U.S. Citizen / Naturalization

If confirmed by the Senate, Juddou will lead an agency that is looking to tackle visa and naturalization backlogs, avoid future budgetary concerns and address cumbersome agency processes.
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USCIS announced today it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test beginning March 1, 2021.

Policy Highlights

• Provides that USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to applicants who filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or who will file on or after March 1, 2021.
• Provides that USCIS will give applicants the choice to either take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test in cases where applicants filed their naturalization application on or after December 1, 2020 and before March 1, 2021, and where the initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur before April 19, 2021.

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In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners,
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On October 7, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) hosted a public webinar to discuss USCIS’ Processing of Concurrently Pending Forms N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and Forms I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence). Subject matter experts (SMEs) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also joined this session and they committed to provide answers (in writing) to the additional questions from stakeholders after the webinar.
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On Nov. 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the circumstances when USCIS will find applicants ineligible for naturalization because they were not lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Applicants are ineligible for naturalization if they obtained lawful permanent residence (LPR) status in error, by fraud or otherwise not in compliance with the law.
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USCIS announced plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019.

USCIS revised the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and civic values.
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Sometimes the words permanent resident and citizen are used interchangeably. There are, however, distinct and important differences between being a U.S.
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WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded its policy guidance regarding unlawful acts that may prevent an applicant from meeting the good moral character (GMC) requirement for naturalization. The commission of, or conviction or imprisonment for, an unlawful act, during the statutory period for naturalization, may render an applicant ineligible for naturalization should the act be found to adversely reflect on moral character.

Previously, the USCIS Policy Manual did not include extensive information on unlawful acts.
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If you are a U.S. citizen and you wish to bring your foreign spouse to the U.S. permanently, be aware that you have options.

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How long should it take for the USCIS to process my adjustment of status application?

If you are seeking a visa to come to the U.S. to work, study, or perform, one of your top concerns will likely be how long it will take for your application to be processed.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is tasked with processing the majority of visa applications.  Average processing times depend upon statistics for the year, how complete your application is, and any external factors.  Our New York immigration lawyers at NPZ Law Group, P.C. discuss what processing times you should expect if you are seeking a visa and how the government shutdown could impact your visa below.

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On Oct. 1, USCIS began using digital tablets to administer the English reading and writing tests during naturalization interviews as part of the agency’s ongoing business modernization efforts.
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