At a glance (120 words): For more than thirty years, immigration officers almost never visited the neighborhoods of people applying for U.S. citizenship. That has now changed. On August 25, 2026, USCIS added guidance to its Policy Manual (Policy Alert PA-2026-10) that ends the general waiver of “neighborhood investigations” under INA 335(a). Unless USCIS waives one, an investigator may talk to neighbors, landlords, employers, coworkers, or business clients about an applicant’s conduct and reputation, usually covering at least the five years before the N-400 was filed. The guidance applies to applications pending or filed on or after August 25, 2026. Applicants can submit at least two character reference letters from U.S. citizens who know them, which USCIS weighs when deciding whether to waive the investigation.
What Changed
The law has allowed these investigations since 1952. Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act lets immigration officers investigate a person applying for naturalization, including in the neighborhoods where the person lived and worked. In practice, the government stopped doing this by 1991 and relied on FBI fingerprint and name checks instead.
In August 2025, the USCIS Director issued a memo resuming the investigations. On August 25, 2026, USCIS made that approach part of its Policy Manual in Policy Alert PA-2026-10, “Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility.” In the agency’s words, it is “exercising its statutory authority in INA 335(a) to end the general waiver of neighborhood investigations.”
The guidance took effect immediately and applies to every Form N-400 that was pending on August 25, 2026 or filed after that date. According to the Policy Manual, unless waived, the investigation applies to all applicants and will generally be completed before the naturalization interview. An officer can also order one at any time before the Oath of Allegiance, including after the interview.
Who an Investigator May Talk To
The investigator must identify themselves as a USCIS employee and explain the purpose of the visit. The Policy Manual lists the people an investigator may interview:
- Where you live: neighbors, landlords, employees and owners of local businesses, and home association representatives.
- Where you work: supervisors, managers, coworkers, or office staff.
- If you are self-employed or own a business: business partners, associates, employees, clients, customers, or contractors.
For people without a stable address, such as those living in a shelter, the investigator may review records or letters from shelters, social workers, or employers instead of talking to neighbors.
The investigation should cover at least the five years immediately before the N-400 was filed. USCIS may cover a shorter period, for example for spouses of U.S. citizens applying under the three-year rule, or a longer one, including time outside the United States.
What They May Ask About
According to the Policy Manual, the information an investigator gathers may include:
- Where you have lived and for how long
- Your employment, periods of unemployment, and businesses
- Marriages, divorces, and children
- Social activities, associations, and habits
- Financial obligations
- Schools you attended
- Your reputation in the community
- Criminal history
- Travel and activities outside the United States
- Your credibility and truthfulness
- Your attachment to the United States and the Constitution
Witnesses are supposed to speak only from personal knowledge, not rumor or speculation. USCIS also says the investigator must watch for testimony distorted by prejudice, dislike, or political views.
The investigation is also used to check what you wrote on the N-400. Officers now validate your residences, jobs, education, family information, and criminal and immigration history against what investigators and records show. An address or job left off the application, or dates that do not match, can become a problem.
Character Reference Letters
USCIS can waive the investigation in a particular case, and one reason it may do so is that the applicant sent enough character letters. The Policy Manual says that submitting at least two letters with the N-400 can help USCIS decide whether a waiver is appropriate.
The letters are optional. They should preferably come from U.S. citizens who personally know you, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers, or business associates. USCIS does not consider letters from immediate family or relatives.
Each letter should include:
- The writer’s full name, address, phone number, and email, plus a statement and proof of their U.S. citizenship or immigration status
- How the writer knows you and for how long
- Specific examples of your honesty, integrity, and involvement in the community
- A clear statement about your moral character and your attitude toward the United States and the Constitution
Not sending letters does not, by itself, mean you lack good moral character. But USCIS says a failure or refusal to provide letters, or other evidence it requests, may contribute to a decision to conduct an investigation.
For people applying through U.S. military service, USCIS will consider that service when deciding whether to waive the investigation.
Can USCIS Deny Based on What a Neighbor Says?
The results go into your file and are weighed with everything else. If USCIS plans to deny an application based on negative information from the investigation, it must give you notice of that information and a chance to respond to it. That is the moment to have an attorney involved.
What to Do Now
- Make the N-400 complete and accurate. List every address and employer for the required period with correct dates. Investigators and officers will compare it with what they find.
- Line up two or more reference letters before you file. Ask U.S. citizens who know you well and are not relatives. Give them the list of what USCIS wants each letter to include.
- Keep records that back up your history. Leases, utility bills, pay stubs, tax returns, and business records help confirm where you lived and worked.
- Answer every USCIS request on time. Ignoring a request for letters or other evidence can push your case toward an investigation.
- Get advice first if anything in your past is complicated. Arrests, tax problems, long trips abroad, or gaps in your address history are worth reviewing before you file, not after.
The N-400 filing fee is currently $760 on paper or $710 online, with a reduced fee and fee waiver available to some applicants.
When to Call an Immigration Attorney
Most applicants with a clean, consistent history have little to worry about. But this change gives USCIS more ways to question an application, and a mistake on the N-400 can now surface through a conversation with a neighbor or a former boss. The Law Offices of Karen S. Monrreal helps green card holders in Reno and across Nevada with citizenship and naturalization. Call (775) 826-2380 before you file. For an overview of the full process, see our guide to the U.S. citizenship process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a USCIS neighborhood investigation?
It is an investigation under INA 335(a) in which a USCIS employee interviews people who know a citizenship applicant, such as neighbors, landlords, employers, and coworkers, about the applicant’s conduct, residence, reputation, and community ties. It also helps confirm the information on the N-400.
Does every citizenship applicant get one?
Under the Policy Manual, the investigation applies to all applicants unless USCIS waives it. USCIS decides case by case, or by classes of cases, whether to conduct or waive it.
Who should write my character reference letters?
Preferably U.S. citizens who personally know you, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers, or business associates. USCIS does not consider letters from immediate family or relatives. USCIS says submitting at least two letters with the N-400 can help it decide whether to waive the investigation.
My N-400 was filed before August 25, 2026. Does this apply to me?
Yes. The guidance applies to applications pending on August 25, 2026, as well as those filed after that date.
Can I be denied because of something a neighbor said?
USCIS weighs the investigation with the rest of the record. If it intends to deny based on negative information from the investigation, it must tell you what that information is and give you a chance to respond.
Sources: USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10, “Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility” (August 25, 2026); USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part B, Chapter 2, Background Investigation and Security Checks, uscis.gov; INA 335(a) and (b), 8 U.S.C. 1446; USCIS Form N-400 page, uscis.gov/n-400.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Whether an investigation is conducted or waived, and how it affects an application, depends on the facts of each case. Speak with an immigration attorney about your own situation before you file.
Questions about your own case?
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. New clients are taken from a waiting list. Call the office to ask about current availability.