Naturalization in October 2026: What Has Changed and How to Prepare

The road to U.S. citizenship looks different in October 2026 than it did a year ago. Reviews are stricter, approvals are slower, and some ceremonies have been canceled. Here is a plain summary of the latest changes and what they mean for you if you are getting ready for your N-400 interview.

Fewer approvals, longer waits

• An analysis reported by VisaVerge found that naturalization approvals fell about 78% between January 2025 and July 2026.
• More than 742,000 citizenship applications were waiting for a decision.
• On October 2, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security described "naturalizations down 75%" as an achievement.
• NPR (October 13) and Bloomberg Law (October 15) also reported fewer ceremonies, canceled ceremonies, more scrutiny and longer delays.

What this means: plan for a longer wait, keep your address up to date with USCIS, and check your case status online regularly.

Neighborhood investigations are back

In August 2026, USCIS issued new guidance (Policy Alert PA-2026-10) that brings back "neighborhood investigations." These were mostly stopped in 1991. USCIS may now check your information more closely, for example by contacting neighbors, employers or others who know you, and by asking you to prove what you wrote on your N-400.

What this means: - Answer every N-400 question truthfully and completely. - Keep copies of your tax returns, leases, pay stubs, travel records and any court papers. - Bring originals of your documents to the interview, and be ready to explain anything on your application.

Stricter screening and more denaturalization cases

• USCIS has expanded social media checks and tightened its reviews of good moral character.
• On October 5, 2026, the Justice Department announced 40 new cases to take away citizenship from people accused of lying or hiding crimes during naturalization. It called this the largest such filing under the current administration.
• Several recent cases involve people who registered or voted in U.S. elections before they became citizens.

What this means: never register to vote or vote before you are a citizen, and never hide an arrest, charge or conviction, even an old one. If you have any criminal history, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative before you file.

Proposed higher fees

DHS has proposed raising the N-400 fee to $1,280 for online filing and $1,330 for paper filing, and ending some fee relief. This is only a proposal and is not final yet. If you are already eligible, filing sooner may cost less.

The civics test has not changed again

• If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from 128, and you need 12 correct.
• If you filed before October 20, 2025, you take the 2008 test: up to 10 questions from 100, and you need 6 correct.

Read our 2025 vs 2008 comparison for the details.

How to prepare now

• Study a little every day with our practice test and flashcards.
• Look up your current senators, representative and governor before the interview.
• Practice answering out loud in English, because the test is spoken.
• Re-read your N-400 so you can explain every answer.

Sources

• NPR, "Naturalization in the U.S. is on the decline," October 13, 2026
• Bloomberg Law, "Citizenship Approvals Plummet a Year Into Trump's Second Term," October 15, 2026
• VisaVerge, "Naturalization Approvals Fall 78% as USCIS Tightens Reviews," October 5, 2026
• USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10, August 25, 2026
• U.S. Department of Justice press release, October 5, 2026

This post is general information, not legal advice.