There are many eligibility factors noncitizens applying for naturalization need to demonstrate, including that the individual has good moral character. Evaluating good moral character is a holistic approach and entails looking into various behavior and engagements and contributions. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a policy memorandum that expands the standard in assessing if an individual is of good moral character in order to be naturalized and become a U.S. citizen.
The standard that the USCIS is now implementing not only requires that an individual prove they possess genuine positive attributes by showing who they are and how they are viewed in their community; but it also expands the definition of disqualifying behavior to include acts that may be technically lawful but are inconsistent with the “average behavior” of citizens, such as: repeated or reckless traffic violations, acts of harassment, or aggressive solicitation.
For more information on changing citizenship standards, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Gonzalez Olivieri LLC.
Reference:
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services., Policy Memorandum: Restoring a Rigorous, Holistic, and Comprehensive Good Moral Character Evaluation Standard for Aliens Applying for Naturalization, PM-602-0188 (Aug. 15, 2025).
