A Guide to 

Naturalization

M-476 (rev. 01/16)
A Guide to Naturalization i

Table of Contents

Welcome

What Are the Benefits and Responsibilities of 

 Citizenship?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Eligible for Naturalization?

Table of Eligibility Requirements

Time as a Permanent Resident

Continuous Residence

Physical Presence in the United States

Time as a Resident in a USCIS District or State

Good Moral Character

English and Civics

Attachment to the Constitution

What Should I Expect From the Naturalization

 Process?

Preparing to Apply

Completing Your Application and Getting Photographed

Getting Fingerprinted

Being Interviewed

Taking the Oath

What Kind of Customer Service Can I Expect?

Where Do I Go for Help?

Glossary of Terms

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A Guide to Naturalization 1

Welcome

We are very pleased that you want to 

become a U.S. citizen. The United 

States is a nation of immigrants. 

Throughout our history, immigrants 

have come here seeking a better way of life 

and have strengthened our Nation in the 

process.

For more than 200 years, the United 

States has remained strong because of our 

citizens and the common civic values we 

share. Deciding to become a U.S. citizen 

is one of the most important decisions in 

a person’s life. If you decide to apply for 

naturalization, you will be showing your 

permanent commitment to the United 

States. You will also be showing your 

loyalty to its Constitution and its people.

When you are naturalized, you agree 

to accept all of the responsibilities of 

being a citizen. You agree to support the 

United States, its Constitution, and its 

laws. In return, you are rewarded with all 

the rights and privileges that are part of 

citizenship. We welcome your interest and 

hope you will read on to learn more about 

naturalization.

What Is Naturalization?

Naturalization is commonly referred to as 

the manner in which a person not born in 

the United States voluntarily becomes a 

U.S. citizen.

What Is This Guide for?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS) created this Guide to provide 

better and more consistent information 

to people interested in naturalization. It 

is written mainly for people 18 years or 

older who want to become citizens. Please 

take the time to review this information 

to make sure that you are eligible to apply 

for naturalization. You can find more 

information at www.uscis.gov or by calling 

Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283 or 

1-800-767-1833 (for hearing impaired).

 E Pluribus Unum - Out of Many, One

 -Motto inscripted on the Great Seal of the United States

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A Guide to Naturalization 3

What Are the Benefits and 

Responsibilities of Citizenship?

Benefits

The Constitution and laws of the United 

States give many rights to both citizens 

and non-citizens living in the United 

States. However, some rights are only for 

citizens, such as:

• Voting. Only U.S. citizens can vote 

in Federal elections. Most States 

also restrict the right to vote, in most 

elections, to U.S. citizens.

• Bringing family members to the 

United States. Citizens generally 

get priority when petitioning to bring 

family members permanently to this 

country.

• Obtaining citizenship for children 

born abroad. In most cases, a child 

born abroad to a U.S. citizen is 

automatically a U.S. citizen.

• Traveling with a U.S. passport.

A U.S. passport allows you to get 

assistance from the U.S. government 

when overseas.

• Becoming eligible for Federal jobs.

Most jobs with government agencies 

require U.S. citizenship.

• Becoming an elected official. Many 

elected offices in this country require 

U.S. citizenship.

• Showing your patriotism. In addition, 

becoming a U.S. citizen is a way to 

demonstrate your commitment to your 

new country.

The above list does not include all the 

benefits of citizenship, only some 

of the more important ones.

Responsibilities

To become a U.S. citizen you must take 

the Oath of Allegiance. The oath includes 

several promises you make when 

you become a U.S. citizen, including 

promises to:

• Give up all prior allegiance to any other 

nation or sovereignty;

• Swear allegiance to the United States; 

• Support and defend the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States; and

• Serve the country when required.

U.S. citizens have many responsibilities 

other than the ones mentioned in the 

Oath. Citizens have a responsibility 

to participate in the political 

process by registering and voting in 

elections. Serving on a jury is another 

responsibility of citizenship. Finally, 

America becomes stronger when all of 

its citizens respect the different opinions, 

cultures, ethnic groups, and religions 

found in this country. Tolerance for 

differences is also a responsibility of 

citizenship.

When you decide to become a U.S. 

citizen, you should be willing to fulfill 

the responsibilities of citizenship. We 

hope you will honor and respect the 

freedoms and opportunities citizenship 

gives you. At the same time, we hope 

you become an active member of your 

community. It is by participating in your 

community that you truly become 

an American. 

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1. How can I become a U.S. citizen? 

You may become a U.S. citizen (1) by birth or (2) through naturalization.

2. Who is born a U.S. citizen? 

Generally, people are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the United States or if they 

are born to U.S. citizens:

(1) If you were born in the United States: 

Normally you were a U.S. citizen at birth.1 (Including, in most cases, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 

and after November 4, 1986, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands),

(2) If you were born abroad to TWO U.S. citizens: 

And at least one of your parents lived in the United States at some point in his or 

her life, then in most cases you are a U.S. citizen.

