Chapter 2: Accommodation Policies and Procedures 

USCIS has established policies and procedures for handling and processing accommodation requests, which include:

• Providing information locally as needed on how to request accommodations 

• Designating a point-of-contact to handle accommodation requests whenever possible

• Responding to inquiries and reviewing accommodation requests timely

• Establishing internal processes for receiving and for properly filing requests

• Processing requests and providing accommodations whenever appropriate

A. Requesting an Accommodation

1. Submitting the Request

It is the applicant’s responsibility to request an accommodation in advance, each time an accommodation is needed. Generally, the applicant, his or her attorney or accredited representative, or legal guardian should request an accommodation concurrently with the filing of the naturalization application. However, an applicant may also call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD: 1-800-767-1833) in order to request an accommodation, or may also request an accommodation with the field office at any time during the naturalization process. 

2. Timeliness of Request

The field office’s ability to provide an accommodation on the date that it is needed may be affected by the timeliness of the accommodation request. Some types of accommodations do not require advance notice and can be immediately provided. This may include a USCIS employee speaking loudly or slowly to an applicant, or allowing additional time for an applicant to answer during the examination. Other types of accommodations may be difficult to provide without advance planning. This may include providing a sign language interpreter, additional time for the examination, or scheduling an applicant for an off-site examination.

B. Documentation and Evidence

USCIS evaluates each request for an accommodation on a case-by-case basis. While an applicant is not required to include documentation of his or her medical condition, there may be rare cases where documentation is needed to evaluate the request.^[1] Officers should contact local USCIS counsel prior to contacting the applicant and his or her attorney or accredited representative for further information. 

C. Providing Accommodations as Requested

If an accommodation is warranted, a field office should provide the accommodation on the date and time the applicant is scheduled for his or her appearance. The field office should aim to provide the requested accommodation without having to reschedule the applicant’s appointment. If an accommodation cannot be provided for the scheduled appointment, the applicant and his or her attorney or accredited representative should be notified as soon as possible. The applicant’s appointment should be rescheduled within a reasonable period of time.