Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions

OMB No. 1615-0060; Expires 03/31/2017
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions for Form N-648, Medical
Certification for Disability Exceptions

What Is the Purpose of This Form?

How to Complete This Form

In general, applicants for naturalization must demonstrate an
understanding of the English language, including an ability to
read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage. They must
also demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the
fundamentals of the history and principles and form of
government of the United States. Together, these are known as
the English and civics requirements for naturalization. This
form is intended for applicants who seek an exception to the
English and/or civics requirements due to a physical or
developmental disability or mental impairment that has lasted,
or is expected to last, 12 months or more.

All parts of Form N-648 except the "Applicant Attestation"
and "INTERPRETER'S CERTIFICATION", must be certified
by a licensed medical professional. Before certifying Form
N-648, the medical professional must have conducted an inperson examination of the applicant.
All questions or items must be answered fully and accurately.
USCIS will not accept an incomplete Form N-648. Responses
should use common terminology, without abbreviations, that a
person without medical training can understand. If completed
in writing, all responses must be legible and appear in black
ink. USCIS recommends that the certifying medical
professional use the electronic Form N-648 located in the
"FORMS" section at www.uscis.gov.

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Who Should Submit This Form and When?

An applicant for naturalization seeking an exception to the
English and/or civics requirements for naturalization because
of a physical or developmental disability or mental
impairment(s) should submit this form at the time he or she
files an N-400, Application for Naturalization, with USCIS.
Per Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 312(b)(1),
applicants are not required to fulfill the English and/or civics
requirements if the person is unable to do so because of
physical or developmental disability or mental impairment(s).
NOTE: Failure to submit Form N-648 with Form N-400
may delay the time for the adjudication of Form N-400.

Who Should Not Submit This Form?

An applicant who can satisfy the English and civics
requirements for naturalization with reasonable
accommodations provided under the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 does not need to submit this form. Reasonable
accommodations include, but are not limited to, sign language
interpreters, extended time for testing and off-site testing. An
applicant requesting an accommodation should so indicate on
Part 3 of his or her completed Form N-400. Illiteracy alone is
not a valid reason to seek an exception to the English and
civics requirement by submitting this form.

Who Is Authorized to Certify This Form?
Only medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, or clinical
psychologists licensed to practice in the United States
(including the U.S. territories of CNMI, Guam, Puerto Rico,
and the Virgin Islands) are authorized to certify the form.
While staff of the medical practice associated with the
medical professional certifying the form may assist in its
completion, the medical professional is responsible for the
accuracy of the form's content.

Failure to provide all information requested on the form may
result in USCIS determination that the form is insufficient. In
addition to providing a detailed assessment of the applicant's
physical or developmental disability or mental impairment as
requested on the form, a medical professional completing the
form may attach supporting medical diagnostic reports or
records. However, these attachments may not take the place of
written responses to each question or item on Form N-648.
The following are examples of sufficient responses to some of
the items on Part 3 of Form N-648:
1. Provide the clinical diagnosis of the applicant's medical
disability and/or impairments that form the basis for
seeking an exception to the English and/or civics
requirements. If applicable, please provide the relevant
medical code as accepted by the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS). This includes the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
For example, DSM-V 318.1 Intellectual Disability (Severe)
or 2015/16 ICD-10-CM F72 Severe intellectual disabilities.

2. Provide a basic description of the disability and/or
impairment(s).
"Severe intellectual disability is a genetic disorder that
causes lifelong intellectual disability (also referred to as
mental retardation), developmental delays, and other
problems."
8. What caused the applicant's medical disability and/or
impairment(s) listed in Part 3. Item Number 1?
"Severe intellectual disability is usually caused by an error
in cell division occurring in utero. The cause of such errors
in cell division is currently unknown."

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9. What clinical methods did you use to diagnose the
applicant's medical disability and/or impairment(s)
listed in Part 3. Item Number 1?
"The patient was diagnosed in utero through a Chorionic
Villus Sampling (CVS). CVS is a test done during early
pregnancy that can identify certain genetic disorders or
chromosomal birth defects, such as "Severe intellectual
disabilities."
10. Clearly describe how the applicant's disability and/or
impairment(s), affect his or her ability to demonstrate a
knowledge and understanding of English and/or civics.

