The short answer: if a medical condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months keeps you from learning English or passing the civics test, federal regulations let USCIS excuse you from those tests. People call this a citizenship disability exception, waiver, or exemption. To claim it you file Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, with your N-400. A licensed doctor or clinical psychologist completes it, and USCIS decides whether to grant the exception (see 8 CFR 312.1(b)(3) for English and 8 CFR 312.2(b) for civics).
Officers who have adjudicated Form N-648 full-time describe a pattern that should worry any applicant: a Montana resident whose disability evaluation comes from a doctor in another state who does little else. To an adjudicator, that looks like a family that went looking for a provider known to sign these forms, rather than getting an honest evaluation from someone who actually treats their relative. That concern is not hypothetical: USCIS’s own June 2025 policy alert notes that doctors, psychologists, and others have been arrested, indicted, and convicted for submitting fraudulent Forms N-648 — including a Chicago doctor indicted in 2016 for falsifying these certificates so citizenship applicants could bypass the tests.
The practical advice that follows is simple: the strongest N-648 usually comes from the applicant’s own treating physician — or, if that physician lacks the expertise, from a specialist the physician refers the applicant to.
If you or someone you know cannot meet the English or civics requirements for U.S. citizenship because of a physical, developmental, or mental disability, Form N-648 offers a legitimate path to naturalization. But understanding how to pursue it properly—and which doctors to avoid—can make the difference between approval and denial.
What Is Form N-648?
Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, allows naturalization applicants with qualifying disabilities to request an exception from the English language requirement, the civics test requirement, or both. The form must be completed and certified by a licensed medical professional—specifically a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or licensed clinical psychologist.
Unlike accommodations—which simply modify how you take the test—an N-648 exception completely waives the requirement. If approved, you don’t have to demonstrate English proficiency or pass the civics test at all.
The key word is ‘qualifying.’ Not every disability entitles you to an exception. The condition must genuinely prevent you from learning or demonstrating knowledge of English and U.S. civics, even with accommodations.
Who Qualifies for an N-648 Exception?
To qualify for a medical disability exception under Form N-648, you must meet three requirements:
- Medically Determinable Disability or Impairment
You must have a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that can be diagnosed using accepted clinical methods. The condition must be documented through medical records, diagnostic tests, or clinical examination. Simple illiteracy or lack of formal education does not qualify.
- Inability to Learn or Demonstrate Knowledge
The disability must prevent—not just make difficult—your ability to learn or demonstrate knowledge of English and/or U.S. civics. If you can meet the requirements with accommodations like extra time, larger print, or a sign language interpreter, you don’t qualify for an N-648. You should request accommodations on Form N-400 instead.
- Duration and Cause
The condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months. Additionally, it cannot be the result of illegal drug use. If your disability stems from substance abuse, you are ineligible for this exception—and may face other immigration consequences.
Examples of Qualifying Conditions
Conditions that may qualify include:
- Stroke with significant cognitive impairment • Traumatic brain injury affecting memory or comprehension • Alzheimer’s disease or dementia • Severe intellectual disabilities • Certain psychiatric conditions that prevent learning • Developmental disabilities affecting cognitive function
The critical question USCIS asks is not ‘What is your diagnosis?’ but ‘How does this condition prevent you from learning English or civics?’ The nexus between your condition and your inability to meet the requirements must be clear and well-documented.
The Critical Choice: Your Physician vs. ‘N-648 Experts’
This is where many applicants—and some immigration attorneys—make a costly mistake.
Some lawyers steer clients toward doctors who specialize in N-648 evaluations. These ‘experts’ market themselves as understanding USCIS requirements better than regular physicians. They argue that ordinary doctors don’t know how to complete the form properly, require excessive hand-holding, or won’t certify conditions that genuinely qualify.
In certain cities—particularly large urban areas—these specialists have turned N-648 certifications into pay-for-diagnosis mills. USCIS knows about this fraud. In fact, USCIS’s June 2025 policy update notes that doctors, psychologists and others have been arrested, indicted and convicted for submitting fraudulent Forms N-648.
The N-648 Fraud Problem
The public record includes several of these cases:
- Roberto J. Velasquez, a San Diego-area clinical psychologist, was sentenced in 2013 to 21 months in federal prison after falsifying Forms N-648 for about 50 applicants who were not disabled (U.S. Attorney’s Office, S.D. Cal.).
- Fernando Mendez-Villamil, a Miami psychiatrist whose false diagnoses were used on Forms N-648, was sentenced to 151 months in prison (Chicago Sun-Times, 2017).
- USCIS’s 2025 policy update also cites United States v. Awaisi (E.D. Mich. 2023), a prosecution involving more than 1,200 Forms N-648 filed between 2016 and 2020.
