How Far Back Does USCIS Background Check Go?

Evelyn Sanderson - September 22, 2025

When you apply for immigration benefits, you might find yourself wondering: How far back does USCIS background check go? The answer is not simple, because USCIS reviews multiple timeframes rather than focusing on a single period.

While the primary focus is often on recent years, USCIS can look further back into your history if necessary. Let’s break down how far back they check, what information appears, and how the process works.

How Far Back Does USCIS Background Check Go?

USCIS background checks review both recent history and events that may have happened years ago. For most applications, there is a “good moral character” period. This means you must show that you lived with good moral character for a set number of years before applying:

• Five years for most naturalization applicants.
• Three years for applicants applying through marriage to a US citizen.

Even though the good moral character period is the main focus, USCIS can still look at your entire criminal history. This means incidents from ten or twenty years ago can still be flagged during the review, particularly if they were serious or previously undisclosed.

For green card renewals, USCIS doesn’t use a set “look-back” period. The review considers your entire time as a permanent resident, so past serious offenses can still impact your application.

How Far Back Does USCIS Background Check Go for Citizenship?

USCIS background checks go back to at least your 18th birthday, or the day you entered the US as a permanent resident. They may look further back if serious incidents are involved or if the records are public. This is because the naturalization process requires showing that you were of good moral character during the required statutory period.

The investigation depends on initial FBI checks and can cover your entire history, not just the “good moral character” period. You have to disclose all arrests, charges, or convictions, even if dismissed or expunged. This is because USCIS can still access sealed records.

Even if a record was expunged, sealed, or dismissed, USCIS can still access it through federal databases. Being honest is important because hiding information can hurt your application more than the original incident.

How Far Back Does USCIS Background Check Go for Green Card Renewal?

USCIS background checks for green card renewal can review your entire record. However, they focus mainly on crimes committed within five years of your original green card issuance, especially crimes of moral turpitude (CIMTs). They consider all criminal history, including dismissed cases and arrests, to assess your good moral character. 

Serious offenses like aggravated felonies or drug trafficking can lead to denial regardless of when they happened. Renewal is not a new application, but USCIS reviews your background for the whole time you’ve been a permanent resident, so old offenses can still affect your case.

What Kind of Background Check Does USCIS Do?

The USCIS background check process involves several steps and databases:

• Fingerprint Checks: At a biometrics appointment, USCIS collects your fingerprints. These are sent to the FBI to compare against national criminal databases. Results usually come back within 24 to 48 hours.
• Name Checks: The FBI runs your name through its systems, including records related to law enforcement, immigration, and national security. Name checks can take weeks or months, depending on whether there are matches that require review.
• Inter-Agency Checks: USCIS works with other government databases to see if there are immigration violations, prior visa issues, or security concerns.
• Other Checks When Relevant: For example, military service records or Treasury Department checks in cases involving financial crimes.

These layers of screening help USCIS confirm your identity and make sure nothing in your history creates a legal or security problem.

What Does a USCIS Background Check Include?

A USCIS background check includes fingerprinting and a name-based search through the FBI’s National Name Check Program (NNCP). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducts security checks, reviews public records, and social media. Your application and supporting documents are also examined. 

This detailed USCIS background check helps identify any criminal activity, terrorist links, or other reasons that could make you inadmissible. A USCIS background check essentially looks for honesty, lawful behavior, and respect for immigration rules.

Does USCIS Do a Background Check on the Petitioner?

Yes, in many cases, USCIS also checks the background of the petitioner, not just the applicant. For example, in family-based applications, the person sponsoring the immigrant must also pass a review. 

This helps prevent fraud and protects national security. The petitioner’s fingerprints and name are checked to confirm identity and to reveal any criminal history. If the petitioner has a serious record, it can affect whether the application moves forward.

USCIS Background Check for Employment

USCIS uses background checks to verify the eligibility for immigration benefits and employment. The process involves two main parts:

1. Form I-9 Verification: Employees provide documents to prove identity and work authorization. Employers check them for accuracy.

2. Biometrics and Database Checks: For those applying for immigration benefits that involve work authorization, USCIS collects fingerprints and photos and runs them through FBI and inter-agency databases.

This process makes sure that people working in the US are legally allowed to do so and that no security risks are overlooked.

USCIS Background Check for Form I-485

When applying to adjust status through Form I-485, the background check is extensive. It includes:

• A biometrics appointment for fingerprints, photo, and signature.
• FBI criminal history and name checks.
• Inter-agency security screenings.
• Military record checks for applicants with service history.

The goal is to confirm your identity and verify that nothing in your past makes you ineligible for a green card. If issues come up, USCIS may request more evidence or conduct deeper reviews.

How Long Do Federal Background Checks Remain Valid?

A federal background check doesn’t have an expiration date, but its information can become outdated quickly. How long it’s considered valid depends on the employer and the type of check. Criminal convictions have no time limit. Generally, employers and agencies often focus on the most recent seven to ten years. 

For non-conviction arrests, civil judgments, and liens, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits reporting to the past seven years for jobs paying less than $75,000 a year. Some states may have stricter rules, but criminal convictions can remain on record without a set limit.

USCIS Background Check Timeline

People often wonder how long the process takes. The timeline can range from a few days to several months, depending on the type of check and any complications:

• Fingerprint results may come back within 48 hours.
• Name checks often take 30 to 120 days.
• Inter-agency reviews can extend the process even longer.

Delays happen if there are possible matches in databases, incomplete records, or large backlogs. In rare cases, a case may stay pending for more than six months if additional investigation is required.

What Happens if Issues Show Up?

If USCIS finds a match or potential issue, it doesn’t automatically reject your case. The agency reviews the information and may request clarification or additional evidence. Sometimes, you might be asked to provide police clearance letters or sworn statements.

For serious issues, such as crimes involving drugs, violence, or fraud, the application may be denied. However, for minor mistakes or missing documents, you often get a chance to explain or correct them.

One of the most important parts of the USCIS background check is honesty. Even if you think an old record does not matter, you should still disclose it. Hiding information often creates bigger problems than the record itself. That’s why many applicants choose to look up their own public records using tools like Information.com before filing. This helps applicants understand what might show up in a background check and prepare to address any issues in advance.

So How Far Back Does USCIS Background Check Go? As Far Back as Necessary

A USCIS background check is not limited to recent years. It can review your entire history to assess your character and eligibility; even expunged or sealed records may appear. For green card renewals, the check covers your entire time as a permanent resident.

For citizenship applications, USCIS can look back to your 18th birthday or earlier for serious issues. I-485 reviews are also thorough and examine your full background to make sure you meet all requirements.

Make sure you provide accurate information and are prepared. USCIS looks at your full history to see who you are and whether you meet the requirements.