What kind of investigation does USCIS do?
Asked by: Adrien Towne | Last update: February 3, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (49 votes)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts investigations to verify immigration benefit eligibility, focusing on naturalization (citizenship), by checking background, character, and residence, and also investigates fraud, abuse, and misconduct within the agency and in benefit applications, using background checks, interviews, and even neighborhood checks (interviews with neighbors/employers) for naturalization applicants to ensure they meet requirements like good moral character and loyalty.
How does the USCIS investigate?
USCIS conducts an investigation of the applicant upon his or her filing for naturalization. The investigation consists of certain criminal background and security checks. The background and security checks include collecting fingerprints and requesting a “name check” from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
What is strong evidence for USCIS?
Stronger versus weaker evidence
USCIS considers some documents as more convincing proof of a real relationship. Here are examples of strongest evidence and weaker evidence, ranked, to serve as a guide: Strong evidence: Joint bank account, life insurance, wills, joint leases, joint utilities.
What types of crimes does ICE investigate?
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) investigates a broad range of crimes related to immigration and customs, including human trafficking, child exploitation, financial fraud, smuggling (people, drugs, weapons), and worksite violations like labor exploitation and document fraud, alongside enforcing laws against terrorist networks and money laundering, focusing on transnational criminal organizations and threats to U.S. security. Their work involves both criminal investigations by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and immigration enforcement by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
What kind of crime gets you deported?
Crimes eligible for deportation in the U.S. generally fall into categories like Aggravated Felonies (murder, rape, drug trafficking), Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (theft, fraud, crimes involving dishonesty), and specific offenses like domestic violence, child abuse, stalking, firearm offenses, and certain drug crimes (even marijuana offenses in some cases). Factors like the crime's seriousness, sentence length, and timing of the conviction (after admission to the U.S.) determine deportability, with aggravated felonies often leading to mandatory removal.
How Does USCIS Check You Out
What are the 10 types of common crimes?
Ten common crimes often cited include Larceny/Theft, Burglary, Assault, Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, Drug Crimes, DUI (Driving Under the Influence), Fraud/Identity Theft, Domestic Violence, and Vandalism, with property crimes like theft being the most frequent overall, followed by violent offenses.
Can USCIS see your text messages?
Although USCIS stresses that only public identifiers will be collected and private messages will not be accessed, the agency has not provided clear guidance on how officers will interpret online activity.
Does USCIS visit your house?
If it chooses to, the agency can interview the applicants' employers, parents, ex-spouses, and other family, and friends, visit or schedule interviews at their homes, and so forth. It would usually take such steps only in cases where fraud is suspected.
Does USCIS see police reports?
If you're applying from within the United States, you must submit to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) certified police and court records and any additional required documents for each arrest or charge — even if they occurred while you were a minor and even if they were later expunged (removed) from ...
What evidence does USCIS need?
If primary documentation of birth is not available to the petitioner, USCIS may consider affidavits or secondary evidence of age, which may include baptismal certificates, school records, hospital records, or immunization records, in order to evaluate whether the petitioner has met the petitioner's burden of proof by ...
What is the 2 2 2 2 rule in marriage?
The 2-2-2 rule is a relationship guideline for couples to maintain connection by scheduling intentional time together: a date night every 2 weeks, a weekend away every 2 months, and a week-long vacation every 2 years, helping to prioritize the relationship amidst daily stresses and routines. It's a framework for regular quality time, communication, and fun, originating from a Reddit post and gaining traction for preventing couples from drifting apart by focusing on consistent connection.
How does USCIS investigate marriages?
Usually, the USCIS officers may visit the suspect couple at their residence, or visit their neighbors to investigate whether they reside together, share a household, or own property jointly, etc. The USCIS officers may also arrange interviews with the couple at their residence or at USCIS offices.
Does USCIS look at your internet history?
Yes, USCIS can screen your social media and online activity.
However, the reason for reviewing an applicant's digital footprint when considering immigration requests varies from petitioner to petitioner.
What is the hardest background check to pass?
The hardest background checks are typically US government security clearances (especially Top Secret/SCI) and those for high-level law enforcement, involving deep dives into criminal, financial (credit), employment, and personal history (interviews with associates) via extensive forms like the SF-86, far exceeding standard employment screening. These checks scrutinize all life aspects for integrity, reliability, and potential security risks, often requiring disclosure of past drug use, financial issues, and undisclosed criminal records, making them incredibly difficult to pass if issues exist.
What does an immigration investigator do?
Perform and review background checks. Research and verify information provided on immigration applications. Help other government, law enforcement and intelligence agencies with criminal investigations. Appear in court to provide expert testimony during immigration and immigration fraud cases.
Can USCIS listen to your phone?
During a USCIS interview, officers generally do not have the right to search or seize personal phones without consent or a warrant.
What not to say to an immigration officer?
To an immigration officer, avoid lying, making jokes about serious crimes (terrorism, drugs), criticizing the U.S., volunteering unnecessary details, making negative comments about family, or saying you have no ties to your home country; instead, be calm, honest, concise, and stick to the facts, using your right to remain silent if unsure, and only answering what's asked.
Can USCIS see your social media?
Yes, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ** actively checks and can require disclosure of applicants' social media** for identity verification, national security screening, and to detect fraud or inconsistencies in applications for various immigration benefits, including green cards, visas, and naturalization, by reviewing public posts for inconsistencies or threats. While they primarily review publicly available information, the requirement to submit social media identifiers (like usernames/handles) is now a formal part of certain application forms, making online presence a key part of the vetting process.
What are red flags on social media for USCIS?
Red flags for USCIS on social media include inconsistencies with your application (fake relationships, false employment), posts showing criminal activity, support for extremism/violence, evidence of immigration fraud (working on tourist visa), misrepresentation (fake degrees), or content that undermines your credibility (e.g., claiming asylum but posting from home country). Key areas are fraud indicators, security threats, and contradictions with your stated immigration story.
Does USCIS watch you?
USCIS doesn't "spy" in the sense of constant, real-time surveillance, but they do investigate applicants using various methods, including reviewing public social media, conducting background checks, performing site visits (especially for fraud), and using data analysis for security checks, with information collected stored in A-Files for eligibility determinations. They use publicly available information and data from other agencies, so applicants should assume their online presence and past records might be examined, particularly for potential fraud or national security risks, and can lead to denial if inconsistencies arise.
How do you know if your texts are being monitored?
To tell if someone is intercepting texts, watch for strange messages with codes/symbols, rapid battery drain, high data usage, unfamiliar apps, your phone slowing down, or unexpected activity like mics/cameras turning on; check device settings for SMS forwarding, linked devices, and unusual call/text logs, and use carrier logs or codes like *#21# to spot unauthorized call/message diversion, which often points to spyware or hacking.
What are the 8 most serious crimes?
There isn't a universally defined list of exactly "8 heinous crimes," but common examples include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, kidnapping, torture, and war crimes/crimes against humanity, often categorized by their extreme violence, impact on human life, or violation of fundamental human rights, encompassing both serious violent and property crimes in domestic contexts (like the FBI's UCR list) and severe international violations.
What is an example of a criminal investigation?
Examples of common types of criminal investigations include fraud, homicide, sexual violence, and cybercrimes. The main purpose of a criminal investigation is to determine whether a crime was committed and to analyze and study crime scenes. This includes collecting evidence.
Which state is #1 in crime?
Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data.