These weren’t isolated incidents. They represent a pattern that USCIS officers who review N-648 forms see regularly. When immigration officers—particularly supervisory officers who specialize in disability exceptions—see an N-648 from a known ‘expert,’ they review it with heightened scrutiny.
What USCIS Officers Actually Prefer
I learned this directly from a supervisory immigration services officer who told me she had reviewed thousands of N-648 cases. Her preference was clear: she wanted to see certifications from the applicant’s own treating physician, or from a specialist that the treating physician had referred the patient to.
Why? Because when someone travels from Montana (or anywhere) to see an ‘N-648 expert’ in another state, it raises immediate red flags. Officers view this as shopping for a questionable diagnosis. A certification from your own doctor—someone who has treated you over time and has a genuine clinical relationship with you—carries far more weight and credibility.
In June 2025, USCIS issued updated policy guidance explicitly focused on enhancing the integrity of the N-648 review process. The guidance emphasizes identification and prevention of fraud and notes that submitting multiple Forms N-648 may raise concerns about credibility.
Two Situations You Are Likely to See
These two scenarios are illustrative composites, not descriptions of particular clients. They show the straightforward case and the more complex one, where additional documentation becomes essential.
Situation 1: A Clear, Well-Documented Physical Disability
Picture an applicant who has had a stroke. She cannot speak, uses a wheelchair, and has obvious physical limitations. Her own treating physician completes the N-648, and her medical records document the condition thoroughly. The connection between her condition and her inability to communicate in English for the citizenship test is self-evident.
Cases like this tend to be straightforward because the disability is visible, the medical documentation is thorough, and the certification comes from the treating physician.
Situation 2: Cognitive Impairment That Is Not Obvious
Cognitive impairment is harder. An applicant may be experiencing memory problems, such as early dementia, and be unable to retain the information needed to pass the civics test, yet have no obvious physical disability and seem fairly normal in casual conversation.
Because the disability is not immediately apparent, an officer may want to attempt the regular examination first and then look closely at the N-648 for how the diagnosis prevents learning the material. This is a common issue with cognitive impairments: the diagnosis alone isn’t enough. USCIS needs to understand how the condition prevents learning or retaining new information. The treating physician can address that directly by explaining, in their own medical judgment, how the impairment prevents the applicant from retaining civics material even after repeated study.
This is also where a treating physician matters most. Officers who adjudicate these forms tend to prefer certifications from treating physicians precisely because they have an ongoing clinical relationship with the patient and no financial incentive to provide questionable diagnoses. Traveling out of state to see an N-648 “expert” would be a bad sign.
How to Properly Pursue an N-648
If you have a qualifying disability, follow these steps to maximize your chances of approval:
- Start with Your Own Doctor
If you have a condition that prevents you from learning English or civics, your treating physician is the right person to certify your N-648. They have your medical history, understand your condition, and have no financial incentive to provide a questionable diagnosis. If your condition requires specialized expertise, ask your physician for a referral to an appropriate specialist.
- Ensure a Proper Evaluation
The physician must conduct an in-person examination—or in states where permitted, a real-time telehealth examination—and verify your identity. The evaluation should be thorough and recent. USCIS may not consider an N-648 completed more than 180 days before you file your N-400.
- Document the Functional Nexus
This is the most critical element. The N-648 must explain how your disability prevents you from learning or demonstrating knowledge of English and/or civics. It’s not enough to state your diagnosis. The form must connect your condition to your inability to meet the naturalization requirements. Use clear, non-technical language that a USCIS officer without medical training can understand.
- Include Proper Diagnostic Information
The N-648 must include your clinical diagnosis using proper medical codes (DSM or ICD codes), the clinical methods used to diagnose your condition, and an explanation of how the disability affects your ability to learn. Support the certification with medical records if available, though they’re not required.
- Submit with Your N-400
File Form N-648 as an attachment to your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Don’t wait until after you file. USCIS may accept late submissions only if you can demonstrate extenuating circumstances, such as a condition that developed or worsened after filing.
- Be Prepared for Scrutiny
USCIS may request additional medical records or even a second N-648 from a different doctor if they have concerns about the certification. This is why starting with a thorough, well-documented form from your own physician is so important. If USCIS requests a second evaluation and you suddenly produce one from an ‘expert,’ that raises additional red flags.
What Not to Do
Avoid these common pitfalls that trigger USCIS skepticism:
Don’t seek out an ‘N-648 specialist.’ If a doctor markets themselves primarily as an N-648 expert—especially if they’re located far from where you live—that’s a warning sign. USCIS officers recognize the names of known mills and review those certifications with heightened scrutiny.
