Chapter 4: Results of the Naturalization Examination
USCIS has 120 days from the date of the initial naturalization interview to issue a decision. If the decision is not issued within 120 days of the interview, an applicant may request judicial review of his or her application in district court. The officer must base his or her decision on the laws, regulations, precedent decisions, and governing policies.
The officer may:
Approve the application;
Continue the examination without making a decision (if more information is needed), if the applicant needs to be rescheduled, or for other relevant reasons; or
Deny the application.
The officer must provide the applicant with a notice of results at the end of the interview regardless of the outcome. The notice should address the outcome of the interview and the next steps involved for continued cases.[1] The officer issues a Notice of Examination Results (Form N-652).
A. Approval of Naturalization Application
If an officer approves a naturalization application, the application goes through the appropriate internal procedures before the USCIS office schedules the applicant to appear at a ceremony for the administration of the Oath of Allegiance.[2] See Part J, Oath of Allegiance. The internal procedures include a “re-verification” procedure where all approved applications are reviewed for quality. The officer who conducts the re-verification is not the same officer who conducts the interview. While the officer conducting the re-verification process does not adjudicate the application once again, the officer may raise any substantive eligibility issues.
USCIS does not schedule an applicant for the Oath of Allegiance in cases where USCIS receives or identifies potentially disqualifying information about the applicant after approval of his or her application.[3] See 8 CFR 335.5. See Chapter 5, Motion to Reopen. If USCIS cannot resolve the disqualifying information and the adjudicating officer finds the applicant ineligible for naturalization, USCIS then issues a Motion to Reopen and re-adjudicates the naturalization application.
B. Continuation of Examination
1. Continuation to Request Evidence
An officer issues the applicant a written request for evidence if additional information is needed to make an accurate determination on the naturalization application.[4] The officer issues a request for evidence on Form N-14. In general, USCIS permits a period of 30 days for the applicant to respond to a request for evidence.[5] See 8 CFR 335.7. The applicant has up to three more days after the 30-day period for responding to an RFE in cases where USCIS has mailed the request. See 8 CFR 103.8(b).
The request for evidence should include:
The specific documentation or information that the officer is requesting;
The ways in which the applicant may respond; and
The period of time that the applicant has to reply.
The applicant must respond to the request for evidence within the timeframe specified by the officer. If the applicant timely submits the evidence as requested, the officer makes a decision on the applicant’s eligibility. If the applicant fails to submit the evidence as requested, the officer may adjudicate the application based on the available evidence.[6] See 8 CFR 335.7.
2. Scheduling Subsequent Re-examination
If an applicant fails any portion of the naturalization test, an officer must provide the applicant a second opportunity to pass the test within 60 to 90 days after the initial examination unless the applicant is statutorily ineligible for naturalization based on other grounds.[7] See 8 CFR 312.5(a) and 8 CFR 335.3(b). An officer should also schedule a re-examination in order to resolve any issues on eligibility.
The outcome of the re-examination determines whether the officer conducting the second interview continues, approves, or denies the naturalization application.[8] See Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing.
If the applicant fails to appear for the re-examination and USCIS does not receive a timely or reasonable request to reschedule, the officer should deny the application based on the applicant’s failure to meet the educational requirements for naturalization. The officer also should include any other areas of ineligibility within the denial notice.
C. Denial of Naturalization Application
If an officer denies a naturalization application based on ineligibility or lack of prosecution, the officer must issue the applicant and his or her attorney or representative a written denial notice no later than 120 days after the initial interview on the application.[9] See INA 335(d). See 8 CFR 336.1(a). The written denial notice should include:
A clear and concise statement of the facts in support of the decision,
Citation of the specific eligibility requirements the applicant failed to demonstrate, and
Information on how the applicant may request a hearing on the denial.[10] See 8 CFR 336.1(b). See Chapter 6, USCIS Hearing and Judicial Review.
The table below provides certain general grounds for denial of the naturalization application. An officer should review the pertinent parts of this volume that correspond to each ground for denial and its related eligibility requirement for further guidance.
General Grounds for Denial of Naturalization Application (Form N-400) | |
|---|---|
Failure to establish… | Citation |
Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence | INA 316(a)(1) and INA 318 |
Continuous Residence | |
Physical Presence | |
3 Months of Residence in State or Service District | |
Good Moral Character | |
Attachment and Favorable Disposition to the Good Order and Happiness of the United States | |
Understanding of English (Including Reading, Writing, and Speaking) | |
Knowledge of U.S. History and Government | |
Lack of Prosecution | |
D. Administrative Closure, Lack of Prosecution, Withdrawal, and Holding in Abeyance
1. Administrative Closure for Failing to Appear at Initial Interview
An applicant abandons his or her application if he or she fails to appear for his or her initial naturalization examination without good cause and without notifying USCIS of the reason for non-appearance within 30 days of the scheduled appointment. In the absence of timely notification by the applicant, an officer may administratively close the application without making a decision on the merits.[11] See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(13)(ii), 8 CFR 335.6(a), and 8 CFR 335.6(b). Generally, military applicants may file a motion to reopen at any time. See Part I, Military Members and their Families.
An applicant may request to reopen an administratively closed application without fee by submitting a written request to USCIS within one year from the date the application was closed.[12] See 8 CFR 335.6(b). See Chapter 5, Motion to Reopen. The date of the applicant’s request to reopen an application becomes the date of filing the naturalization application for purposes of determining eligibility for naturalization.[13] See 8 CFR 335.6(b).
If the applicant does not request reopening of an administratively closed application within one year from the date the application was closed, USCIS:
Considers the naturalization application abandoned; and
Dismisses the application without further notice to the applicant.[14] See 8 CFR 335.6(c).
2. Failing to Appear for Subsequent Re-examination or to Respond to Request for Evidence
If the applicant fails to appear at the subsequent re-examination or fails to respond to a Request for Evidence within 30 days, officer must adjudicate the application on the merits.[15] See INA 335(e). See 8 CFR 335.7. This includes cases where the applicant fails to appear at a re-examination or to provide evidence as requested.
An officer should consider any good cause exceptions provided by the applicant for failing to respond or appear for an examination in adjudicating a subsequent motion to reopen.
3. Withdrawal of Application
The applicant may request, in writing, to withdraw his or her application. The officer must inform the applicant that the withdrawal by the applicant constitutes a waiver of any future hearing on the application. If USCIS accepts the withdrawal, the applicant may submit another application without prejudice. USCIS does not send any further notice regarding the application.
If the District Director does not consent to the withdrawal, the officer makes a decision on the merits of the application.[16] See INA 335(e). See 8 CFR 335.10.
4. Holding Application in Abeyance if Applicant is in Removal Proceedings
USCIS cannot adjudicate the naturalization application of an applicant who is in removal proceedings.[17] See INA 318. This does not apply in cases involving naturalizations based on military service under INA 329 where the applicant may not be required to be lawfully admitted for permanent residence. In general, USCIS holds the application in abeyance until the immigration judge has either issued a final order of removal or terminates the removal proceedings. Field offices should follow the advice of local USCIS counsel on how to proceed with such cases.