Military Naturalizations: USCIS Generally Met Mandated Processing Deadlines, but Processing Applicants Deployed Overseas Is a Challenge

We found that USCIS could not identify all deploying service members because it does not have procedures for ensuring that available deployment information is collected from all applicants when they file the application. As a result, we recommended USCIS develop procedures to help ensure that available deployment information is proactively and systematically collected from all military naturalization applicants at the time they file their naturalization applications. USCIS concurred with our recommendation. In response, USCIS revised Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization. In February 2014, USCIS reported that the revised form is available to the public.

In our report on military naturalizations, we found that for cases where USCIS did not adjudicate an application within 6 months of receipt, USCIS did not always provide applicants the reasons for the delay and an estimated adjudication date, as required by law. We recommended that USCIS institute quality assurance measures to help ensure that applicants' A-files contain a copy of the letter notifying the applicant of the reasons for the delay and an estimated adjudication date. USCIS concurred with our recommendation and on October 31, 2011, issued a revised Form N-650A as part of its implementation of revised Naturalization Quality Procedures. The Form N-650A requires documentation that that a letter was sent to the military naturalization applicant or their families when the processing time exceeds 6 months. Instructions for completing the N-650A state that the notification letter is to contain an estimated date of completion. A copy of the notification letter is to be retained in the applicant's A-File. USCIS also reported that in September 2011, USCIS provided training to Immigration Services Officers on the revised quality procedures and worksheets, including a review of the Form N-650A. Immigration Services Officers from each USCIS District and Region, and Immigration Officers from International Operations, came together in a classroom setting at the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri, where they received training on the new procedures. USCIS has provided evidence that it instituted procedures that responded to our recommendation.

In our report on military naturalizations, we stated that some alien files (A-files) did not contain documentation enabling us to confirm that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was consistently following its April 2009 guidance for administratively closing or denying a case when an applicant fails to appear for an interview or respond to a request for evidence. We recommended that for these cases, USCIS institute quality assurance measures to help ensure that all actions taken under USCIS' April 2009 guidance are documented in applicants' A-files. USCIS concurred with our recommendation and on October 31, 2011, instituted revised Naturalization Quality Procedures, which included issuing a new Processing Worksheet: Form N-650MIL, Record of Action for Military Form N-400. USCIS said the form, created in response to our recommendation, was intended to provide USCIS Immigration Services Officers with a standardized format to document actions taken to contact an applicant who has failed to respond to a request for documentation or to a request to appear. The form is to be used primarily to document contact attempts--such as telephone calls--that do not generally have documents associated with them, and is to be maintained in aliens' A-files. USCIS reported that in September 2011, USCIS provided training to Immigration Services Officers on the revised quality procedures and worksheets, including the Form N-650MIL. Immigration Services Officers from each USCIS District and Region, and Immigration Officers from International Operations, came together in a classroom setting at the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri, where they received training on the new procedures.