General Instructions
USCIS recommends that the certifying medical
professional complete and print the fillable electronic
Form N-648 located in the "FORMS" section at
www.uscis.gov.
1. Type or print clearly using black ink. Keep all information
within the area provided. If you require additional space to
complete the answer to any item, the information fields in
the fillable electronic form will expand to accommodate
the additional information. If you are not completing an
electronic version of the form and you continue to need
extra space to complete any item, write the applicant's
name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) at the
top of each continuation sheet and indicate the part and
number of the item to which the answer refers. You must
sign and date each continuation sheet.

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"The patient's condition is a global, lifelong impairment
that severely affects cognition, language, and motor skills.
While many individuals with mild to moderate forms of
Severe intellectual disabilities are capable of daily tasks
and working in the community, this patient suffers from a
particularly severe form. Because of this impairment, his
memory is deficient, he cannot learn new skills, and he is
not capable of reasoning but only of performing simple
daily activities. The patient's severe intellectual disability
makes him incapable of learning a new language (even
basic words) and demonstrating the required knowledge of
U.S. history and government."

2. All questions must be answered fully and accurately. If an
item is not applicable, indicate it with "N/A." If the answer
is none, write "None."
3. The medical professional must provide the completed form
to the applicant.

USCIS Forms and Information

What Are the Penalties for Making False
Representations?

Both the applicant and the medical professional are required to
attest to the contents of this form under penalty of perjury.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546, provides that:
Whoever knowingly makes under oath, or as permitted under
penalty of perjury under Section 1746 of Title 28, United
States Code, knowingly subscribes as true, any false statement
with respect to a material fact in any application, affidavit, or
other document required by the immigration laws or
regulations prescribed thereunder, or knowingly presents any
such application, affidavit, or other document containing any
such false statement, shall be fined in accordance with this
title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

If either the applicant or the medical professional includes in
this form any information that the party knows to be false, that
person may be liable for criminal prosecution under U.S. laws.
In addition to the criminal penalties under Title 18 of the
United States Code, Section 274C of the Immigration and
Nationality Act and 8 U.S.C. 1324c provides for civil
penalties.

You can get USCIS forms and immigration-related
information on the USCIS Internet website at
www.uscis.gov. You may order USCIS forms by calling our
toll-free number at 1-800-870-3676. You may also obtain
forms and information by telephoning our National Customer
Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.
Instead of waiting in line for assistance at your local USCIS
office, you can schedule an appointment online at
www.uscis.gov. Select “Schedule an appointment online” and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment. Once
you finish scheduling an appointment, the system will
generate an appointment notice for you.

USCIS Privacy Act Statement

AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this form,
and the associated evidence, is collected pursuant to Section
1103, 1423, and 1427 of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
as amended INA Section 101, et seq.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested
information on this form is to determine if you have
established eligibility for an exception to the English language
and/or U.S. history and civic requirements due to a physical or
developmental disability or mental impairment that has lasted,
or is expected to last, 12 months or more. USCIS requests that
you provide your Social Security Number to facilitate and
expedite the adjudication of your request. USCIS will use the
information provided to grant or deny the exception sought.
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DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary.
However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security Number, and any requested
evidence, may delay a final decision or result in the denial of
your disability exception request.
ROUTINE USES: The information you provide on this form
may be shared with other federal, state, local, and foreign
government agencies and authorized organizations in
accordance with approved routine uses, as described in the
associated published system of records notices [DHS/
USCIS-007 - Benefits Information System and DHS/
USCIS-001 - Alien File (A-File) and Central Index System
(CIS), which can be found at www.dhs.gov/privacy]. The
information may also be made available, as appropriate for
law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national
security.

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Paperwork Reduction Act

An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 120 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions and
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and
Strategy, 20 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC
20529-2140. OMB No. 1615-0060. Do not mail your
completed Form N-648 to this address.

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