ILRC wrote a letter to USCIS to commend the agency on the October 19, 2022 USCIS announcement of major revisions to the Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. This form is used by naturalization applicants who are seeking a waiver of the English and/or civics requirement based on a disability or impairment that causes the applicant to be unable to learn or demonstrate knowledge of English and/or civics. The accompanying USCIS Policy Manual sections on disability waivers were also revised. Overall, the changes are very positive and will lessen the burden on applicants and the medical professionals who complete the form. Nearly all the changes adopted were those urged by ILRC and the Naturalization Working Group in our comments to the proposed form in November 2021.