(3) If you were born abroad to ONE U.S. citizen:

In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if all of the following are true:

• One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;

• Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before you 

 were born; and

• At least 2 of those 5 years in the United States were after your citizen 

 parent’s 14th birthday.2

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof 

of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship 

recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file an 

“Application for Certificate of Citizenship” (Form N-600) with USCIS to get a 

Certificate of Citizenship. Call the USCIS Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676 to request 

Form N-600, or download the form at www.uscis.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

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2If you were born before November 14, 1986, you are a citizen if your U.S. citizen parent lived in the 

United States for at least 10 years and 5 of those years in the United States were after your citizen 

parent’s 14th birthday.

1The exception is persons who were born not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, such as 

children of foreign diplomats.
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3. How do I become a naturalized citizen? 

If you are not a U.S. citizen by birth or did not acquire/derive U.S. citizenship 

automatically after birth, you may still be eligible to become a citizen through the 

naturalization process. Eligible persons use the “Application for Naturalization” 

(Form N-400) to apply for naturalization.

Persons who acquired citizenship from parent(s) while under 18 years of age 

use the “Application for Certificate of Citizenship” (Form N-600) to document 

their citizenship. Qualified children who reside abroad use the “Application for 

Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322” (Form N-600K) to 

document their naturalization. You may call the USCIS Forms Line at 1-800-870-

3676 to request a Form N-400, N-600, or N-600K; or you may download all of 

these forms at www.uscis.gov.

4. What are the requirements for naturalization? 

Please see Section 4, “Who Is Eligible For Naturalization?,” beginning on page 17 

for more details on the eligibility requirements for naturalization. You should also 

complete the Eligibility Worksheet in the back of this Guide to help you find out if 

you meet the eligibility requirements.
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5. When does my time as a Permanent Resident begin?

Your time as a Permanent Resident begins on the date you were granted permanent 

resident status. This date is on your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as an Alien 

Registration Card or “Green Card”). The sample cards on this page show where you can find 

important information such as the date your Permanent Residence began.

“A–number”

Date you 

became a 

Permanent 

Resident

(July 12, 1991)

Date you became a 

Permanent Resident 

(January 1, 1980)

“A–number”

“A–number”

Port-of-Entry or 

office where you 

were granted 

adjustment of 

status

Port-of-Entry 

or office 

where you 

were granted 

adjustment of 

status

Date you 

became a 

Permanent 

Resident

(April 3, 1980)

This card does 

not have Portof-Entry on it.

Front Back

NOTE: The “A–number” is the Alien Registration Number
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6. What form do I use to file for naturalization?

You should use an “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400). Call the USCIS 

Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676 to request Form N-400. You may also download the 

form at www.uscis.gov.

7. If I have been convicted of a crime but my record has been 

expunged, do I need to write that on my application or tell a 

USCIS officer?

Yes. You should always be honest with USCIS about all:

• Arrests (even if you were not charged or convicted);

• Convictions (even if your record was cleared or expunged);

• Crimes you have committed for which you were not arrested or convicted; and 

• Any countervailing evidence, or evidence in your favor concerning the 

circumstances of your arrests, and/or convictions or offenses that you would like 

USCIS to consider.

Even if you have committed a minor crime, USCIS may deny your application if you 

do not tell the USCIS officer about the incident. Note that unless a traffic incident was

alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and 

incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine less than 

$500 and/or points on your driver’s license.

8. Where do I file my naturalization application?

You should send your completed “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) to the 

appropriate USCIS Lockbox Facility that serves your area, see page 34 for detailed 

instructions. Also see page 34 for separate filing instructions for members of the Armed 

Forces and the spouses of active members of the Armed Forces. Remember to make a 

copy of your application. Do not send original documents with your application unless 

the Document Checklist included with this Guide states that an original is required. 

Always make copies of documents that you send to USCIS.

9. Will USCIS help me, or make accommodations for me, if I have a 

disability?

USCIS will make every effort to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with 

disabilities who need modifications to the naturalization process in order to demonstrate 

their eligibility. For example, if you use a wheelchair, we will make sure you can be 

fingerprinted, interviewed, and sworn in at a location that is wheelchair accessible. If 

you are hearing impaired, the officer conducting your interview will speak loudly and 

slowly, or we will work with you to arrange for an American sign language interpreter. 

If you require an American sign language interpreter at the oath ceremony, please 

indicate that in your Form N-400 in the section where you are asked if you need an 
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A Guide to Naturalization

accommodation for a disability. If you use a service animal such as a guide dog, your 

animal may come with you to your interview and oath ceremony. 

We are continuing to work on better ways to make the naturalization process easier 

for applicants with disabilities. If you know in advance that you will need some 

kind of accommodation, write a letter explaining what you will need and send it to 

the USCIS district office that will interview you after you receive your interview 

notice. If you have a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment so 

severe that you cannot acquire or demonstrate the required knowledge of English and 

civics, you may be eligible for an exemption of those requirements. To request an 

exemption, you must file a “Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions” (Form 

N-648). See page 26 of this Guide for more information. 

10. Where is my local USCIS office? 

To find the local USCIS office that serves your area, please use the field office 

locator at www.uscis.gov.

