Does filing bankruptcy affect US citizenship application?
Another issue may be that the Service may view filing for bankruptcy as evidencing poor moral character, especially if such a filing occurs within the five year period immediately preceding the filing of the naturalization application. Pursuant to Immigration and Nationality Act section 324(b), the Naturalization process requires that you prove good moral character for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of filing an application for naturalization and up to the time of admission to citizenship. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security evaluates claims of good moral character on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the immigration laws and the standards of the average citizen in the community of residence. 8 Code of Federal Regulations (“8 C.F.R.”) § 316.10(a)(2). Furthermore, bad acts, such as willfully failing or refusing to pay child support, evidences poor moral character. 8 C.F.R. § 316.10(b)(3). As such, the Service, in its wide discre
