USCIS Proposes to Revise N-400 Form Adding Additional Questions

USCIS proposes to revise the current N-400 adding more questions to consider the information that occurred before an eligibility determination for naturalization is made. Even if the applicant for naturalization has received a previous immigration benefit from USCIS, the length of time that may have transpired between the initial interaction that the respondent had with USCIS on another immigration benefit request and the filing of the N-400 requires USCIS to verify that actions taken by the respondent during the intervening years do not affect his or her eligibility for naturalization. 

The form is also updated to examine the inadmissibility grounds that were added by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. USCIS added these questions as required by the agreement reached through a working group comprised of representatives of affected agencies, including the Departments of Justice and State, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of DHS. These additional questions are necessary for USCIS to meet the statutory requirements and the President’s directive to make a determination that a person is ineligible to naturalize because of his or her past involvement with terrorism, persecution, torture, or genocide. This proposal will be published in the federal register tomorrow seeking comments within 60 days.