USCIS Memo Directs Closer Good Moral Character Review in Naturalization Cases, Covering Support Duties, Benefit Fraud and Sponsorship Obligations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy memorandum PM-602-0201 on November 4, guiding officers on how to assess whether naturalization (Form N-400) applicants meet the statutory "good moral character" requirement: willfully failing to support dependents, obtaining public benefits by fraud, and failing to honor sponsorship obligations may all be treated as acts that reflect poorly on an applicant's character and can lead to denial.
The situations named in the memorandum include willfully failing to support children or other dependents; obtaining public benefits through fraud, including being convicted of or admitting benefit fraud; failing to comply with obligations under an affidavit of support (Form I-864 series) or with support commitments under a declaration of financial support (Forms I-134 and I-134A); and obtaining means-tested benefits through intentional self-impoverishment as a way of avoiding self-sufficiency.
The memorandum also makes clear that lawfully receiving public benefits is not, by itself, a character bar; officers must weigh the totality of each applicant's circumstances rather than deny on any single factor. The character period generally covers the five years before filing — three years for spouses of U.S. citizens — and runs through the oath of allegiance, under the framework of 8 CFR 316.10 on acts that may show a lack of good moral character.
USCIS says it will revise Form N-400 and issue accompanying Policy Manual guidance, but has not announced a timeline. The memorandum means that even applicants who meet the residence, English and civics requirements can see their naturalization decided by their financial and family-support record.
(Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，2025年入籍仪式宣誓现场（美国国家公园管理局照片），公共领域 | Image: Wikimedia Commons, 2025 naturalization ceremony oath (National Park Service photo), public domain