11. What is the fee for processing an application?*

The current fee for processing a naturalization application can be found on the single 

page titled “Current Naturalization Fees” in the back of this Guide. If you are under 

75 years old, you must also pay a fee to have your fingerprints taken.**

12. How can I pay my application fee?

You must send the fee with your application. Pay the fee with a check or money 

order drawn on a U.S. bank payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Do 

not use the initials DHS or USDHS. Do Not Send Cash. 

You may also pay using a credit card. There is no additional fee when you do so. 

The N-400 is the only form that you can pay for by credit card using the G-1450, 

Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. Check www.uscis.gov for more specific 

information.

Residents of Guam should make the fee payable to the “Treasurer, Guam,” 

and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands should make the fee payable to the 

“Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.”

Fees for biometric services, which include your photograph and signature, are 

separate from your application fee. Remember that your application fee is not 

refundable even if you withdraw your application or if your case is denied.
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13. How long will it take to become naturalized?

The time it takes to be naturalized varies by location. USCIS is continuing to 

modernize and improve the naturalization process and would like to decrease the 

time it takes to an average of 6 months after the Form N-400 is filed.

14. Where can I be fingerprinted?

After we receive your application, we will tell you where you should get 

fingerprinted. For more information about fingerprinting, see page 35. 

15. How do I find out the status of my naturalization application?

You may check the status of your naturalization application by visiting 

www.uscis.gov or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283 

(TTY: 1-800-767-1833).

16. What if I cannot go to my scheduled interview?

It is very important not to miss your interview. If you have to miss your interview, 

you should write the office where your interview is to be conducted as soon as 

possible and ask to have your interview rescheduled. Rescheduling an interview may 

add several months to the naturalization process, so make all attempts to attend your 

original interview date. 

If you miss your scheduled interview without notifying USCIS, we will 

“administratively close” your case. If we close your case because you missed your 

interview, we will notify you at your last address of record. Unless you contact us to 

schedule a new interview within 1 year after we close your case, we will deny your 

application. 

* If you are applying for naturalization based on your own service in the Armed Forces of the United 

States, no filing fee is required. Please see “Naturalization Information for Military Personnel” (Form 

M-599) for more information.

** If you are 75 years or older, or if you are filing on the basis of your service in the Armed Forces 

of the United States, or if you are filing from abroad, do not send the biometric services fee for 

fingerprinting with your application.
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17. What do I do if my address has changed?

It is important that USCIS has your most current address. If we do not, you may not 

receive important information from us. For example, we may not be able to notify you 

about the date and time of your interview or about additional documents you may need to 

send or bring.

If you move after filing your “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400), call 

Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 1-800-767-1833) to change your address 

on your pending Form N-400. Every time you move, you are required by law to inform 

USCIS of your new address. To meet this legal requirement, you must file an “Alien’s 

Change of Address Card” (Form AR-11), in addition to calling Customer Service. You 

must file the Form AR-11 within 10 days of your move. There is no fee to file this form. 

You should also notify the U.S. Postal Service of your new address to help ensure that any 

mail already on its way may be forwarded to you.

18. Can I change my name when I naturalize?

Congress did not give USCIS legal authority to change a person’s name when that person 

naturalizes. Therefore, there are only two ways that USCIS can issue your Certificate of 

Naturalization under a new name:

1. If you present proof that you have already changed your name according to the legal 

requirements that apply to persons living in your State, USCIS can issue the Certificate 

of Naturalization with your new name. Such proof might include a marriage certificate 

or divorce decree showing that you changed your name when you married or divorced. It 

might also include some other State court order establishing that you changed your name.

2. If you are going to take the Oath of Allegiance at a Naturalization Ceremony that 

is held in Court, you may ask the Court to change your name. If the Court grants your 

request, your new name will appear on your Certificate of Naturalization.

19. If USCIS grants me naturalization, when will I become a citizen?

You become a citizen as soon as you take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a 

formal naturalization ceremony. In some places, you can choose to take the oath the same 

day as your interview. If that option is not available, or if you prefer a ceremony at a later 

date, USCIS will notify you of the ceremony date with a “Notice of Naturalization Oath 

Ceremony” (Form N-445).
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20. What should I do if I cannot go to my oath ceremony?

If you cannot go to the oath ceremony, you should return the “Notice of Naturalization 

Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) that you received to your local USCIS office. Include 

a letter saying why you cannot go to the ceremony. Make a copy of the notice and your 

letter before you send them to USCIS. Your local USCIS office will reschedule you and 

send you a new “Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) to tell you 

when your ceremony will be.

21. What can I do if USCIS denies my application?

If you think that USCIS was wrong to deny your naturalization application, you may 

request a hearing with an immigration officer. Your denial letter will explain how to 

request a hearing and will include the form you need. The form for filing an appeal is 

the “Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings under Section 

336 of the INA” (Form N-336). You must file the form, including the correct fee, to 

USCIS within 30 days after you receive a denial letter.

If, after an appeal hearing with USCIS, you still believe you have been wrongly denied 

naturalization, you may file a petition for a new review of your application in U.S. 

District Court.

22. Can I reapply for naturalization if USCIS denies my application?

In many cases, you may reapply. If you reapply, you will need to complete and resubmit 

a new Form N-400 and pay the fee again. You will also need to have your fingerprints 

and photographs taken again. If your application is denied, the denial letter should 

indicate the date you may reapply for citizenship.

