USCIS Naturalization Policies 

Fact Sheet 

September 2021 
USCIS Naturalization Policies 

Fact Sheet

USCIS NATURALIZATION POLICIES ISSUED SINCE JANUARY 2021 

The Biden-Harris administration is committed to making the naturalization process 

both welcoming and accessible to all who are eligible. As part of that efort, President Biden issued 

Executive Order 14012: Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration System and Strengthening Integration and 

Inclusion Eforts for New Americans. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration, U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued the following naturalization policies designed to support 

implementation of this Executive Order: 

Reinstatement of the 2008 Civics Test-Revising Guidance on Naturalization Civics Educational 

Requirement 

• On Feb. 22, 2021, USCIS announced the reinstatement of the 2008 civics test, efective

March 1, 2021.

• There was a brief period during which USCIS also ofered the 2020 version of the test to

applicants afected by the timing of the update.

Preserving Continuous Residence and Physical Presence of Naturalization for Purposes 

of Naturalization while Engaged in Religious Duties Outside the United States 

• On May 25, 2021, USCIS published guidance that applicants who are outside the U.S. for one

year or more to engage in ministerial or priestly functions may treat such time abroad as

continuous residence and physical presence in the United States for naturalization purposes.

Naturalization Eligibility and Voter Registration Through a State’s Benefit Application Process 

• On May 27, 2021, USCIS published guidance regarding an applicant’s registration to vote

through a state’s department of motor vehicles or other state benefit application process

and the efects on an applicant’s good moral character.

• This guidance also clarified that USCIS will not penalize applicants who unknowingly or

unwillfully register to vote, and that USCIS does not consider an applicant to have unlawfully

registered to vote if they did not complete or sign the voter registration section.

Veterans Residing Outside the United States and Naturalization

• On May 28, 2021, USCIS published guidance to clarify that certain naturalization applications

filed by veterans of the U.S. armed forces who served honorably during specifically

designated periods of hostility and meet all other statutory requirements for naturalization

are able to naturalize and become U.S. citizens in accordance with U.S. immigration laws.

Technical Update - Incorporating New INA 320(c) Provision into Nationality Chart 3 

- Derivative Citizenship of Children 

• On May 24, 2021, USCIS published a technical update to the USCIS Policy Manual that

incorporates into Nationality Chart 3 the new INA 320(c) provision, as amended by

Section 2 of the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act,

regarding the automatic citizenship of a foreign-born child of a U.S. citizen employee

of the U.S. government or member of the U.S. armed forces.

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USCIS Naturalization Policies 

Fact Sheet

OVERSEAS MILITARY NATURALIZATION PROCESS: 

USCIS is utilizing video capabilities for interviews and naturalization ceremonies at Department of Defense 

facilities for eligible military members and their qualifying family members stationed overseas. The first 

naturalization ceremony by remote video occurred on March 29, 2021. 

FY21 CITIZENSHIP AND INTEGRATION GRANTS PROGRAM: 

On May 17, 2021, USCIS started accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the FY21 Grant 

Program that will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities 

across the country. This is the agency’s 13th year operating the grant program. Obviously, this year the 

announcement takes on special importance as we emphasize our commitment to welcoming immigrants 

and giving them the tools they need to pursue the benefits of U.S citizenship. This year is the first time 

organizations will have two months to apply. Also, this year we increased our outreach eforts through public 

engagements and webinars. 

On Sept. 20, 2021, the Citizenship and Integration Grants Program awarded grants to 40 recipients. This 

program has helped more than 290,500 lawful permanent residents prepare for citizenship. The number of 

applicants to the Citizenship and Integration Grants Program increased by 40%, from 90 applicants last 

year to 128 applicants this year. This significant increase in applications is due to both targeted outreach 

and an extension of the application period. 

VIDEO-FACILITATED INTERVIEWS: 

To help meet the requirements of physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS deployed the 

use of video interviews for naturalization applicants. In these interviews, the applicant and the interviewing 

oficer sit in diferent rooms at a USCIS facility. The interviewing oficer conducts the interview using video 

technology. 

• USCIS processed over 180,000 naturalization applications between March and April 2021 with

the assistance of video technology.

• This has allowed USCIS to return to pre-pandemic levels for naturalization applications.

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