workers, a program at the center of a dispute between immigration hard-liners and tech industry leaders, said the new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In an interview with The New York Times, Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S.C.I.S., also said the test to become a U.S. citizen was too easy and should change. 'The test as it's laid out right now, it's not very difficult,' Mr. Edlow said on Thursday. 'It's very easy to kind of memorize the answers. I don't think we're really comporting with the spirit of the law.' Mr. Edlow illuminated how the agency at the heart of the country's immigration system would operate in President Trump's second term, at a moment when the president has ordered a sweeping crackdown on immigration and a mass deportation campaign. The H-1B visa program for foreign workers has been the subject of a fierce debate within the Republican Party. Mr. Edlow said it should favor companies that plan to pay foreign workers higher wages. The proposed changes to the system could help alleviate criticism from those in the right wing of the Republican Party who say the program brings in workers who are willing to accept lower salaries than American workers. This week, Vice President JD Vance criticized companies who lay off their own employees and then hire foreign workers. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
