334.18—Withdrawal of petition and failure to prosecute.
(a)
A petitioner who desires to withdraw his petition for naturalization, filed prior to October 1, 1991, shall make request for withdrawal on Form N-404, in duplicate. The original shall be filed with the clerk of court and the duplicate with the office of the Service exercising administrative jurisdiction over the district in which the court is located. At the final hearing upon the petition, the officer in attendance shall inform the court whether the district director consents to the withdrawal of the petition. In cases in which the district director does not consent to the withdrawal, the court shall determine the petition on its merits.
(b)
At the final hearing upon a petition for naturalization which the petitioner has failed to prosecute, the officer in attendance shall inform the court whether the district director consents to dismissal of the petition for lack of prosecution. In cases in which the district director does not move that the petition be dismissed for lack of prosecution, the court shall determine the petition on its merits.