US Citizenship and Immigration Services rolls out stricter checks with support from Federal Bureau of Investigation.
May 6, 2026: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has expanded its access to criminal history data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a new, enhanced immigration vetting process. The move aims to strengthen background checks for applicants seeking benefits such as asylum, Green Cards, and US citizenship.
Under the updated guidelines, officers have been instructed to resubmit pending applications for deeper FBI screening and avoid approving cases that have not undergone comprehensive verification. The US Department of Justice has been directed to provide maximum permissible access to FBI records to help identify individuals with criminal histories.
The changes will particularly affect applications requiring fingerprint-based screenings, including permanent residency and naturalisation processes, as well as sponsorship petitions. According to USCIS, while processing may face brief delays, the enhanced checks are intended to prioritise national security and ensure stricter scrutiny of immigration applicants.