What is good moral character, and what can affect it?

What does good moral character mean?

It is one of the requirements for citizenship. The law doesn't fully define it, but it does list conduct that rules it out. In general, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asks whether your character measures up to the standards of average citizens in the community where you live.

It doesn't mean being perfect. The USCIS Policy Manual cites a ruling that it does not mean moral excellence and is not destroyed by a single lapse. Even so, this rule doesn't override the bars below.

An officer reviews your record, your application, and what you say at your interview, and decides each case individually. It is up to you to show that it is more likely than not that you meet this requirement.

Which years count depends on your path:

• 5-year path: the 5 years before you file, and then until your oath.
• 3-year marriage path: the 3 years before you file, and then until your oath.

USCIS isn't limited to those years. Earlier conduct can matter if your present conduct doesn't show that you have changed, or if it still says something about your character today.

This topic has serious consequences. Some of the conduct below can also make a person removable from the U.S., so applying could put more than your application at risk.

What does USCIS look at besides bad conduct?

Since an August 2025 policy memo, USCIS has told officers to look at the whole person, including positive contributions, and not only the absence of wrongdoing.

Do I need character reference letters?

They are optional, but they now matter more. In August 2026, USCIS ended its general waiver of neighborhood investigations. In these investigations, USCIS can talk to people near your home or work about your conduct, residence, and reputation. Unless USCIS waives it, this generally happens before your interview.

USCIS says that sending at least two letters with your Form N-400 can help it decide whether to waive the investigation. Not providing them may contribute to a decision to investigate. Not having letters does not, by itself, mean you lack good moral character.

• Who should write them. Preferably U.S. citizens who know you personally, such as neighbors, employers, co-workers, or business associates. USCIS does not consider letters from your immediate family or relatives.
• What each letter should include. The writer's full name and contact details, proof of their citizenship or immigration status, how long and how they have known you, specific examples of your honesty and community involvement, and a clear statement about your character and your attitude toward the U.S. and its Constitution.

If USCIS plans to deny your application because of what an investigation finds, it must tell you and give you a chance to respond.

What can bar me permanently?

These bars have no time limit. They apply no matter how long ago the conduct happened.

The term "aggravated felony" can be confusing. For example, a theft offense or crime of violence can count if the court ordered a prison term of 1 year or more, even if the whole sentence was suspended. Only a legal professional can tell you how this applies to a specific conviction.

What can bar me for a period of time?

USCIS calls these conditional bars. They apply if the conduct happened during your review period, up to your oath. Because they aren't permanent, a person may be able to qualify later.

The petty offense exception. It generally applies only if this is the only such crime you have ever committed, the sentence was 6 months or less, and the maximum possible sentence was 1 year or less.

Marijuana. It is still a controlled substance under federal law. So using or working with it can count against you, even in a state where it is legal, and even if you were never charged.

What other conduct can count against me?

The law also allows USCIS to find a lack of good moral character "for other reasons." Many of these can be explained by extenuating circumstances, meaning facts that make the conduct less serious.

The August 2025 memo also says that conduct that is technically legal, such as habitual traffic violations or harassment, may be considered.

Can voting or claiming to be a citizen affect me?

Yes, and it can be serious. Falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, registering to vote when you are not eligible, and voting unlawfully can all count against you, and they can also make you removable.

Be careful with forms. Many voter registration forms are built into driver's license applications, and they usually ask whether you are a citizen. USCIS's view is that you generally wouldn't end up registered unless you confirmed that you were eligible. For a false claim to count as an unlawful act here, USCIS says it must have been made knowingly, and an officer can ask you about it under oath and request your voter records. Voting in a local election is not a problem if the law there allowed you to vote.

There is a narrow exception. It generally requires that both of your parents were citizens, that you lived permanently in the U.S. before age 16, and that you reasonably believed you were a citizen. If you have ever registered or voted, get legal advice before you file.

Do I have to report old or expunged offenses?

Yes. Form N-400 asks you to report all offenses, including ones that were expunged, pardoned, or happened before you turned 18. If you leave one out, USCIS may deny your application, even if the offense itself would not have been a problem.

• Expunged records. An expungement generally doesn't remove a conviction for immigration purposes.
• Pleas and deferred cases. A case can count as a conviction under immigration law even if a judge never formally found you guilty. It depends on whether you pleaded guilty or admitted the facts, and whether you received a penalty.
• Probation and parole. USCIS will not approve your application while you are on probation, on parole, or under a suspended sentence.
• Court records. USCIS requires certified court records for offenses in your review period, and it can ask for others. Getting them is your responsibility.

When should I talk to an attorney?

For this topic, it is safest to get advice before you file if any of these apply to you, even if it happened long ago or the case was dropped:

• You have ever been arrested, cited, charged, convicted, or jailed, in the U.S. or abroad.
• You have ever used, sold, or worked with marijuana or other drugs.
• You have ever registered to vote, voted, or said you were a U.S. citizen.
• You have more than one DUI, or owe child support or taxes.
• You have been in removal proceedings, or you are on probation or parole.
• Anything on your immigration applications may not have been true.