USCIS resumes ‘neighborhood investigations’ practice for citizenship applicants

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume the practice of conducting screenings of citizenship applicants through interviews with their neighbors and coworkers. It was discontinued more than 30 years ago.

These interviews will determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for citizenship, such as "good moral character, attachment to the U.S. Constitution, and disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States," according to a USCIS document .

Currently, USCIS waives the requirements for neighborhood investigations and has relied

largely on biometric checks and criminal history checks performed by the FBI to obtain information related to the applicant’s eligibility for naturalization.

"USCIS may request information from the alien seeking