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One of the eligibility criteria for becoming a US citizen is to show that you are a person of good moral character (GMC). There are many factors that USCIS may consider when determining whether an applicant has GMC:  

  • Education and employment history 
  • Involvement with the community and family ties 
  • The length of time an applicant has been in the United States 
  • Other law-abiding behavior, like paying taxes and financially supporting children 

Both positive and negative attributes will be weighed by USCIS when assessing an applicant’s GMC. Negative attributes may weigh more heavily than positive ones depending on the circumstances. Through our thorough screening process, Project Citizenship staff will discuss GMC factors with you to determine whether you meet USCIS’s standards.  

Please Note: If there are any unlawful acts or criminal convictions in your recent past, it is incredibly important that you disclose them during your eligibility screening with our staff so that we can best prepare you for the citizenship process.  

We ask that all our clients submit a letter from someone in their community attesting to their GMC. For more information about what your letter should include, we encourage you to read through our reference letter guides:

English GMC Reference Letter Guide

Spanish GMC Reference Letter Guide

 

Based on your situation, our team may ask for additional information related to your GMC. Please see the table below for more information about what our team may need to learn more about.

GMC Factor Documentation Needed
You have overdue taxes You must enter a tax repayment plan before applying for citizenship to prove you are committed to paying your taxes.

Proof needed includes:

1. A letter from the IRS/tax agency establishing a repayment plan

2. Proof that you have been making regular payments towards the plan
You have a child under 18 who does not live with you Proof of that you are financially supporting your dependent(s).

Forms of proof that may be sufficient:

  1. A court order of child support
  2. Proof of payments to the custodial parent
  3. A notarized letter from the custodial parent attesting that you financially support your child.
You have criminal history Depending on your situation, the kind of documentation needed will vary. Please see our page about for more information.
You have not signed up for the Selective Service and are/were required to Males in the US between ages 18-25 are required to sign up for the Selective Service.

If this requirement applies to you because you are a male currently between the ages of 18-25, you can sign up for the Selective Service here.

If you didn’t sign up for the Selective Service and are a male currently between ages 26-31, your application may be denied. Call Project Citizenship (617-694-5949) to discuss next steps.