Obtaining U.S. citizenship is not just a matter of completing the time of legal residency or passing a history and civics test. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has tightened one of the most demanding requirements: demonstrating “good moral character.” But what does this concept really mean and how is it evaluated in practice?
According to a memorandum issued by USCIS on August 15, 2025, the agency will apply a “holistic approach” to determine whether an applicant meets this requirement. This means that it is no longer sufficient to have a clean criminal record; the individual will now be expected to demonstrate a lifestyle consistent with the values of U.S. society.
“The analysis will be comprehensive and will cover both past and current conduct,” the document stated. Also, the requirement of good moral character must be met during the five years prior to the application for naturalization and up to the time the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance.
Good moral character and U.S. citizenship
USCIS defines naturalization as one of its “most sacred responsibilities”.
The agency maintains that being a U.S. citizen is not limited to residing in the country, but to becoming an active, law-abiding member of the community and making positive contributions to the community.
Demonstrating good moral character, therefore, goes beyond having no negative background.
It means showing constant respect for the law, commitment to social norms and a record of conduct consistent with democratic principles.
This requirement has legal backing in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Since 1990, these regulations have incorporated the concept of “aggravated felonies” as permanent barriers to citizenship.
Subsequently, the Illegal Immigration Reform Act of 1996 added new restrictions, expanding the list of conduct that can impede the naturalization process.
Behavior that affects
USCIS clarifies that the assessment of good moral character is not limited to felonies.
Certain behaviors, while not always crimes, may be considered incompatible with U.S. citizenship standards and therefore affect an application for U.S. citizenship.
Among the behaviors that may disqualify are:
Permanent crimes, such as homicide or sex crimes.
Conduct with conditional bars, such as fraud, illegal voting, domestic violence, or repeat DUI.
Actions that, although legal, show a departure from the expected standard of conduct, such as harassment, evasion of financial responsibilities or accumulation of multiple traffic violations.
In practice, this means that the applicant must demonstrate a life of integrity in the years prior to application, avoiding not only criminal offenses, but also behavior that may reflect irresponsibility or lack of commitment to the community.
How to prove it
The USCIS memorandum stresses that immigration officers must analyze the applicant’s entire history.
This includes not only official records, but also evidence of personal evolution and participation in community life.
To demonstrate good moral character, applicants may submit:
Certificates of volunteerism or participation in community activities.
References from employers, religious or community leaders.
Stable financial history, showing responsibility in tax payments and economic obligations.
Evidence of rehabilitation, in case you have had minor incidents in the past.
The agency also emphasizes that the examination of this requirement will be on a case-by-case basis.
For example, an isolated incident of minor severity may not preclude naturalization if the applicant demonstrates sustained behavioral change and evidence of commitment to U.S. society.
The challenge of interpreting good moral character in citizenship applications
One of the main challenges is that the concept of good moral character has no single definition.
Although there are guidelines in the immigration law, the final interpretation depends on immigration officials, which generates uncertainty among applicants.
Immigrant advocacy organizations have warned that this flexibility may open up room for subjective decisions.
However, USCIS maintains that the new approach seeks to recognize not only the mistakes of the past, but also the effort to live a life in accordance with the country’s values.
Ultimately, obtaining U.S. citizenship under this standard requires more than meeting administrative requirements: it involves demonstrating a commitment to the principles of legality, responsibility and active participation in society.
This article was originally published in Nueva News.
