As of October 21, 2026, the biggest N-400 changes of 2026 are about how USCIS checks your character, not the form itself. On August 25, 2026, USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10 ended the general waiver of neighborhood investigations, so USCIS can now send an investigator to talk to your neighbors, landlord, coworkers or clients before it decides your naturalization application (USCIS, PA-2026-10; 12 USCIS-PM B.2). Applicants may submit character reference letters, which USCIS weighs when deciding whether to waive that investigation (USCIS Policy Manual, 12 USCIS-PM B.2).
Two earlier changes still shape every 2026 case. Officers take a "holistic approach" to good moral character under an August 15, 2025 policy memo (USCIS, PM-602-0188), and anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 takes the 2025 civics test (USCIS, 2025 Civics Test). The residence and physical presence rules that decide when you can file are covered in our guide to naturalization after an employment-based green card.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10 (August 25, 2026) ended the general waiver of neighborhood investigations under INA 335(a).
- The guidance is effective immediately and applies to N-400s pending or filed on or after August 25, 2026.
- Investigators may interview neighbors, landlords, supervisors, coworkers, business partners and clients, generally covering at least the 5 years before filing.
- Character reference letters are optional; USCIS says submitting at least two with Form N-400 can help it decide whether to waive the investigation.
- USCIS does not consider character letters written by an applicant's immediate family or relatives.
- Policy Memorandum PM-602-0188 (August 15, 2025) tells officers to weigh positive attributes, not only the absence of misconduct, in good moral character decisions.
- N-400s filed on or after October 20, 2025 get the 2025 civics test: 20 questions from a bank of 128, with 12 correct needed to pass.
What are the N-400 changes in 2026, and what is in force?
| Item | Document | Status on October 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| End of the general waiver of neighborhood investigations | PA-2026-10 (Aug. 25, 2026); 12 USCIS-PM B.1 to B.3 | In effect; applies to N-400s pending or filed on or after Aug. 25, 2026 |
| Optional character reference letters | 12 USCIS-PM B.2(A)(4) | In effect; at least two letters with the N-400 can support a waiver |
| "Holistic" good moral character review | PM-602-0188 (Aug. 15, 2025) | Policy memo; no matching Policy Manual Part F update |
| Unlawful voting and false claims to citizenship | PA-2025-20 (Aug. 29, 2025) | In the Policy Manual |
| 2025 civics test | 90 FR 45047 (Sept. 18, 2025); 12 USCIS-PM E.2 | Current version for N-400s filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025 |
| Voter registration at ceremonies | PA-2026-11 (Aug. 31, 2026) | In effect; nonpartisan nonprofits may again offer voter registration |
| Denaturalization referrals | PA-2026-13 (Sept. 14, 2026) | In effect |
| N-400 fee adjustment; end of N-400 fee waivers and reduced fee | 91 FR 37500 (June 23, 2026) | Proposed only; comments closed Aug. 24, 2026; no final rule published |
Sources for the table: PA-2026-10 (USCIS), PM-602-0188 (USCIS), the Part F update history (12 USCIS-PM F.1), PA-2025-20 (USCIS), the civics test notice (90 FR 45047), PA-2026-11 (USCIS), PA-2026-13 (USCIS) and the proposed fee rule (91 FR 37500).
What is a USCIS neighborhood investigation?
The authority is old. Section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act has allowed investigations of naturalization applicants since 1952, and by 1991 the legacy INS had abandoned them in favor of FBI criminal history checks (USCIS, PA-2026-10). The regulation still describes the investigation in full:
"The investigation shall consist, at a minimum, of a review of all pertinent records, police department checks, and a neighborhood investigation in the vicinities where the applicant has resided and has been employed, or engaged in business, for at least the five years immediately preceding the filing of the application." 8 CFR 335.1
The same regulation lets the district director waive the neighborhood portion (8 CFR 335.1). An August 22, 2025 memo (PM-602-0189) resumed investigations, and PA-2026-10 now writes the policy into the Policy Manual (USCIS, PA-2026-10). USCIS says it began conducting neighborhood investigations in November 2025 (USCIS news release, December 22, 2025).
"USCIS is exercising its statutory authority in INA 335(a) to end the general waiver of neighborhood investigations." USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10 (August 25, 2026)
Under the new Policy Manual chapter, the investigation applies to all applicants unless waived and is generally completed before the naturalization interview (12 USCIS-PM B.2). An officer may still request one at any time before the Oath of Allegiance if questions or derogatory information come up (12 USCIS-PM B.2). The decision to conduct or waive is made by the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, with Field Operations, based on an individualized and discretionary review (USCIS, PA-2026-10).
Who will the investigator talk to?
The Policy Manual lists the people an investigator may interview (12 USCIS-PM B.2):
- Near your home: neighbors, landlords, employees and owners of local businesses, and home association representatives.
- At work: supervisors, managers, coworkers or office staff.
- If you run a business: business partners, associates, employees, clients, customers or contractors.
