(l) Part 12. Signatures.

Note:

This section will also include information pertaining to the applicant’s signature and officer’s signature at the naturalization examination.

(1) Signature of Person Preparing Form If Other than Above .

The N-400 reads:

Signature – Print your Name – Date – Firm name and address

This section of the N-400 is completed if someone other than the applicant completed the application. In many cases, a family member, a member of a Community Based Organization or an attorney will prepare the application for the applicant.

If you notice a significant amount of errors with how the application was prepared, without criticizing the preparer to the applicant, courteously ask the applicant if anyone assisted him or her in preparing the application. If the preparer does not routinely prepare applications, this would explain some or all of the discrepancies. If the preparer regularly prepares N-400 applications for others, bring this situation to the attention of your supervisor. The supervisor or other management representatives ma y be able to work with the preparer to improve the quality of the applications submitted, thereby assisting future applicants and officers examining applicants for naturalization.

(2) The Jurat .

The N-400 Reads:

Do Not Complete the Following Until Instructed to do so at the Interview

(A) Signing the Jurat .

The jurat serves as evidence that everything in the application is now true and correct. The application is one of the primary bases for your decision. At the conclusion of the examination, all corrections made on the application and all supplemental material should be consecutively numbered and listed in the space provided on the applicant's affidavit contained in the application. You should review the numbered changes that have been made to the application with the applicant so that you and the applicant are both certain that the application now contains a full and accurate record of the applicant’s testimony. For a discussion of how to decide a case, refer to Chapter 72.3 of this field manual.

If you believe that the applicant has provide false information, remind him or her of the need for the truth and that part your decision on the application will be based on whether the applicant has demonstrated good moral character. Knowingly providing false information can result in denial of the application and is also punishable by criminal statute. False testimony provided in order to obtain naturalization may lead to a separate finding of a lack of good moral character. If you believe that the applica nt has willfully misrepresented facts you will need to proceed carefully. See Interpretations 316.1(g)(3) regarding false testimony, good moral character, and materiality. Also, see Chapter 74.2(g) , question 12 regarding false testimony.

If an applicant will not swear to an oath but will affirm, you must substitute the word "affirm" for the word "swear" in the related affidavit, and the word "affirmed" should be substituted for the words "sworn to" in the related jurat. Where the quoted alternatives are already printed on the form, strike through the words "swear" and "sworn to.” Any other verbiage inconsistent with an affirmation should be deleted or modified as appropriate (example: omit the words "SO HELP ME (US) GOD").

When the applicant signs the N-400 he or she is acknowledging that what is on the form is now true. The applicant, if physically able to do so, should legibly sign his or her full, true and correct name. See section 334 of the Act. He or she must sign all of the letters of each part of their name, no abbreviations, no initials, and in cursive script if they can do so on the jurat. Hand printing is also an acceptable signature. (See Interpretations 334.1(b)(2) and 8 CFR 334.2(a) .) The applicant’s signature should be in English, unless they qualify for an exception under one of the 312 exceptions. See Appendix 72-13 of this field manual for a copy of Policy Memo 47: Section 312 Disability Naturalization Adjudications, dated April 07, 1999, (including attachments) for a discussion of signatures and reasonable accommodations. Also see Appendix 74-21 of this field manual for a copy of Policy Memo 92: Guidance on Making the Naturalization Process Accessible to Applicants with Disabilities.

If the applicant requests a name change, he or she must sign the jurat in his or her full, true name as it exists at the time of the examination.

(B) Officer’s Signature .

Once the application is subscribed and sworn to, or affirmed, by the applicant, you, as the adjudicator, must also sign the application. Your signature bears witness to the applicant’s testimony as recorded on the application and in the amendments and attachments listed.

An officer’s full name signature is defined as the signature they consistently use when signing the approval stamp on official immigration documents, or when signing an application/petition as the USCIS official.

[(b)(2) or (b)(7)(E)]

The official signature to each officer bearing the approval stamp with the officer’s official signature, and current date, is to be completed upon issuance of the approval stamp. The signature card is then to be forwarded to the FDL for retention. Officers may not record more than one official signature, and only the current signature maintained on record, may be used by the officer for signing official immigration documents.

In those instances where the officer’s signature has been altered (i.e., abbreviated as discussed above,) form that which appears on the original signature card, a new signature card must be completed and forwarded to the FDL. For further discussion see Appendix 74-22 of this field manual for a copy of the policy memo dated December 26, 2002, on “Use of Adjudications Officer’s Full Name/Signature on Official Immigration Documents.

Sometimes the adjudicator conducting the initial examination and the adjudicating officer are not the same person. If you examined the applicant, you must sign as the examining officer on the application. If you approved the application, you must sign your name in the approval stamp.

When you approve the naturalization application, you must inform the applicant of his or her choice to take the Oath of Allegiance in an administrative hearing before USCIS or in the appropriate court having jurisdiction over his or her place of residence. (See 8 CFR 337.7 .) No person who has applied for naturalization can be admitted to United States citizenship without having taken the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a public ceremony either before USCIS or the court. (See 8 CFR 337.1(a) .) For additional information about the oath administration ceremony, please see Chapter 75 of this field manual, Oath Administration.

74.3 Closing Actions. [Reserved].