For the first time in over 30 years, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is bringing back in-person neighborhood and workplace investigations for naturalization applicants.
The policy, last used in the early 1990s, allows officers to visit an applicant’s home, neighborhood, or job site to interview neighbors, employers, and community members about the applicant’s “good moral character.”
USCIS says the move is designed to strengthen the integrity of the citizenship process. But immigrant rights advocates warn it could lead to profiling, fear in immigrant communities, and privacy violations.
🔑 What’s Changing?
- Expanded Vetting: Citizenship applicants may face unannounced USCIS visits.
- Community Input: Neighbors and employers may be questioned about the applicant’s honesty, behavior, and lifestyle.
- Revived Policy: This practice was abandoned in the 1990s but is now being reinstated nationwide.
🧾 What Are the Options Now?
- Applicants: Should prepare strong documentation and community references (letters from employers, religious leaders, community members).
- Attorneys: May advise clients to be aware of potential bias or misinterpretation from neighbors’ statements.
- Community Groups: Could step in to educate immigrants about their rights during these checks.
⚠️ Important Reminders
- These checks are not random—USCIS will likely target cases it deems “questionable” or “high risk.”
- Negative comments from neighbors or employers could delay or derail applications, even without hard evidence.
- Applicants should continue to maintain clean records and prepare for longer wait times in the naturalization process.
This is not a legal advise, and you should consult to qualified immigration attorney.