Don’t submit multiple N-648 forms without explaining why. If you submit more than one N-648 during your naturalization process, USCIS will question why. Were you shopping for a diagnosis? Did your condition change? Be prepared to provide a legitimate explanation. The 2025 policy guidance explicitly identifies multiple submissions as a potential red flag.
Don’t rely on diagnosis alone. Simply stating ‘applicant has dementia’ or ‘applicant suffered a stroke’ is insufficient. The form must explain the functional connection between the condition and the inability to learn English or civics. Generic language that could apply to any patient with the same diagnosis suggests the form was filled out as a template rather than based on individualized assessment.
Don’t wait until your interview to submit the form. While USCIS may accept late submissions in limited circumstances, submitting your N-648 with your initial N-400 is always preferable. It gives the officer time to review it before the interview and reduces the risk that you’ll be denied and need to reapply.
Understanding the Difference: Accommodations vs. Exceptions
Many applicants confuse accommodations with exceptions. They are fundamentally different, and understanding the distinction is important.
Accommodations modify how you meet the requirements. If you’re deaf, USCIS provides a sign language interpreter. If you have low vision, they provide materials in large print or Braille. If you have mobility limitations that make writing difficult, they allow oral responses. You still must demonstrate English proficiency and pass the civics test—you’re just doing it in a way that accommodates your disability.
Exceptions waive the requirement entirely. If your N-648 is approved, you don’t have to demonstrate English proficiency or pass the civics test at all. You’re completely exempt.
If you can meet the requirements with accommodations, you should request them on Form N-400 rather than filing an N-648. Accommodations don’t require a separate form or medical certification. USCIS evaluates accommodation requests based on information you provide in your N-400 application.
When Your N-648 Is Denied
If USCIS finds your N-648 insufficient, they will typically request a revised or second form addressing the deficiencies. Common reasons for insufficiency include:
- Lack of clear connection between the diagnosis and inability to learn • Insufficient clinical detail or diagnostic information • Form completed by someone other than an authorized medical professional • Form completed more than 180 days before filing N-400 • Generic language suggesting a template rather than individualized assessment
If your initial N-648 is found insufficient, resist the temptation to seek out a different doctor—particularly an ‘expert’—to provide a second opinion. Instead, work with your original physician to address the specific deficiencies USCIS identified. Provide additional medical records, clarify the functional nexus, or add more detailed diagnostic information.
Submitting a completely different N-648 from a new doctor without explaining why raises credibility concerns. If the second evaluation contradicts the first, USCIS will question which one is accurate.
When to Seek Legal Help
Consider consulting with an immigration attorney if:
- Your disability is genuine but difficult to document or explain • Your physician is unfamiliar with the N-648 process and needs guidance • Your initial N-648 was rejected and you need help addressing USCIS concerns • You have a complex immigration history that intersects with your naturalization application • You’re unsure whether your condition qualifies for an exception or merely requires accommodations
An experienced immigration attorney can review your medical documentation, help articulate the functional nexus between your condition and your inability to meet naturalization requirements, and work with your physician to ensure the N-648 is complete and credible.
What an attorney should not do is refer you to a distant ‘N-648 expert’ for a fresh evaluation. If your attorney suggests this, ask why. If the answer is that your own doctor won’t certify the condition or doesn’t understand USCIS requirements, consider whether that means your condition genuinely qualifies—or whether you’re being steered toward someone who will provide a questionable certification.
The Bottom Line
Form N-648 exists for a legitimate purpose: to ensure that people with genuine disabilities aren’t prevented from becoming U.S. citizens simply because they can’t demonstrate English proficiency or pass a civics test. But the fraud that has plagued the N-648 process has made USCIS appropriately cautious.
If you have a qualifying disability, the path to approval is straightforward: work with your own treating physician, document the functional connection between your condition and your inability to meet the requirements, and submit a thorough N-648 with your initial N-400. Credibility matters more than expertise in completing immigration forms.
Avoid the temptation to seek out specialists who market themselves as N-648 experts. What looks like a shortcut is actually a red flag. USCIS officers know the warning signs, and they review those certifications with skepticism that can doom even legitimate cases.
The supervisory officer who told me she had reviewed thousands of N-648 cases was clear: the most credible certifications come from treating physicians who have ongoing relationships with their patients. That’s what USCIS wants to see. That’s what will give your application the best chance of success.
Immigration Law of Montana has helped clients across Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota navigate complex naturalization cases for over 25 years. If you need guidance on Form N-648 or the naturalization process, contact us for a consultation.
Related on this topic: age-based English waivers.
