WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued updated policy guidance to strengthen oversight of Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, amid concerns over fraud and misuse of the process. The changes, effective immediately, aim to ensure only eligible applicants receive exemptions from English and civics requirements for naturalization.
Enhanced Fraud Prevention Measures
Under the new guidelines, USCIS will intensify scrutiny of medical certifications submitted with Form N-648, which allows applicants with qualifying disabilities to bypass English and U.S. history and government testing. The agency cited past instances of abuse, where medical professionals allegedly provided false certifications, undermining the integrity of the naturalization system.
“Fraudulent certifications not only violate the purpose of disability accommodations but also risk naturalizing individuals who haven’t met legal requirements,” USCIS stated.
Stricter Medical Documentation Standards
Applicants seeking exemptions must submit Form N-648, completed by a licensed medical professional, detailing how their disability prevents them from meeting language or civics standards. The guidance clarifies that merely having a disability is insufficient—the form must explicitly link the condition to the inability to fulfill testing requirements.
Additionally, USCIS warned that submitting multiple N-648 forms for the same applicant could trigger further review, as it may indicate potential misrepresentation.
Legal and Policy Context
The update aligns with Executive Orders 14148 and 14159, which prioritize immigration system integrity and national security. It applies to all naturalization applications and N-648 forms filed on or after June 13, 2025, and is now part of the USCIS Policy Manual (Volume 12).
USCIS emphasized that the changes preserve accommodations for legitimate applicants while closing loopholes exploited in the past.
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