| The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) | | | | requirements due to medically determinable physical |
| have announced the revised version of the Medical | | | | or developmental disability or mental impairment, then |
| Certification for Disability Exceptions, Form N-648 and | | | | he may seek an exception from either or both of |
| made it available for public comment. A Federal | | | | the requirements. |
| Register notice has been published by the USCIS | | | | A Form N-648 certification completed by a licensed |
| announcing the changes to the FormN-648. According | | | | medical doctor or a licensed clinical psychologist is |
| to this notice, starting from February 1, 2010 the | | | | required to be submitted by applicants who claim this |
| revised form will be available for review and public | | | | exception. The Form N-648 certification must be |
| comment for a period of 60-days, until April 2, 2010. | | | | submitted along with the completed Form N-400, |
| In this revision, the requirements for the exception | | | | application for naturalization to the USCIS. The USCIS |
| and the basis for preparing a medical certification for | | | | will use this form to decide whether the applicants |
| applicants and medical professionals are clarified. | | | | for naturalization are permitted for an exception to |
| As per the law, the applicants for naturalization are | | | | the requirements. The applicant or the applicant's |
| required to demonstrate the ability to communicate in | | | | authorized representative can complete Part I of the |
| basic English and also understand the United States | | | | Form N-648 and a medical professional needs to |
| history and government. Nevertheless, if an applicant | | | | complete the part II of this form. |
| cannot comply with one or both of these | | | | |