If you are denied because you failed the English or civics test, you may reapply for 

naturalization as soon as you want. You should reapply whenever you believe you have 

learned enough English or civics to pass both tests.
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23. What do I do if I lose my Certificate of Naturalization? What do I 

use as proof of citizenship if I do not have my certificate?

You may get a new Certificate of Naturalization by submitting an “Application for 

Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document” (Form N-565) to USCIS. You 

may request Form N-565 by calling the USCIS Forms Line (1-800-870-3676), or by 

downloading the form at www.uscis.gov. Submit this form with the appropriate fee to the 

Nebraska or Texas Service Center, depending on which Service Center has jurisdiction 

over your residence.

If you have one, you may use your U.S. passport as evidence of citizenship while you wait 

for a replacement certificate. It is strongly recommended that you apply for a passport as 

soon as you become a citizen.

24. If I am a U.S. citizen, is my child a U.S. citizen?

A child who is born in the United States, or born abroad to a U.S. citizen(s) who lived in 

(or came to) the United States for the required period of time prior to the child’s birth, is 

generally considered a U.S. citizen at birth.

A child who is:

• Born to a U.S. citizen who did not live in (or come to) the United States for the 

required period of time prior to the child’s birth, or

• Born to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent or two alien parents who 

naturalize after the child’s birth, or

• Adopted (stepchildren cannot derive or acquire citizenship through their stepparents) 

and is permanently residing in the United States can become a U.S. citizen by action 

of law on the date on which all of the following requirements have been met: 

• The child was lawfully admitted for permanent residence*; and

• Either parent was a United States citizen by birth or naturalization**; and

• The child was still under 18 years of age; and

• The child was not married; and
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• The child was the parent’s legitimate child or was legitimated by the parent before 

the child’s 16th birthday (children born out of wedlock who were not legitimated 

before their 16th birthday do not derive United States citizenship through their 

father); and

• If adopted, the child met the requirements of section 101(b)(1)(E) or (F) of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and has had a full and final adoption; and

• The child was residing in the United States in the legal custody of the U.S. citizen 

parent (this includes joint custody); and

• The child was residing in the United States in the physical custody of the U.S. 

citizen parent.

If you and your child meet all of these requirements, you may obtain a U.S. passport for the 

child as evidence of citizenship. If the child needs further evidence of citizenship, you may 

submit an “Application for Certificate of Citizenship” (Form N-600) to USCIS to obtain a 

Certificate of Citizenship. (NOTE: A child who meets these requirements before his or her 

18th birthday may obtain a passport or Certificate of Citizenship at any time, even after he or 

she turns 18.)

*NOTE – Children who immigrated under the “IR-3” or “IR-4” categories must have had an 

immigrant petition filed on their behalf before their 16th birthday; see answers to Question 

26. All adoptions for any other type of immigration benefit, including naturalization, must 

be completed by the child’s 16th birthday, with one exception: A child adopted while under 

the age of 18 years by the same parents who adopted a natural sibling who met the usual 

requirements. 

**NOTE – The “one U.S. citizen parent” rule applies only to children who first fulfilled the 

requirements for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or after February 27, 

2001. In order to qualify for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or before 

February 26, 2001, both of the child’s parents must have been United States citizens either 

at birth or through naturalization—both parents if the child had two parents; the surviving 

parent if a parent had died; the parent with legal custody if the parents were divorced or 

legally separated; or the mother only, if the child had been born out of wedlock and the child’s 

paternity had not been established by legitimation.

25. If I am a U.S. citizen, but my child does not meet the requirements listed 

above, can I still apply for citizenship for my child?

A child who is regularly residing in the United States can become a citizen of the United States 

only by meeting the requirements listed in the answer to Question 25. If a child regularly 

resides in the United States and is not a lawful permanent resident, he or she cannot acquire 

citizenship automatically until he or she is granted lawful permanent residence. If a child who 

has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence fails to qualify for citizenship under the 

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provisions of law, he or she may apply for naturalization after reaching 18 years of age by filing Form 

N-400, provided that he or she has the required 5 years of lawful permanent residence.

U.S. citizens with children by birth or adoption (stepchildren do not qualify) who do not regularly reside 

in the United States, may apply for citizenship for such a child if all of the following conditions are met:

• The child is under 18 years of age; and

• The child is not married; and

• The child regularly resides outside the United States; and

• The child is temporarily present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission and is 

maintaining such lawful status; and

• The child is in legal and physical custody of a parent who is a U.S. citizen; and

• The child is the U.S. citizen’s legitimate child, or was legitimated before the child’s 16th birthday 

(children born out of wedlock who were not legitimated before their 16th birthday may be eligible 

for this procedure through his or her mother); and

• If adopted, the child meets the requirements of section 101(b)(1)(E) or (F) of the INA and had a full 

and final adoption; and

• Either of the following is true:

 – The citizen parent has lived at least 5 years in the United States, and at least 2 of which were 

after the citizen parent’s 14th birthday; or 

 – If the child’s citizen parent has not lived in the United States for at least 5 years, 2 of which were 

after that parent’s 14th birthday, the citizen parent currently has a parent (the child’s grandparent) 

who:

 • Is also a U.S. citizen; and

 • Lived in the United States for 5 years, at least 2 of which were after the citizen grandparent’s 

14th birthday; and

 • Is living or deceased at the time of the adjudication of the application and the taking of the 

oath. 

