U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formalized the use of neighborhood investigations as part of the naturalization process. The move follows an agency memo published in August 2025. The new policy went into effect on August 25, 2026.
Details of the Updated Policy
The new policy holds that:
- USCIS may conduct neighborhood investigations as part of the naturalization adjudication process.
- Neighborhood investigations may include a review of an applicant’s residence, employment history and community reputation to help verify information and assess eligibility requirements.
- Applicants may voluntarily submit testimonial or character reference letters, preferably from U.S. citizens who are not family members.
- USCIS may consider these letters when determining whether to waive a neighborhood investigation in a particular case.
- Adjudicators may verify information provided in naturalization applications through interviews, document reviews and information obtained during investigations.
- USCIS may waive neighborhood investigations on a case-by-case basis or for certain categories of applicants.
Impacts
For years, the typical naturalization applicant wouldn’t have had to concern themselves with any of the above. The vast majority of applicants fell under what was known as a “general waiver” of neighborhood investigations. It had existed since 1991. This policy rescinds it.
USCIS claims the investigations can reveal information not contained in background checks or applicant submitted paperwork. That’s the explanation the agency gave, anyway. It also answers why those two sections of the INA were linked in this memo: neighborhood interviews are authorized by INA 335(a), but the overall mandate to corroborate an applicant’s information and paperwork originates from INA 335(b).
But the mandate to conduct neighborhood investigations isn’t new. It’s been around for decades, it’s just been selectively enforced since the early 1990s, when USCIS prioritized criminal history and security screenings over neighbor interviews. What’s new is USCIS had a year of running neighborhood investigations under the 2025 memo. Now, they’re making it official policy U.S. citizenship guidance, not just a temporary departure from their usual procedures.
If you have an N400 pending or are planning to file one soon, now’s a great time to double check that your explanation of past addresses, employment history, and time spent abroad are consistent between your application and all of your supporting evidence. Little discrepancies that may have flown under the radar now may not.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.