US Citizenship and Immigration Services has reinforced its use of “neighborhood investigations” in some naturalization cases, giving immigration officers another tool to verify information submitted by applicants seeking US citizenship.
Why does the policy matter?
The revised policy memorandum, issued on August 25, 2026, follows an earlier USCIS move that ended a decades-long general waiver of such investigations in August 2025. USCIS has already conducted a number of such investigations since reintroducing the practice in August 2025, according to the revised policy. The 2025 policy change reopened the door to personal investigations, while the latest memorandum further reinforces their role as an adjudication tool. The August 25 memorandum also shows that the agency is continuing with a practice it formally revived last year rather than treating the 2025 policy change as a one-time measure.
Under the updated guidance, USCIS may conduct personal investigations as part of the adjudication process for certain naturalization applications, according to an analysis published by Fragomen.
The agency said the inquiries have helped officers determine whether applicants meet the requirements for naturalization, including requirements related to character. Fragomen said USCIS views the investigations as a tool to help validate information and documentation and assess whether an applicant meets all naturalization requirements. For years, neighborhood investigations had largely been waived as USCIS relied on other methods, including application forms, supporting documents, interviews and background checks. No. The policy does not establish neighborhood investigations as a mandatory step for every naturalization application.
