Naturalization Denials Policy and Changes in Address
Posted Jun 20, 1999

On March, 23 1999, in a memorandum for Regional Directors Service Center Directors, from Michael A. Pearson Executive Associate Commissioner Office of Field Operations, the INS addressed some concerns regarding changes of address and N-400 Naturalization denials.

Many of you have contacted the Law Office of Sheela Murthy to advise us that your naturalization application was denied based on failure to appear at a fingerprint appointment, interview, or ceremony, even though you may not have received a notice because INS did not mail the application to your current address or you notified the INS of an address change but the INS records continued to indicate your old address. In response to such concerns, the INS' Immigration Services Division (ISD) is developing both a long-term solution to the problem, centralized address changes through a toll-free 1-800 number, and uniform procedural guidance for offices to follow for individual applicants who claim to have been denied in error.

During this transition, an applicant who presents a good faith claim to have notified the INS of a change in address but nevertheless had the application denied in error, can request the INS to reopen the application based on the error of the INS. It is considered a motion to reopen based on INS error.

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy is pleased to share some good news since many applicants, after waiting for several months and sometimes years will now have an opportunity to request the INS to readjudicate the applications and hopefully have them approved!