A new trend in naturalization adjudications seems to be occurring at USCIS. Recently, USCIS has been asking for the following documents when permanent resident status was obtained through employment-based preferences:
- Payroll records
- W-2s
- Employment Verification Letter
- Tax records
- Evidence related to salary payment arrangements
- Bank drafts showing payment record for the amount owed on taxes.
Many times, applicants are not prepared to bring these documents with them to a naturalization interview. In other cases, they relate to a parent’s prior employment and may be so far back that access to them is no longer available.
These new requirements for documentation are consistent with updates to the USCIS Policy Manual from November 2020 related to lawful admission for permanent residence for purposes of naturalization, but without careful guidance, naturalization applications could be denied because of them.
Should you have questions on this new trend, contact a WR attorney for assistance.
