Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility

Key changes

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to further assess and corroborate the eligibility of aliens applying for naturalization. The guidance reintroduces personal investigations, also known as neighborhood investigations, under section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and reinforces the need to validate the alien’s information and documentation as part of the naturalization examination under INA 335(b).
• Provides USCIS conducts neighborhood investigations under INA 335(a).
• Provides USCIS may waive a neighborhood investigation, at its discretion, if USCIS determines that the waiver of the investigation is appropriate in a particular case or classes of cases.
• Provides aliens applying for naturalization may voluntarily provide testimonial or character reference letters preferably from U.S. citizens who are not family members who attest to the alien’s eligibility, character, loyalty to the United States and attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and other naturalization requirements.
• Provides USCIS takes into consideration voluntarily provided testimonials or character reference letters in determining whether to waive a neighborhood investigation.
• Reaffirms that USCIS examines all factors relating to the alien’s eligibility for naturalization.
• Provides that USCIS confirms information provided by the applicant through documents, information obtained during the investigation or testimony at the interview.