The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a new framework for evaluating the “good moral character” (GMC) of foreigners applying for naturalisation. GMC has long been a core requirement for naturalisation. According to USCIS guidelines, “an applicant for naturalisation must show that he or she has been and continues to be, a person of good moral character”.
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser told an American news outlet Breitbart, “Today, USCIS is adding a new element to the naturalization process that ensures America’s newest citizens not only embrace America’s culture, history, and language but who also demonstrate Good Moral Character.”
What’s the process?
Typically, this standard must be demonstrated during the five-year period prior to filing for naturalisation and up until the Oath of Allegiance. However, conduct outside that timeframe may also influence eligibility, USCIS stated.
The revised rules were outlined in a policy memorandum issued on August 15. Unlike earlier approaches that often focused on a checklist of disqualifying offenses, the new guidance requires officers to consider the “totality of circumstances”. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow-issued memo titled “Restoring a Rigorous, Holistic, and Comprehensive Good Moral Character Evaluation Standard for Aliens Applying for Naturalization” notified the change in process.
According to the memo, applicants must “affirmatively establish that they are worthy of assuming the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship.”
“US citizenship is the gold standard of citizenship — it should only be offered to the world’s best of the best,” Tragesser said.
What are the key factors to be accounted for?
USCIS officers are now directed to place greater weight on applicants’ contributions and integration into American society. Key factors include:
- Sustained community involvement and civic contributions
- Educational achievements
- Family caregiving responsibilities and US ties
- Stable and lawful employment history
- Compliance with tax obligations and financial responsibility
- Length of lawful residence in the US
Despite this broader approach, the USCIS stressed that certain acts remain automatic disqualifiers. Permanent bars to GMC include crimes such as murder, aggravated felonies and genocide. Conditional bars, such as controlled substance violations or false claims to US citizenship, can also derail an applicant’s case.