USCIS Tightens Disability Exception Policy for Naturalization Process

The government claims to want to curb fraudulent disability claims and tighten standards for naturalization exemptions.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new policy guidance aimed at curbing fraud in the use of disability exemptions during the naturalization process, the agency announced on June 13.

The updated guidance targets misuse of Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, which allows certain applicants to bypass the English and civics testing requirements if they have a medically determinable physical, developmental, or mental impairment lasting at least 12 months.