Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, has been updated by USCIS to remove barriers for applicants with disabilities who wish to naturalize. The form has been shortened and simplified, and new telehealth guidelines further remove barriers for applicants and medical professionals. These changes are in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14012, which calls for the removal of barriers to legal immigration, and Executive Order 13985, which aims to remove barriers for underserved communities through the federal government. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated that these changes are yet another way in which USCIS is removing barriers to naturalization, in accordance with the president’s executive orders. Naturalization applicants with a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that precludes them from fulfilling the English and civics testing requirements for naturalization may file Form N-648 to request an exception to those requirements. The form must be completed and certified by a medical professional. For more information on the updated Form N-648, please visit USCIS.gov/N-648.
Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, was signed by President Biden on January 20, 2021. The order directs federal agencies to identify and address disparities in their programs and activities that serve underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, women, and people living in rural areas.
Luis Ruiz Law is committed to helping those who may face barriers in the naturalization process due to their disabilities. If you or someone you know is seeking to naturalize but has a disability that precludes them from taking the English and civics tests, please contact us at (832) 390-4664 for assistance.
