Applying for US Citizenship? USCIS Can Now Question Your Neighbours

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reinstated neighbourhood investigations for foreign nationals applying for American citizenship, adding another layer of scrutiny to the naturalisation process.

The measure was outlined in a policy alert issued earlier this week and allows USCIS investigators to make inquiries within an applicant’s community to verify information relevant to their eligibility for naturalisation. The move follows broader changes to immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term.

Executive Order 14159, which focuses on protecting the United States from individuals considered removable on national security grounds, and Executive Order 14161, which seeks to restore uniform vetting standards for immigration benefits, provide the framework for increased scrutiny.

Neighbourhood investigations are authorised under Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. USCIS investigators may interview people who know the applicant and can provide information about their life and conduct.

The inquiries generally cover the five years before an applicant submits a naturalisation application, although investigators may examine an earlier period where circumstances warrant it. People interviewed may include neighbours, landlords, employers, colleagues and other community members.

Investigators may ask witnesses to verify an applicant’s residence, employment, moral character and social ties. USCIS guidance states that information provided by witnesses should be based on personal knowledge rather than speculation or prejudice.

The investigations can cover more than an applicant’s address or employment history. Officials may also examine family circumstances, financial obligations, criminal history, social activities and attitudes towards the United States.

Applicants with unstable housing histories may be subject to inquiries involving shelters or social service agencies. USCIS may also review character references submitted by people who know the applicant as part of its assessment of their reputation and credibility.

The practice is not entirely new. USCIS had previously suspended neighbourhood investigations through a general waiver that remained in place for decades. The agency reinstated the practice last year through a policy alert titled Resumption of Personal Investigations of Aliens Applying for Naturalisation.

The latest announcement confirms the continued use of these investigations as part of the naturalisation process. Applicants may therefore face additional inquiries before completing their citizenship interviews.

USCIS says the investigations are intended to help establish whether applicants meet the legal requirements for naturalisation. The process also gives people in an applicant’s community a role in providing information that may be considered in the federal assessment.