If the foregoing conditions are met, the citizen parent can apply for citizenship and a Certificate of 

Citizenship on behalf of the child using an “Application for Citizenship and Issuance of a Certificate 

under Section 322” (Form N-600K). Both the citizen parent and the child must appear at an interview 

with a USCIS officer in the United States. The child must meet all of the required conditions at the time 

he or she takes the Oath of Allegiance. (NOTE: The oath may be waived if the child is too young to 

understand it.)
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A Guide to Naturalization 17

Naturalization is how immigrants 

become citizens of the United States. 

If you wish to apply for naturalization, 

you should use the “Application for 

Naturalization” (Form N-400). 

If you want to apply for citizenship 

for a child who is under 18 years old, 

you should use the “Application for 

Certificate of Citizenship” (Form 

N-600) or “Application for Citizenship 

and Issuance of a Certificate under 

Section 322” (Form N-600K). For 

more information about applying 

for citizenship for your children, see 

Questions 25-26 on pages 13-15.

In the next few pages, we describe the 

naturalization eligibility requirements for 

persons who will use Form N-400.

The following table summarizes the 

naturalization requirements for most 

types of applicants. After the table is a 

section that provides more information 

on each requirement. If you still have 

questions about your eligibility, you 

should consult an immigrant assistance 

organization or USCIS.

Who Is Eligible for 

Naturalization?

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 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Have been a Permanent Resident for the past 5 

 years and have no special circumstances.

 NOTE: Over 90% of applicants fall into this category.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

Are currently married to and living with a U.S. citizen;

and

Have been married to and living with that same U.S. 

citizen for the past 3 years;

and

Your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the past 3 years.

If you:

Are in the U.S. Armed Forces (or will be filing your 

application within 6 months of an honorable discharge);

and

Have served for at least 1 year.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

Were in the U.S. Armed Forces for less than 1 year

or

If you are at least 18 years old and:

Were in the U.S. Armed Forces for 1 year or more, but you 

were discharged more than 6 months ago

If you:

Performed active duty military service during:

 • World War I (April 6, 1917-November 11, 1918);

 • World War II (September 1, 1939-December 31, 1946);

 • Korea (June 25, 1950-July 1, 1955);

 • Vietnam (February 28, 1961-October 15, 1978); 

 • Persian Gulf (August 2, 1990-April 11, 1991); or

 • On or after September 11, 2001.

 

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Were married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of 

honorable active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

 NOTE: You must have been married to and living with 

your U.S. citizen spouse at the time of his/her death.

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 • Are a U.S. national (a non-citizen who owes permanent 

allegiance to the United States); and

 • Have become a resident of any State; and

 • Are otherwise qualified for naturalization.

Time as 

Permanent 

Resident Continuous Residence 

5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the 

United States for trips of 6 months or longer. 

Where to go for more information. Page 22 Pages 22-23

 3 years 3 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the 

United States for trips of 6 months or longer.

You must be a 

Permanent Resident 

on the day of your 

interview.

Not Required

5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the 

United States for trips of 6 months or longer.

NOTE: If you were out of the country as part of your 

service, this time out of the country does not break your 

continuous residence. It is treated just like time spent in 

the United States. See “Naturalization Information for 

Military Personnel” (Form M-599) for more information.

You are not required 

to be a Permanent 

Resident.

NOTE: If you did not 

enlist or reenlist in the 

United States or its 

outlying possessions, 

you must be a 

Permanent Resident on 

the day you file your 

application.

Not Required

You must be a 

Permanent Resident 

on the day of your 

interview.

You are not required 

to be a Permanent 

Resident. 

Not Required

The same requirements as any other applicant for 

naturalization, depending on your qualifications. 

NOTE: Any time you resided in American Samoa or 

Swains Island counts the same as the time you resided 

within a State of the United States.

REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF APPLICANT
A Guide to Naturalization 19

Physical Presence in the United States

Time in USCIS 

District or State

Good Moral

Character

English & Civics

Knowledge

Attachment 

to the 

Constitution

30 months 3 months Required Required Required

Pages 23-24 Page 24 Page 25 Pages 26-27 Pages 28-29

18 months 3 months Required Required Required

Not Required Not Required Required Required Required

30 months

NOTE: Time in the U.S. Armed Forces counts 

as time physically present in the United States 

no matter where you were. See “Naturalization 

Information for Military Personnel” (Form M-599) 

for more information.

3 months Required Required Required

Not Required Not Required Required Required Required

Not Required

The same requirements as any other applicant for 

naturalization, depending on your qualifications. 

NOTE: Any time you resided in American Samoa or 

Swains Island counts the same as the time you 

resided within a State of the United States.

Not Required Required

Required Required Required

Required Required

3 months or not 

required, depending 

on your qualifications.
20

Time as a 

Permanent 

Resident Continuous Residence

5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United 

States for trips of 6 months or longer.