The scope should cover at least the 5 years before you filed, and USCIS may go further back or look outside the United States when necessary (12 USCIS-PM B.2). Topics include your marriages and children, employment and gaps in it, financial obligations, education, reputation, criminal history, travel and activities abroad, past residences, credibility, and loyalty to the United States and the Constitution (12 USCIS-PM B.2). The investigator must identify themselves as a USCIS employee and explain the inquiry, and witness testimony should be limited to personal knowledge, not speculation or hearsay (12 USCIS-PM B.2).
Do you need character reference letters with your N-400?
No, but USCIS now openly invites them. The Policy Manual calls the letters optional supporting evidence and says USCIS may waive the investigation if an applicant submits sufficient testimonial or character reference letters (12 USCIS-PM B.2). It says proactively submitting at least two letters with Form N-400 can help USCIS decide whether a waiver is appropriate (12 USCIS-PM B.2).
"An alien's failure or refusal to provide the letters may contribute to a decision to conduct a neighborhood investigation." 12 USCIS-PM B.2(A)(4)
The flip side is in the same chapter: the absence of reference letters alone does not justify a finding that you lack good moral character (12 USCIS-PM B.2).
USCIS prefers letters from U.S. citizens who know you personally, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers and business associates, and it does not consider letters from your immediate family or relatives (12 USCIS-PM B.2). Each letter should include (12 USCIS-PM B.2):
- the writer's full name, address, phone number and email, plus a statement and documentation of their U.S. citizenship or immigration status;
- the relationship and how long the writer has known you;
- specific examples of your honesty, integrity and community engagement; and
- an explicit statement about your moral character and attitude toward the United States and the Constitution.
If USCIS asks for more evidence beyond the letters and you do not provide it, that too may contribute to a decision to investigate (12 USCIS-PM B.2). Whether your letters are strong enough, and who should write them, is a question for your attorney.
How does USCIS judge good moral character in 2026?
The statute requires that an applicant "has been and still is a person of good moral character" during the statutory period, and the standard of proof is preponderance of the evidence (USCIS, PM-602-0188). The August 15, 2025 memo changed how officers apply it:
"Going forward, USCIS officers must account for an alien's positive attributes and not simply the absence of misconduct." USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0188 (August 15, 2025)
The memo lists positive factors including community involvement, family caregiving, educational attainment, stable lawful employment, length of lawful residence, and compliance with tax obligations (USCIS, PM-602-0188). It also calls for closer scrutiny of conduct that is lawful but "inconsistent with civic responsibility," giving reckless or habitual traffic infractions as an example (USCIS, PM-602-0188). Evidence of rehabilitation, such as paying overdue taxes or catching up on child support, can support a finding of good moral character (USCIS, PM-602-0188).
Status matters here. The memo remains listed on the USCIS policy memoranda page (USCIS, Policy Memoranda), but the update history for Part F (Good Moral Character) of the Policy Manual, current as of October 2, 2026, lists no policy alert after August 29, 2025 (12 USCIS-PM F.1). That August 29, 2025 update, PA-2025-20, says USCIS may find an applicant lacks good moral character for knowingly or unlawfully registering to vote or voting unlawfully (USCIS, PA-2025-20).
Which civics test will you take at your interview?
The test depends on your filing date, not your interview date (USCIS, Check for Test Updates).
| N-400 filed | Test | Question bank | Asked | Needed to pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Oct. 20, 2025 | 2008 civics test | 100 | Up to 10 | 6 |
| On or after Oct. 20, 2025 | 2025 civics test | 128 | Up to 20 | 12 |
Sources: 12 USCIS-PM E.2 and USCIS, 2025 Civics Test.
On the 2025 test the officer stops once you answer 12 correctly or 9 incorrectly (USCIS, 2025 Civics Test). Applicants who are 65 or older and have at least 20 years as permanent residents when they file get 10 questions from a list of 20 specially designated questions and need 6 correct (12 USCIS-PM E.2). Answers that depend on who holds office, such as the President or your state's senators, must name the official serving on the day of your interview (USCIS, Check for Test Updates).
The English portion did not change: the Federal Register notice says it "does not change the English language parts of the naturalization test" (90 FR 45047). If you fail any part, USCIS reschedules a second examination between 60 and 90 days later, and a second failure leads to denial (12 USCIS-PM E.2).
What happens if the investigation finds something negative?
Results go into your record. If USCIS intends to deny based on derogatory information from the investigation, it must give you sufficient notice of the information and an opportunity to refute it (12 USCIS-PM B.2). Officers also validate your residences, employment, education, family information and immigration history, and false information in an earlier immigration filing can affect both your eligibility and your good moral character (12 USCIS-PM B.2). That is why an old misrepresentation in an immigration petition can resurface years later at the citizenship stage.
Separately, under PA-2026-05 (August 5, 2026), USCIS may deny a request for missing required initial evidence without first sending a Request for Evidence (USCIS, PA-2026-05). We explain that shift in our post on denials without an RFE. In practice, that makes a complete, well-documented N-400 more important.
