Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris administration has implemented a number of policies that make naturalization easier, more use-friendly, and more accessible. Among other changes, these policies impact continuous residence and physical presence requirements for those involved in religious duties overseas and the effect of voter registration on naturalization eligibility.
Preserving Continuous Residence and Physical Presence. Certain Lawful Permanent Residents engaged in ministerial or priestly functions abroad can count this time toward the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization by filing Form N-470. But now these individuals can file the N-470 before, during, or after the absence from the United States, even if the absence lasted for more than one year. In addition, they can comply with the one-year physical presence requirement at any time before filing Form N-400.
Effect of Voter Registration on Naturalization Eligibility. Applicants for naturalization must demonstrate good moral character. Historically, applicants who register to vote, knowingly or unknowingly, were deemed to not meet the good moral character requirements via unlawfully registering to vote or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. A new policy clarifies that USCIS will not penalize applicants who either unknowingly or unwittingly register to vote, do not complete or sign the voter registration section in state benefit applications, or never affirmatively indicated they were a U.S. citizen.
Be sure to consult with an immigration attorney or a green card lawyer before filing Form N-470 or Form N-400 for clarification on how the rules and policies apply to you.