NOTE: If you were out of the country while serving on a vessel, 

this time out of the country does not break your continuous 

residence. It is treated just like time spent in the United States.

 5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United 

States for trips of 6 months or longer. 

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more will 

break your continuous residence. You may keep your continuous 

residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken continuous 

residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and you get an 

approved Form N-470 before you have been out of the United 

States for 1 year.

5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United 

States for trips of 6 months or longer. 

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more 

will break your continuous residence. You may keep your 

continuous residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken 

continuous residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and 

you get an approved Form N-470 at any time before applying 

for naturalization.

5 years 5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United 

States for trips of 6 months or longer.

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more will 

break your continuous residence. You may keep your continuous 

residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken continuous 

residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and you get an 

approved Form N-470 before you have been out of the United 

States for 1 year.

5 years Not Required

You must be 

a Permanent 

Resident at 

the time of 

your USCIS

interview.

Not Required

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Served on a vessel operated by the United States

or

 If you:

 Served on a vessel registered in the United States and owned 

by U.S. citizens or a U.S. corporation.

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Are an employee or an individual under contract to the U.S. 

Government.

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Are a person who performs ministerial or priestly functions 

for a religious denomination or an interdenominational 

organization with a valid presence in the United States.

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Are employed by one of the following:

 • An American institution of research recognized by the 

Attorney General;

 • An American-owned firm or corporation engaged in the 

development of foreign trade and commerce for the United 

States; or

 • A public international organization of which the United 

States is a member by law or treaty (if the employment 

began after you became a Permanent Resident).

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Have been employed for 5 years or more by a U.S. nonprofit 

organization that principally promotes the interests of the 

United States abroad through the communications media.

 If you are at least 18 years old and:

 Are the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is one of the following:

 • A member of the U.S. Armed Forces;

 • An employee or an individual under contract to the U.S. 

Government;

 • An employee of an American institution of research 

recognized by the Attorney General;

 • An employee of an American-owned firm or corporation 

engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce 

for the United States;

 • An employee of a public international organization of which 

the United States is a member by law or treaty; or

 • A person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a 

religious denomination or an interdenominational 

organization with a valid presence in the United States

 and You will be proceeding to join your spouse whose work 

abroad under orders of the qualifying employer will 

continue for at least 1 year after the date you will be 

naturalized. Form N-400 should be filed prior to departing.

Where to go for more information. Page 22 Pages 22-23

TYPE OF APPLICANT

REQUIREMENTS
A Guide to Naturalization 21

Physical Presence in the United States

Time in USCIS 

District or State

Good Moral

Character

English & Civics

Knowledge

Attachment 

to the 

Constitution

30 months

NOTE: Time served on the vessel counts as time 

“physically present” in the United States no 

matter where you were.

3 months Required Required Required

30 months

NOTE: Time spent in this type of employment 

counts as time physically present in the United 

States no matter where you are as long as you get 

an approved Form N-470 before you have been 

out of the United States for 1 year.

3 months Required Required Required

30 months

NOTE: Time spent in this type of employment 

counts as time physically present in the United 

States no matter where you are as long as you get 

an approved Form N-470 before you apply for 

naturalization.

3 months Required Required Required

30 months 3 months Required Required Required

Not Required Not Required Required Required Required

Not Required Not Required Required Required Required

Pages 23-24 Page 24 Page 25 Pages 26-27 Pages 28-29
22

Time as a Permanent Resident

Permanent Residents are people who 

have “permanent resident” status in the 

United States as provided for under U.S. 

immigration laws. Permanent Residents 

are normally given Permanent Resident 

Cards, also known as “Green Cards.” 

(NOTE: These cards used to be called 

Alien Registration Cards.)

In most cases, you must be a Permanent 

Resident for a certain number of years 

before you may apply for naturalization. 

But, it is not enough to be a Permanent 

Resident for the required number of years; 

you must also be in “continuous residence” 

during that time.

Continuous Residence

“Continuous residence” means that you 

have not left the United States for a long 

period of time. If you leave the United 

States for too long, you may interrupt 

your continuous residence.

What if I was outside the United States 

between 6 and 12 months? If you leave 

the United States for more than 6 months, 

but less than 1 year, you have broken 

or disrupted your continuous residence 

unless you can prove otherwise. Read the 

“Document Checklist” in the back of this 

Guide to find out what information you 

must give to prove you did not break your 

continuous residence.

What if I was outside the United States 

for 1 year or longer? In almost all cases, 

if you leave the United States for 1 year or 

more, you have disrupted your continuous 

residence. This is true even if you have a 

Re-entry Permit.

If you leave the country for 1 year or 

longer, you may be eligible to re-enter as a 

Permanent Resident if you have a Re-entry 

Permit. But none of the time you were in 

the United States before you left the country 

counts toward your time in continuous 

residence.

If you return within 2 years, some of your 

time out of the country does count. In 

fact, the last 364 days of your time out of 

the country (1 year minus 1 day) counts 

toward meeting your continuous residence 

requirement.

You may file Form N-400 ninety (90) calendar days before you complete your permanent residence requirement if your eligibility 

for naturalization is based upon being a:

• Permanent resident for at least 5 years; or 

• Permanent resident for at least 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.

