USCIS Good Moral Character Standard and Revived Neighborhood Investigations for Naturalization (PM-602-0188 / PM-602-0189)

Status: In effect now — USCIS good moral character reframe and revived neighborhood investigations for naturalization (PM-602-0188 / PM-602-0189) (USCIS PM-602-0189 (INA 335(a)) + companion good-moral-character memo PM-602-0188 (INA 101(f)), August 2025)

Both memoranda are operative and have been incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. On August 15, 2025, USCIS issued PM-602-0188, directing officers to evaluate good moral character under a "totality of the circumstances" framework (INA 101(f)) that weighs an applicant's positive contributions — such as community involvement, family responsibilities, steady lawful work, education, tax compliance, and evidence of rehabilitation — and not only the absence of disqualifying conduct. On August 22, 2025, USCIS issued PM-602-0189, ending the long-standing general waiver of personal ("neighborhood") investigations under INA 335(a) and authorizing officers to look into the vicinity of an applicant's residence and employment for at least the five years before the naturalization application was filed. USCIS reported it began conducting neighborhood investigations in November 2025.

Next step: Watch how USCIS applies the totality-of-the-circumstances good moral character standard and case-by-case neighborhood investigations in N-400 adjudications, and whether any legal challenge to the memoranda produces a court ruling.

Verified against the primary source as of 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Official source.

What’s happening

Both memoranda are operative and have been incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. On August 15, 2025, USCIS issued PM-602-0188, directing officers to evaluate good moral character under a “totality of the circumstances” framework (INA 101(f)) that weighs an applicant’s positive contributions — such as community involvement, family responsibilities, steady lawful work, education, tax compliance, and evidence of rehabilitation — and not only the absence of disqualifying conduct. On August 22, 2025, USCIS issued PM-602-0189, ending the long-standing general waiver of personal (“neighborhood”) investigations under INA 335(a) and authorizing officers to look into the vicinity of an applicant’s residence and employment for at least the five years before the naturalization application was filed. USCIS reported it began conducting neighborhood investigations in November 2025.

Who it affects

Applies to people filing Form N-400 (lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship). It changes how officers judge good moral character by adding a weighing of both favorable and unfavorable factors, and it revives the agency’s authority to contact neighbors, employers, or coworkers and to request testimonial letters in order to corroborate residence, character, and community ties. Not every applicant is investigated — USCIS describes the personal investigations as case-by-case.

How it got here

  1. 1981 Congress eliminated the two-witness requirement for naturalization and made personal (neighborhood) investigations its substitute.
  2. 1991 The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) stopped conducting neighborhood investigations; the practice stayed dormant for about three decades.
  3. Aug 15, 2025 USCIS issued PM-602-0188, restoring a 'holistic,' totality-of-the-circumstances good moral character standard for naturalization under INA 101(f).
  4. Aug 22, 2025 USCIS issued PM-602-0189, ending the general waiver and resuming personal ('neighborhood') investigations under INA 335(a), covering the vicinity of an applicant's residence and employment for at least the five years before filing.
  5. Nov 2025 USCIS reported that it began conducting neighborhood investigations.

What to watch next

Watch how USCIS applies the totality-of-the-circumstances good moral character standard and case-by-case neighborhood investigations in N-400 adjudications, and whether any legal challenge to the memoranda produces a court ruling.

Official sources

This page is general information about ongoing litigation, not legal advice. A case’s status can change with a single ruling, and outcomes can turn on facts specific to each person. For advice on a specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.