System Issues Regarding Background Checks Delay Certain Naturalization Cases

On December 2, 2016, the American Association of Immigration Lawyers (AILA) reported that it contacted the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) HQ regarding issues with FBI background checks for pending naturalization cases. AILA explains that on November 28, 2016, “a computer coding error impacted the accuracy of the FBI background checks for about 15,000 … pending naturalization cases.” Of these 15,000 naturalization cases, approximatively 3,000 cases were pending at a USCIS field office “either to be interviewed, waiting on a decision post-interview, or waiting to be scheduled for an oath ceremony.”

In response to the computer coding error, the USCIS cancelled oath ceremonies for “about 550 people” who were slated to take the oath on November 29, 2016. The USCIS has resubmitted the names of the 15,000 individuals impacted by the computer coding error to the FBI, and has asked the FBI to expedite new background checks. The USCIS explained to AILA that naturalization interviews will proceed, but individuals affected will not be scheduled to take the oath until the background checks clear.00

See AILA Doc. No. 16120261

Please see the Citizenship and Naturalization category on our website to learn more about applying for naturalization in the United States [see category].