USCIS denies the citizenship application because the applicant sent a LinkedIn application to USCIS staff.
One lawyer cited a case in which a person applying for US citizenship was denied on the grounds of moral misconduct. The applicant sent a request on LinkedIn to USCIS staff so they could “access who you are as a person,” USCIS said.
USCIS said this behavior does not comply with appropriate professional boundaries between applicants and USCIS staff and reflects a disregard for official communication channels with the agency. Such behavior also raises concerns about threatening, coercive, or inappropriately influential behavior toward USCIS employees, USCIS said. “DHS employees face threats and intimidation, and your lack of judgment in this regard reflects poorly on your good moral character,” the USCIS notice said.The lawyer did not share any details about the case, neither the person’s name nor his nationality, but he expressed his surprise that USCIS made this a reason to deny naturalization. The attorney noted that there was no accusation of actual contact and that the case was based on a request to follow on LinkedIn. The USCIS officials who received the LinkedIn request are the USCIS San Jose Director and the USCIS San Francisco District Director.
N-400 and naturalization
Naturalization is the legal process by which a non-U.S. citizen voluntarily becomes a U.S. citizen after meeting requirements established by Congress. Green card holders who have resided in the United States for five years, and 3 years for green card holders based on marriage, can apply for naturalization.The process begins by submitting Form N-400, which is the Application for Naturalization. The next stage in biometric recruitment is where applicants submit their fingerprints, photographs and signature.
Fingerprints go to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to check crime history while USCIS checks other factors like the applicant’s moral character, community involvement, travel history, etc. Then a personal interview is conducted.
In this particular case, the applicant disclosed to the interviewer that he had sent the LinkedIn request to two USCIS officials so that they could get a full view of the LinkedIn profile.USCIS said its officers receive threats from applicants and place the LinkedIn application in the same category. It is not known whether there are other reasons for rejection or whether this is the only reason.
