The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on August 25th the reinstatement of possible “neighborhood investigations” for citizenship applicants, with updates made to the immigration policy manual. This policy change will impact both new applicants and those who have previously applied but are still awaiting approval.
According to the policy guidance from the immigration agency, this change is aimed at better evaluating and cross-checking the eligibility of citizenship applicants.
The guidance states that since 1952, U.S. immigration law has allowed for personal investigations, also known as neighborhood investigations, of citizenship applicants. However, around 1991, the immigration agency at that time waived such routine investigations in favor of relying on FBI records and other security checks to obtain information on the eligibility of applicants.
Now, the immigration agency is exercising its legal authority to restore personal/neighborhood investigations for citizenship applicants, which will help ensure that they meet the legal requirements, including full recognition and adherence to the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution, maintaining a positive and supportive attitude towards the order and welfare of the United States, among others.
Last August 22nd, the immigration agency had issued a memorandum on the restoration of neighborhood investigations, and a year later, it has been officially included in the policy manual. The agency mentioned that since issuing the memorandum last year, immigration officers have begun conducting neighborhood investigations on some applicants.
The scope of the personal or neighborhood investigations conducted by the immigration agency includes the areas near the residence and workplace of the applicant in the five years prior to the application.
Neighborhood investigations may involve visits to the applicant’s home, speaking with neighbors, employers, colleagues at work, among others. A post from Iandoli Desai & Cronin P.C., a law firm based in Boston, in early January of this year mentioned that since the immigration agency resumed “neighborhood investigations,” they have received reports from multiple clients about immigration officials suddenly visiting the applicant’s residence, with a focus mainly on the legality of marriage to U.S. citizens.
Through neighborhood investigations, information can be obtained regarding the applicant’s “good moral character,” loyalty to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, support for American interests, any beliefs or associations with organizations aiming to overthrow the U.S. government, etc.
The reinstatement of neighborhood investigations aims to gather more genuine and unscripted information.
The immigration agency will verify the information provided by applicants through neighborhood investigations or testimonies during interviews.
Under the new policy, the immigration agency still has the discretion to exempt certain cases from neighborhood investigations, with decisions made by specific groups.
The new policy allows applicants to voluntarily provide recommendation letters to demonstrate their eligibility for citizenship, adherence to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, and their good character. These letters are preferably from U.S. citizens who are not family members of the applicant.
When considering whether to conduct neighborhood investigations or grant exemptions, the immigration agency will take into account the recommendation letters voluntarily provided by the applicants.