USCIS Introduces New Moral Character Disqualifiers for Naturalization Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has issued a new policy memo on November 4, 2026, outlining additional criteria that can disqualify lawful permanent residents from meeting the 'good moral character' requirement for naturalization. Previously, good moral character was primarily assessed based on a clean criminal record, tax compliance, and support for dependents. The new memo expands this scrutiny to include an applicant's entire immigration history, even prior to obtaining a Green Card. Significantly, applicants will now be questioned about their adherence to obligations stemming from Affidavits of Support submitted for sponsoring foreign nationals. If a sponsored immigrant is found to have become dependent on welfare, the naturalization applicant could face questions regarding their moral character and potential liability for government funds disbursed to the sponsored individual. Furthermore, if the applicant themselves received public a...
