USCIS Resumes Neighborhood Checks for Naturalization Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has resumed “neighborhood checks” for people applying for U.S. citizenship, ending a waiver that had stood since 1991. The shift, effective August 2025, restores an investigative tool under the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows officers to verify a person’s residency, good moral character, and attachment to the U.S. Constitution by speaking with neighbors, coworkers, employers, and other community members.

USCIS says officers will use this tool only when needed, but applicants should expect closer review beyond fingerprints and standard background checks. The agency’s move marks a clear change in how naturalization cases will be reviewed, and it will likely affect timelines, evidence requests, and the overall experience for new citizens-in-waiting.

Policy change details

The agency detailed the change in a policy memorandum, PM-602-0189, issued on August 22, 2025. The memo ends the broad waiver of neighborhood investigations and directs officers to apply the rule on a case-by-case discretionary basis.

Officers may decide a neighborhood check is needed after reviewing:
– Evidence in the file
– The interview record
– Any concerns about a person’s character or claimed residency

The memo also encourages officers to request testimonial letters from people who know the applicant well.

These neighborhood checks were common before 1991. Over time, USCIS relied more on FBI biometrics and criminal history systems, allowing the on-the-ground checks to fall away. By reviving the practice, the agency is leaning back on authority the Immigration and Nationality Act gives it to gather testimonial evidence when deciding a citizenship case.

Under the memo, officers may request or accept testimonial letters from neighbors, coworkers, employers, or community leaders who can speak to the applicant’s conduct, honesty, and support for U.S. laws. USCIS says applicants can choose to submit such letters up front to make review easier and possibly avoid delays. The memo also states that this guidance is for internal use and does not create any rights that applicants can legally enforce.

Connection to broader good-moral-character review

The policy change aligns with a broader update to how USCIS weighs “good moral character.” On August 15, 2025, the agency adopted a holistic review policy that asks officers to consider both negative and positive factors in a person’s life.

Key features of the holistic approach:
– Grouping conduct into categories such as permanent bars, conditional bars, and actions that are lawful but may still raise concern
– Considering rehabilitation and community service as positive factors
– Balancing negative and positive evidence when assessing character

Together, the holistic review and neighborhood checks signal a deeper look at character, record, and community ties. USCIS frames the change as ensuring that U.S. citizenship—carrying rights and duties—is granted only to those who meet the law’s standards. Critics worry the broader checks could slow cases, raise privacy concerns, or produce uneven results. USCIS leaders say the change is meant to protect the process and will be applied in a targeted way.

How the process will generally work

Below is how the new process will work in most cases:

1. Application submission
   • File Form N-400 for naturalization and consider adding testimonial letters from neighbors, coworkers, employers, or community leaders who know you well.
   • Official application: Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
2. Initial review
   • An officer reviews your form, background checks, travel history, taxes, and any past arrests or citations, along with any letters you included.
3. Discretion decision
   • The officer decides whether a neighborhood check could help answer questions about address history, daily conduct, or attachment to the Constitution.
4. Requests for more evidence
   • If needed, USCIS will ask for additional letters or documents and may suggest the types of people who could provide helpful testimony.
5. Neighborhood check
   • USCIS may contact neighbors, coworkers, or employers. Officers may ask simple factual questions such as how long the person has known you, whether you live where you claim, and how you conduct yourself.
6. Final decision
   • USCIS weighs all evidence, including neighborhood feedback, and decides whether you meet the law’s standards for citizenship.
7. Notification
   • The agency issues approval, denial, or notice of next steps, such as a continued interview or request for more documents.

Practical tips for applicants (prepare now)

Applicants can take steps to reduce the chance of extra steps and delays:

• Gather proof of residence:
  • Leases, mortgage statements, utility bills, school records, and mail in your name that covers the full period you claim.
• Obtain testimonial letters:
  • Ask 2 to 4 people who know you well to write testimonial letters.
  • Letters should state how they know you, how long they’ve known you, and what they have observed about your honesty, respect for the law, and role in the community.
• Ensure consistency:
  • Make sure addresses and dates match across your N-400, tax returns, driver’s license, and any affidavits.
• Address past issues proactively:
  • If you had past problems—like a misdemeanor, a long trip outside the country, or unpaid taxes—explain them, show proof of resolution, and include steps you took to make amends.
• Inform neighbors or employers:
  • A simple note letting them know USCIS could reach out may help avoid missed calls or confusion.

Legal standards and limitations

USCIS points to the statutory requirements that an applicant be “well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States” and show “full attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.” Neighborhood checks support those tests by adding real-world observations to the file.

Important clarifications:
– Neighbors do not have veto power over a case.
– Officers must weigh all evidence—including records, interview answers, and documents—before making a decision.
– The memo is internal guidance and does not create enforceable legal rights for applicants.

Concerns, oversight, and context

Advocacy groups raise several concerns:
– Potential for stretched timelines and processing delays
– Privacy issues regarding how officers contact third parties and how neighbor/employer statements are stored or shared
– Risk of bias or misunderstanding in small communities or workplaces

USCIS response:
– The agency says the guidance will be applied fairly and only when the case file shows a need for more information.
– USCIS will monitor effects on processing times and applicant experience and may refine procedures if checks cause excessive delay or field issues.

Political and administrative context:
– The move fits the current White House approach to tighten program integrity while keeping legal paths to citizenship open.
– Officials under President Biden present the change as protecting the promise of citizenship by asking for stronger proof when needed.
– Supporters argue many Americans expect careful review; critics say the 1991 waiver had worked well and that reinstating checks could slow the process for many with clean records.
– The memo also reverses a more lenient stance on neighborhood inquiries associated with the previous administration of President Trump, though the practical waiver dated back much earlier.

Where to watch for updates

Applicants and representatives can track official guidance as USCIS adds the change to the USCIS Policy Manual. Policy updates often include examples and officer training notes that help lawyers and applicants plan how best to present evidence.

VisaVerge.com analysis suggests:
– Front-loading strong character and residence evidence may reduce the risk of extra steps later.

Final takeaways

For many families, the path to a U.S. passport begins with a green card and ends with the oath. The return of neighborhood checks adds one more layer for some applicants.

Key recommendations:
– Complete forms carefully and honestly.
– Keep records consistent and well-organized.
– Secure trustworthy people to vouch for you with factual, focused statements.
– If contacted, neighbors or employers should limit comments to what they actually know.

If you face long delays or unclear requests, contact the USCIS Contact Center or seek legal advice from a trusted representative. For now, USCIS’s message is straightforward: thorough files help. Strong letters, steady address proof, and records that show civic responsibility can make a material difference when officers weigh close questions about conduct or commitment to the Constitution.