Immigration Law
Naturalization applicants may soon encounter a level of scrutiny not seen in years. Under a new USCIS policy memorandum, the agency has reinstated the possibility of personal and neighborhood investigations during the citizenship process. Officers may now contact an applicant’s neighbors, employers, or co-workers to verify residence, reputation, and good moral character—introducing a more personal layer to naturalization adjudications.
The memorandum ends the general waiver of neighborhood investigations and restores USCIS’s discretion to conduct them on a case-by-case basis.
Historically, “neighborhood investigations” allowed USCIS officers—or in earlier years, legacy INS investigators—to verify an applicant’s reputation, character, and residence through direct contact with people who know the applicant. These investigations were largely suspended for many years due to privacy concerns, resource limitations, and modernization of background check procedures.
Under the new memorandum, USCIS may again conduct personal inquiries as part of a naturalization review. These may include:
If USCIS cannot reach these individuals independently, the applicant may be asked to provide their contact information. This marks a significant procedural change and potentially increases applicant involvement in facilitating these checks.
While USCIS emphasizes that such investigations will be used selectively, the discretion now lies entirely with the agency. At this time, there has been no formal officer training announced and no verified reports of these investigations being conducted since the memo’s release. Nevertheless, applicants should be aware that these in-person inquiries are once again possible.
In practice, this means that USCIS officers may now evaluate not only your documentation and interview responses, but also external perceptions of your moral character and reputation in your community or workplace.
Because these investigations may involve third parties—neighbors, employers, or colleagues—privacy concerns arise both for applicants and for those being contacted. For this reason, immigration practitioners are advising clients to proceed carefully when deciding whether to proactively submit testimonial letters from community members with their applications.
While USCIS encourages such letters, a blanket approach may not be ideal. In my practice, I evaluate each case individually to decide whether including Good Moral Character (GMC) statements from employers or neighbors will strengthen or complicate the application.
For example, if a client’s relationships in their neighborhood or workplace are uncertain—or if there is a risk of inconsistent or negative statements—it may be prudent to wait until USCIS specifically requests this documentation.
Applicants and their attorneys should take proactive but measured steps to prepare for the potential of a neighborhood or employment inquiry:
As with many new USCIS policies, implementation may vary by local Field Office. In the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area, for example, I have seen officers place increased emphasis on verifying community ties, employment stability, and consistency between application information and interview testimony.
Clients should be prepared for deeper questioning during their naturalization interviews, especially if officers suspect inconsistencies or incomplete documentation.
The resumption of neighborhood and personal investigations represents another step in USCIS’s move toward holistic, discretionary review of naturalization applications—complementing the recent Good Moral Character Memo. While this may seem concerning, applicants who are well-prepared, truthful, and consistent in their documentation should not be alarmed.
As always, preparation is key. A knowledgeable immigration attorney can help identify potential red flags, determine whether testimonial evidence is appropriate, and guide applicants through every stage of the process.
If you are preparing to apply for U.S. citizenship, I recommend consulting an experienced attorney who understands both the new policy environment and local USCIS practices.
If you need professional assistance with your naturalization or citizenship case, contact me at SG Legal Group. My team and I will help you present your strongest case and navigate these evolving USCIS procedures with confidence. Consultations are available in English, Russian, or Romanian.
Call 410-344-7100 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, please contact me directly.
Oleg Gherasimov, Esq.
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