USCIS Resumes Neighborhood Checks for Naturalization Applicants.
Effective August 22, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is resuming personal investigations of aliens applying for naturalization, a policy outlined in their new Policy Memorandum PM-602-0189. This significant change means that the previous general waiver for these investigations is ending, and USCIS will now make decisions on conducting or waiving these checks on…
New USCIS Policy: Understanding How “Anti-American Views” Could Impact Your Immigration Case
Navigating U.S. immigration law can be complex, and recent policy updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have introduced significant changes, particularly concerning how “anti-American views” can affect your immigration case. Everyone who is seeking U.S. immigration benefits should understand these new guidelines. What’s Changing? Effective immediately for all pending and newly filed requests,…
Navigating Naturalization: What the New Good Moral Character Policy Means for You
Are you thinking about applying to become a U.S. citizen? Naturalization is a profound journey, allowing you to fully participate in American society. A key part of this process is showing that you possess Good Moral Character (GMC). Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy memorandum, effective August 15, 2025, that…
US Immigration Now Checking Social Media for Antisemitic Content
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that starting in April 2025, U.S. immigration officials will begin reviewing the social media accounts of certain applicants for U.S. immigration benefits. The stated goal of USCIS is to screen for antisemitic content or links to “terrorist” groups. What’s Changing?The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services…
USCIS Requires I-693 Medical Exam Form to Be Submitted with Green Card Applications
USCIS has announced that it now requires some applicants applying for adjustment of status (Form I-485) to also file a completed Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) with their application for adjustment of status. If you do not include a completed I-693 with your I-485, then USCIS may reject your entire…
USCIS Shares Best Practices for Filing Forms by Mail
On August 24, 2024, USCIS released a list of its best practices and top tips for filing forms by mail. These tips are divided into three separate sections: (1) Complete Your Form Accurately; (2) Assemble Your Application, Petition, or Request; and (3) Mail Your Application, Petition, or Request. Here is a brief summary of these…
Did You Know USCIS Will Now Automatically Extend Your Green Card When You Apply for Citizenship?
If you are applying for U.S. citizenship but your green card has expired or is about to expire, you might worry about your status while you are waiting for USCIS to process your application. However, USCIS has a new policy to help with this. Now, when you file your citizenship application (Form N-400), USCIS will…
USCIS introduces new Online Form to Request In-Person Appointments at Local Field Offices
On August 21, 2023, USCIS announced that it had launched an online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to make requests for in-person appointments at their local USCIS field office. This is a change from the previous procedure which only allowed appointments to be scheduled by calling the USCIS Contact Center. You can access…
Filing I-751 Petitions for included Children
I often receive inquiries from prospective clients who ask whether they need to file separate I-751 petitions to remove the conditional status of their children, or whether they can include their children in their own I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. The USCIS rule on this point is fairly simple: you may include your…
USCIS Advises to pay each Filing Fee Separately
USCIS has announced that they are transitioning to electronic processing of all requests for U.S. Immigration benefits which requires that they use multiple systems to process a package of forms. As such, USCIS now recommends that applicants and petitioners pay each filing fee separately. USCIS further advises that they may reject the entire package of…