To determine your 90-day early filing date, begin by identifying your 5-year or 3-year date as a permanent resident. For example, 

if the date on your Permanent Resident Card says “July 4, 2006,” you meet the 5 year permanent resident requirement on 

“July 4, 2011.” If you have met all other eligibility requirements, you may file your completed Form N-400 90 days before 

“July 4, 2011.” The earliest date you may apply for naturalization would be “April 5, 2011.”

Locate the USCIS Early Filing Calculator on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/n-400. The calculator will help you verify 

that you file your Form N-400 with USCIS no more than 90 days prior to your permanent resident anniversary date. USCIS will 

deny your Form N-400 if you file your Form N-400 more than 90 days prior to your anniversary date. 
A Guide to Naturalization 23

The continuous residence requirement 

does not apply to certain types of 

applicants, such as members of the U.S. 

Armed Forces serving during designated 

periods of conflict.

Other provisions allow a few other types 

of applicants to remain abroad more 

than 1 year without disrupting their 

continuous residence status. To maintain 

their continuous residence while out of 

the country, these people must file an 

“Application to Preserve Residence for 

Naturalization Purposes” (Form N-470). 

See the table at the beginning of this 

section for more information on who can 

use Form N-470 and when it must be 

filed.

Physical Presence 

in the United States

“Physical presence” means that you 

have actually been in the United 

States. Most applicants must be 

physically present in the United 

States for a certain number of months to 

be eligible for naturalization.

What is the difference between 

“physical presence” and “continuous 

residence”? Physical presence concerns 

the total number of days you were in the 

United States during the period required 

for your naturalization. Continuous 

residence concerns the time you resided 

lawfully in the United States without 

any single absence long enough to 

“break” that continuity for naturalization 

purposes.

 “Continuous Residence” Example

• An applicant became a Permanent Resident on January 1, 1994.

 

• She lived in the United States for 3 years, then returned to her native country for 1 year and 3 

months.

 

• She got a Re-entry Permit before leaving the United States so that she could keep her Permanent 

Resident status.

• The applicant re-entered the United States with Permanent Resident status on April 1, 1998. 

Question: When is the applicant eligible for naturalization?

Answer: On April 2, 2002, 4 years and 1 day after she returned to the United States. The last 364 

 days the applicant was out of the United States count toward her time as a Permanent 

 Resident in “continuous residence,” but the 3 years in the United States before leaving do 

 not.
When counting the total number of 

days you have been out of the country, 

include all trips you have taken outside 

the United States. This includes short 

trips and visits to Canada and Mexico. 

For example, if you go to Canada for a 

weekend, you must include that trip when 

you are counting how many days you 

have spent out of the country. Generally, 

partial days spent in the United States 

count as whole days spent in the United 

States. 

Certain types of applicants may count 

time abroad as time physically present 

in the United States. An example of this 

exception is an applicant who is abroad in 

the employment of the U.S. Government. 

See the table at the beginning of this 

section for more information.

Time as a Resident in a 

USCIS District or State 

Most people must live in the USCIS 

district or State in which they are 

applying for at least 3 months before 

applying. A district is a geographical area 

defined by USCIS and served by one of 

the USCIS “District Offices.”

Students may apply for naturalization 

either where they go to school or where 

their family lives (if they are still 

financially dependent on their parents). 

Effect of Removal Proceedings

If you have been ordered removed, you are 

no longer eligible for naturalization. Your 

naturalization application also cannot be 

approved if a removal proceeding is pending 

against you. These restrictions apply to all 

naturalization applicants, except for those 

who are eligible for naturalization based on 

service in the Armed Forces.

24

Important Information for Military Personnel

If you are applying for naturalization based on your own service in the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to 

apply under special provisions provided for in the Immigration and Nationality Act. For more information, request “Naturalization 

Information for Military Personnel” (Form M-599) from the USCIS Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676.
A Guide to Naturalization 25

Good Moral Character

To be eligible for naturalization you must 

be a person of good moral character. USCIS 

will make a determination on your moral 

character based upon the laws Congress has 

passed. In the following section, we describe 

some of the things USCIS may consider. 

Criminal Record. Committing certain 

crimes may cause you to be ineligible for 

naturalization (USCIS calls these “bars” to 

naturalization). You cannot establish that 

you are a person of good moral character if 

you have been convicted of murder, at any 

time, or of any other aggravated felony, if 

you were convicted on or after November 

29, 1990.

Other offenses may be temporary bars to 

naturalization. Temporary bars prevent an 

applicant from qualifying for citizenship 

for a certain period of time after the 

offense.

The “Application for Naturalization” (Form 

N-400) asks several questions about crimes. 

You should report all offenses that you have 

committed including any that have been 

expunged (removed from your record) and 

any that happened before your 18th 

birthday. If you do not tell USCIS about 

these offenses and we find out about them, 

you may be denied naturalization (even 

if the original offense was not a crime for 

which your case would have been denied).

