U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its use of neighborhood investigations to verify the eligibility of people applying for American citizenship. Under updated guidance effective August 26, 2026, immigration officers may contact neighbors, employers and other people familiar with an applicant to verify information about residence, employment, marriage and personal conduct. The policy applies to pending naturalization applications as well as new applications filed on or after that date.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual on August 25, 2026, under a policy titled “Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility.”
The update reinforces the agency’s authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to conduct personal investigations, commonly known as neighborhood investigations, as part of the citizenship application process.
Although USCIS retained the legal authority to conduct such investigations for decades, the agency generally stopped using them in 1991. It began reintroducing the practice in August 2025, when it announced that neighborhood investigations could again be used to evaluate naturalization applicants.
The latest policy update formally incorporates the practice into the USCIS Policy Manual and clarifies how investigations may be used to verify applicants’ eligibility.
What Are Neighborhood Investigations?
Neighborhood investigations allow USCIS to verify information supplied by people applying for U.S. citizenship.
Depending on the circumstances of a case, immigration officers may visit an applicant’s residence or workplace and speak with people who can provide relevant information.
These individuals may include:
- Neighbors, landlords and homeowners association representatives.
- Employers, supervisors and coworkers.
- Business partners, employees, clients or other professional contacts.
Investigators may examine an applicant’s residential history, length of time living at particular addresses, employment history, reputation in the community and other matters relevant to naturalization eligibility.
The objective is to corroborate the information submitted with the citizenship application and assess whether the applicant meets the legal requirements for naturalization, including good moral character and compliance with immigration law.
Importantly, the policy does not mean every citizenship applicant will automatically receive a home visit. USCIS retains discretion to determine whether an investigation is necessary in an individual case.
Why USCIS Is Expanding These Investigations
Following the initial resumption of neighborhood investigations in 2025, immigration attorneys reported that officers had visited applicants’ homes in some locations.
Some early reports involved applicants seeking disability-related accommodations through Form N-648 or fee waivers. However, USCIS had not published a comprehensive list of the applications or circumstances that triggered these initial visits.
The August 2026 update provides a broader framework for using personal investigations when examining naturalization eligibility. Officers may use them to verify relevant information and resolve concerns about whether an applicant satisfies the requirements for citizenship.
The policy also emphasizes the agency’s responsibility to examine documentation, review testimony and corroborate information provided throughout the application process.
Marriage Fraud and Green Card Eligibility
One area of particular importance involves applicants whose permanent resident status was obtained through marriage.
A person may be ineligible for naturalization if the original grant of lawful permanent residence was unlawful, improperly obtained or based on fraud.
For example, if USCIS has concerns about whether a marriage was genuine, officers may seek to verify whether the spouses lived together at the claimed address and whether the circumstances support the validity of the marriage.
Investigators may interview neighbors or other people familiar with the couple’s living arrangements and relationship.
If USCIS determines that a marriage was entered into solely to obtain immigration benefits, the agency may deny the citizenship application. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, the person may also face removal proceedings.
Marriage fraud carries serious potential consequences under U.S. immigration law.
Section 275(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides for a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, for knowingly entering into a marriage to evade immigration laws.
Separately, INA Section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) addresses inadmissibility based on fraud or the knowing, willful misrepresentation of a material fact to obtain admission to the United States or another immigration benefit.
These provisions do not mean that every applicant whose marriage is questioned has committed fraud. Any determination depends on the evidence and the individual circumstances of the case.
Abandonment of Permanent Resident Status
The updated guidance also highlights the importance of maintaining lawful permanent resident status.
A naturalization applicant must satisfy the applicable requirements for lawful permanent residence, continuous residence and physical presence, among other conditions.
A person who has abandoned lawful permanent resident status may be ineligible for naturalization.
Information gathered through an investigation may help USCIS assess an applicant’s residential history and determine whether the information provided in the application is consistent with the person’s actual circumstances.
This makes accurate records of addresses, employment and other relevant details especially important for applicants preparing to seek citizenship.
What Should Citizenship Applicants Do?
Applicants should ensure that their Form N-400 and supporting documents accurately reflect their personal circumstances and comply with the applicable eligibility requirements.
They should also understand that USCIS may seek to verify information outside the documents submitted with the application.
People with complicated immigration histories, previous discrepancies in their applications, questions involving marriage-based permanent residence, or concerns about maintaining lawful permanent resident status may benefit from consulting an experienced immigration attorney before filing or while their applications remain pending.
The updated policy does not automatically make applicants ineligible for citizenship, nor does it mean that every case will be subject to an in-person investigation.
Instead, it gives USCIS a more clearly defined framework for investigating and corroborating eligibility when the agency determines that further examination is warranted.
