USCIS Makes Home Checks Permanent for Naturalization Applicants

On August 25, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally added a policy that lets officers investigate naturalization applicants' neighborhoods, workplaces, and reputations before approving their citizenship.

The practice, known as a “neighborhood investigation,” ends the general waiver USCIS had used since 1991 to skip these checks, and builds on an August 2025 memo that first brought the policy back. It’s effective immediately and applies to any Form N-400 pending or filed on or after August 25, 2026.

What does the new policy update change for naturalization applicants?

The update makes USCIS’s neighborhood investigations permanent, rather than a temporary memo:

• USCIS can investigate an applicant's neighborhood and workplace under section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, going back at least five years before the naturalization application was filed.
• Immigration officers can still waive an investigation, but they now decide on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants may voluntarily submit testimonial or character reference letters that speak to their eligibility, good moral character, and loyalty to the U.S. USCIS will factor those letters into its decision on whether to waive an investigation.
• Adjudicators will continue examining every factor tied to naturalization eligibility through evidence review, the investigation itself, and the citizenship interview testimony.

What does this mean for naturalization applicants?

Practically, Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says this doesn't add a new legal requirement to become a citizen. “USCIS has already been running these checks since August 2025, and today's alert makes that approach permanent policy,” she says. “If you’re filing for American citizenship, expect this as part of the application process.”

Applicants can lower the odds of an investigation by proactively including testimonial letters from neighbors, employers, or community members with their N-400 application, along with consistent proof of their address and employment history. Urizar says, regardless, you should consult with an immigration attorney for guidance.