US Green Card: Millions of people apply for a US green card every year, dreaming of US citizenship, but will they ever achieve it? The answer is no. Because US immigration policies are very strict. The Trump administration is set to further tighten immigration policies, with major changes set to take place starting October 20th.
Applying for United States citizenship? The US government has announced changes to its examination process for immigrants seeking a green card legally, effective October 20th.
Number of green cards issued annually
The number of green cards issued annually fluctuates, but it is limited by statutory and per-country limits. In fiscal year 2023, the United States issued 1.2 million green cards, and received approximately 11.7 million total green card applications in 2022. The specific number varies annually due to demand, immigration categories, and the use of established limits.
Annual Limits and Categories
Family-Sponsored Preference Immigrants: The 2025 limit is 226,000.
Employment-Based Preference Immigrants: The worldwide minimum for 2025 is 140,000.
Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery: This program issues 55,000 green cards annually.
Immediate Relatives: A separate category of approximately 300,000–500,000 immediate relatives is admitted annually.
Factors Affecting Annual Numbers
Statutory Limits
The total number of visas available per year for various categories, such as employment-based immigration.
Per-Country Limits: A 7% limit on the number of visas that can be issued to natives of a single country.
Number of Applicants and Demand
The sheer number of applicants can affect how many green cards are actually issued each year.
Adjustments
Green cards may be issued to people who are already in the U.S. and are changing their status.
The State Department’s Visa Office report provides comprehensive statistics on visa issuance, including green cards, although it may not include data on all refugees or asylum seekers.
Seen as part of the Trump administration’s tightening of immigration procedures, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in August that it would consider additional factors when evaluating green card applicants starting October 20, 2025—one of which is whether they possess “good moral character.”
In a recent statement, USCIS spokesperson Matthew Trageser said, “American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should be reserved only for foreigners who fully embrace our values and principles as a nation. By ensuring that only foreigners who meet all eligibility requirements, including the ability to read, write, and speak English and understand American government and civics, will be able to obtain citizenship, the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilating and will contribute to America’s greatness. These important changes are the first of many.”
What new applicants should know?
In an official release, USCIS stated that these changes are “an ongoing effort to restore the integrity of the naturalization process.”
Those applying for a green card – Form N-400 – on or after October 20th will be required to take an updated 2025 Naturalization Civics Test.
This process will also include questions testing the applicant’s understanding of American history and government.
According to a Newsweek report, applicants must answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly. These questions will be drawn from a pool of 128 candidates. This is an increase from the requirement to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly in the first place.
It also states that USCIS will pay special attention to applicants aged 65 or older who have held a green card for at least 20 years. They must answer 10 questions and answer at least 6 correctly.
Additionally, applicants may retake the test twice; however, if they fail the second attempt, their citizenship application will be rejected.
What is in the USCIS notification?
The USCIS notification states, “One of the requirements for citizenship is good moral character (GMC). An applicant for citizenship must demonstrate that they have been and continue to be a person of good moral character.”
The notice further states, “Generally, applicants must show GMC for the five years immediately preceding the application for citizenship and up to the date of taking the oath of allegiance. Conduct before the five years may also affect whether an applicant meets the requirement.”
Definition of “Good Moral Character”
Previously, the assessment of “good moral character” generally included an applicant with no record of criminal offenses or deviant conduct specified in U.S. laws. This included crimes such as murder, felonies, drug offenses, and habitual drunkenness.
However, the USCIS policy released on Friday broadens the scope of “good moral character.” The agency stated that it should include “more than a cursory, mechanical review focused on the absence of wrongdoing.” Officers are asked to “make a holistic assessment of an alien’s behavior, adherence to social norms, and positive contributions that positively demonstrate good moral character.”
(With agency input)