The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has brought back neighborhood investigations for new citizenship applicants. Now, officials will visit not only neighbors but also employers to verify the applicant's moral character and assimilation into US society. This started again in November 2025 as part of a new approach focusing on protecting America. USCIS said, "The purpose of a neighborhood investigation is to verify aliens’ eligibility for naturalization by reviewing their residency, moral character, loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, and commitment to the nation’s well-being. These investigations are vital to maintaining the integrity of the naturalization process, assuring assimilation, and safeguarding the value of American citizenship." Previously, officials mainly used high-tech checks like FBI and DHS databases to find any criminal records, tax issues, or fraud. The new inspections visit people in the applicant’s community to confirm good moral character. The Trump administration started these neighborhood checks in 2025, saying that having no criminal record was not enough to become a citizen. They want to see community involvement and support from neighbors. Along with this, the citizenship test has changed too. The question bank grew from 100 to 128 questions. The test now asks 20 questions instead of 10, and the passing score increased from 6 correct answers to 12. The goal is to better assess applicants’ knowledge of US history and government. USCIS said, "Naturalization is a privilege, and new citizens must understand the rights and responsibilities that come with this privilege."