SBA has asked NAGGL to remind lenders that they should only seek USCIS verification on applications that they expect to be able to complete processing on prior to the March 1, 2026. effective date for the citizenship/residence policy changes. According to the agency, the volume of verification requests has gone from 15 per day to 150 per day. To handle this huge increase in volume, SBA is devoting significant additional staff to processing verification requests with the goal of getting all loans that are eligible under current requirements processed as quickly as possible. You can assist the agency by not bogging down the system by requesting verifications for loans that will not be ready to submit before the policy changes take effect.
In the lead up to the implementation date for the new policies, NAGGL has been in frequent contact with SBA to share the questions and comments that we have received from NAGGL members. Responses to those questions will be included in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that SBA intends to publish soon. When that document is issued, NAGGL will post it on our website and forward it to members via email. But we know that additional questions will come up as lenders begin to implement the new policies. So, we are asking that you continue to submit your comments and questions to NAGGL though our technical questions hub so that we can continue to share your issues to SBA. And please also consider joining us for a NAGGL webinar on What You Need to Know About SBA’s New Citizenship Requirements to be held on March 4. The session will take a deep dive into the new requirements contained in SBA Policy Notice 5000-876441, Procedural Notice 5000-876626 and the soon to be issued FAQs.