What this means for you
For most skilled immigrants with steady jobs and clean records, the practical change is preparation. The investigation generally covers the five years before you filed, so consistency between your N-400, your documents and what people who know you would say matters most (12 USCIS-PM B.2). Long trips abroad also get reviewed, since investigations help assess continuous residence (12 USCIS-PM B.2); our guide to reentry permits and long absences covers how those trips are treated.
- Check that every address, employer and date on your N-400 matches your records for the last five years.
- Ask two or more U.S. citizens who know you well, but are not relatives, whether they would write a character letter with the details USCIS lists.
- Gather evidence of positive factors: tax transcripts, employment history, community or volunteer work.
- If you have any past issue, such as a citation, an unpaid tax bill or a prior visa problem, raise it with your attorney before you file.
- Confirm which civics test applies by your filing date and study that version's question list.
- Tell your landlord, manager or business partners that a USCIS investigator could contact them, so a visit does not come as a surprise.
Where to start
If you are still on the way to a green card, our free evaluation shows which employment-based routes fit your profile, and Frank, our AI assistant, finds real opportunities for the criteria you are missing. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked October 21, 2026.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10, Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility (August 25, 2026). Ends the general waiver; effective date and applicability; history since 1952 and 1991; PM-602-0189.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part B, Chapter 2, Background Investigation and Security Checks (current as of October 2, 2026). Who is interviewed, scope, character letters, waiver, notice of derogatory information, validation.
- 8 CFR 335.1, Investigation of applicant (Code of Federal Regulations, January 1, 2025 edition, GovInfo). Regulatory text of the investigation and waiver.
- USCIS news release, Making America Safe Again: End-of-Year Review (December 22, 2025). Investigations began in November 2025.
- USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0188, Restoring a Rigorous, Holistic, and Comprehensive Good Moral Character Evaluation Standard (August 15, 2025). Holistic standard, positive factors, rehabilitation.
- USCIS, Policy Memoranda (accessed October 21, 2026). PM-602-0188 still listed.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part F, Chapter 1 (current as of October 2, 2026). Update history of the good moral character part.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-20, Good Moral Character, Unlawful Voting, and False Claim to U.S. Citizenship (August 29, 2025). Unlawful voting and registration.
- Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Civics Test, 90 FR 45047 (September 18, 2025). Filing-date cutoff; English test unchanged.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing (current as of October 2, 2026). Both test versions, special consideration, re-examination.
- USCIS, 2025 Civics Test (last updated September 17, 2025). Format and stopping rule.
- USCIS, Check for Test Updates (last updated September 18, 2025). Version by filing date; officials serving at interview.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-11, Non-Governmental, Nonpartisan Organization Voter Registration Services at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies (August 31, 2026). Rescission of PA-2025-21.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-13, Revocation of Naturalization Referrals (September 14, 2026). Denaturalization referral guidance.
- USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05, Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny (August 5, 2026). Denial for missing initial evidence without an RFE.
- Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments, proposed rule, 91 FR 37500 (June 23, 2026). Proposed N-400 fee adjustment and end of fee waivers and reduced fee; comment deadline August 24, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Will USCIS visit my neighbors if I apply for citizenship in 2026?
It may. Since USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10 of August 25, 2026, a neighborhood investigation applies to every naturalization applicant unless USCIS waives it for the case or for a class of cases. The decision is discretionary and made case by case, so a visit is possible but not automatic. Investigators can speak with neighbors, landlords, coworkers, supervisors and business contacts about at least the 5 years before you filed.
Are character reference letters required for Form N-400?
No. The USCIS Policy Manual describes testimonial and character reference letters as optional supporting evidence. It also says that submitting at least two letters with Form N-400 can help USCIS decide whether to waive a neighborhood investigation, and that failing or refusing to provide letters may contribute to a decision to investigate. Not having letters is not, by itself, a basis for finding that you lack good moral character.
Who should write an N-400 character reference letter?
USCIS prefers letters from U.S. citizens who know you personally, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers and business associates. It does not consider letters from your immediate family or relatives. Each letter should give the writer's full contact details and proof of citizenship or immigration status, explain how long they have known you, offer specific examples of your honesty and community involvement, and state explicitly their view of your moral character and attitude toward the United States.
Which civics test will I take at my naturalization interview?
It depends on the date you filed Form N-400, not the date of your interview. If you filed before October 20, 2025, you take the 2008 civics test: up to 10 questions from a bank of 100, with 6 correct needed. If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from a bank of 128, with 12 correct needed to pass.
Did the English test for naturalization change in 2026?
No change to the English portion has been announced as of October 21, 2026. The September 18, 2025 Federal Register notice that introduced the 2025 civics test states that it does not change the English reading, writing, speaking and understanding parts of the naturalization test. If you fail any part of the English or civics test, USCIS reschedules a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the first one.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
