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USCIS Reintroduces Personal Investigations for Naturalization Eligibility Assessments

🇺🇸 United StatesCitizenship1 recorded versionLast change 2 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reinstated personal investigations, also known as neighbourhood investigations, under Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for naturalisation applicants. USCIS will now assess and corroborate the eligibility of aliens by conducting these investigations, in addition to reinforcing the validation of applicant information and documentation under INA 335(b). USCIS may, however, waive a neighbourhood investigation at its discretion on a case-by-case basis or for classes of cases.

Overview

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new policy guidance, effective immediately from 25 August 2026, reintroducing personal investigations for naturalisation eligibility assessments. This measure, outlined in Volume 12 of the USCIS Policy Manual, ends the previous general waiver of these investigations under section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It aims to enhance the integrity of the naturalisation process by allowing USCIS to conduct discretionary investigations and to validate applicant information and documentation more thoroughly during examinations.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Applicants for U.S. naturalisation whose applications are being evaluated by USCIS
  • Lawful permanent residents applying for citizenship through the naturalisation process
  • Applicants whose eligibility requires additional investigation or verification by USCIS
  • Applicants whose circumstances contain information that USCIS considers relevant to determining naturalisation eligibility

What changed in the latest version

Before

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) generally did not do personal investigations. These are also known as neighbourhood investigations. This practice started in 1991. USCIS mainly used criminal history and security checks for naturalisation applicants instead. This meant USCIS largely did not use its powers under Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

After

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has restarted personal investigations for naturalisation applicants. These are also known as neighbourhood investigations. This is allowed under Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). USCIS will now check and confirm the eligibility of aliens through these investigations. An alien is a person who is not a U.S. citizen. This also strengthens how USCIS checks applicant information and documents under INA 335(b). However, USCIS may choose to not do a neighbourhood investigation. It can make this choice for individual cases or for groups of cases.

This policy change means that people applying for naturalisation may now face a personal investigation in their neighbourhood. This type of investigation has not been done routinely for many decades. Applicants must be ready for this extra check. People who offer to write letters about an applicant should understand their role. They are stating facts about the applicant's character and loyalty. This change improves USCIS's ability to check an applicant's background. This might make the naturalisation process longer for some people. People can offer to provide letters about the applicant. However, USCIS will decide if these letters mean an investigation will not happen.

Explained simply

Imagine you're trying to join a special club, and they used to only check your official papers and ask you questions. Now, for the biggest club of all—becoming a U.S. citizen—they might also ask people in your neighbourhood or people who know you well about your character and how you act. It's like they're doing a more thorough background check to make sure you're a good fit for the club. You can help by getting letters from U.S. citizens, not just family, who can vouch for you.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 25 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    USCIS Reintroduces Personal Investigations for Naturalization Eligibility Assessments

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has restarted personal investigations for people who apply for naturalisation. This process is also called a neighbourhood investigation. It happens under Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. USCIS generally stopped these investigations in 1991. It then used criminal history checks instead. This new policy starts on 25 August 2026. It aims to check and confirm an alien's eligibility more carefully. An alien is a person who is not a U.S. citizen. These investigations gather extra information that interviews or documents may not always show. USCIS can still choose to not do these investigations in some cases. People who are not family members but are U.S. citizens can offer to write letters about the applicant. USCIS will consider these letters.

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