If you have been arrested or convicted of a 

crime, you must send a certified copy of the 

arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, 

and any other relevant documents, including 

any countervailing evidence concerning 

the circumstances of your arrest and/or 

conviction that you would like USCIS to 

consider. Note that unless a traffic incident 

was alcohol or drug related, you do not need 

to submit documentation for traffic fines and 

incidents that did not involve an actual arrest 

if the only penalty was a fine of less than 

$500 and/or points on your driver’s license.

Please note that if you have committed 

certain serious crimes, USCIS may decide 

to remove you from the United States. 

If you have questions, you may want to 

seek advice from an immigrant assistance 

organization or an immigration attorney 

before applying.

Lying. If you do not tell the truth during 

your interview, USCIS will deny your 

application for lacking good moral character. 

If USCIS grants you naturalization and you 

are later found to have lied during your 

interview, your citizenship may be taken 

away.

Examples of Things That Might 

Demonstrate a Lack of Good Moral Character

• Any crime against a person with intent to harm.

• Any crime against property or the Government that involves “fraud” or 

evil intent.

• Two or more crimes for which the aggregate sentence was 5 years or 

more.

• Violating any controlled substance law of the United States, any State, 

or any foreign country.

• Habitual drunkenness.

• Illegal gambling.

• Prostitution. 

• Polygamy (marriage to more than one person at the same time).

• Lying to gain immigration benefits.

• Failing to pay court-ordered child support or alimony payments.

• Confinement in jail, prison, or similar institution for which the total 

confinement was 180 days or more during the past 5 years (or 3 years if 

you are applying based on your marriage to a United States citizen).

• Failing to complete any probation, parole, or suspended sentence before 

you apply for naturalization.

• Terrorist acts.

• Persecution of anyone because of race, religion, national origin, political

opinion, or social group.
26

English and Civics 

According to the law, applicants must 

demonstrate:

• “An understanding of the English 

language, including an ability to read, 

write, and speak...simple words and 

phrases...in ordinary usage in the 

English language....”

• “A knowledge and understanding of the 

fundamentals of the history, and of the 

principles and form of government, of 

the United States....”

This means that to be eligible for 

naturalization, you must be able to read, 

write, and speak basic English. You must 

also have a basic knowledge of U.S. 

history and government (also known as 

“civics”).

What if I cannot meet the English or 

civics requirements? Certain applicants, 

because of age and time as a permanent 

resident; or others because of a disability, 

have different English and civics 

requirements.

Age — There are three important exemptions 

for English testing based on an applicant’s 

age and time as a Permanent Resident:

(a) If you are over 50 years old and 

have lived in the United States as 

a Permanent Resident for periods 

totaling at least 20 years, you do 

not have to take the English test. You 

do have to take the civics test in the 

language of your choice.

(b) If you are over 55 years old and 

have lived in the United States as 

a Permanent Resident for periods 

totaling at least 15 years, you do 

not have to take the English test. You 

do have to take the civics test in the 

language of your choice.

(c) If you are over 65 years old and 

have lived in the United States as 

a Permanent Resident for periods 

totaling at least 20 years, you do 

not have to take the English test. You 

do have to take the civics test in the 

language of your choice. Designated test 

questions have been selected for you to 

study and are identified within the list of 

100 civics test questions, which can be 

found at www.uscis.gov under Education 

and Resources.

To qualify for one of these exceptions, your 

time as a Permanent Resident does not 

have to be continuous. You are eligible for 

the exemption as long as your total time 

residing in the United States (as a 

Permanent Resident) is at least 15 or 20 

years. You may not count time when you 

were not a Permanent Resident.

You must meet these requirements for age 

and time as a Permanent Resident at the 

time you file your application to qualify for 

an exemption.

If you qualify for an exemption of English 

testing based on age and time as a 

Permanent Resident, an interpreter, who 

is proficient in English and the language 

of your choice, must accompany you to the 

interview.
A Guide to Naturalization 27

Disability — If you have a physical or 

developmental disability or a mental 

impairment so severe that it prevents 

you from acquiring or demonstrating the 

required knowledge of English and civics, 

you may be eligible for an exception to 

these requirements. To request an exception, 

you must file a “Medical Certification for 

Disability Exceptions” (Form N-648). If 

you believe you qualify, contact a licensed 

medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed 

clinical psychologist who will need to 

complete and sign your Form N-648.

To apply for a disability exception, your 

disability:

• Must be at least 1 year old (or be 

expected to last 1 year); and

• Must not have been caused by illegal 

drug use.

If you qualify for this exception, an 

interpreter, who is proficient in English 

and the language of your choice, must 

accompany you to the interview.

If you qualify for a medical exception from 

the English and civics requirement, you 

must still be able to take the Oath of 

Allegiance to the United States. If you 

cannot communicate an understanding of 

the meaning of the oath because of a 

physical or mental disability, USCIS may 

excuse you from this requirement.

Disability Accommodations — Under 

section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, USCIS provides accommodations 

or modifications for applicants with 

physical or mental impairments that 

make it difficult for them to complete the 

naturalization process. In order for USCIS 

to have enough advance notice to respond 

to accommodation requests, applicants 

are encouraged to state their needs on the 

place provided in the “Application for 

Naturalization” (Form N-400).

How can I prepare for the English and 

civics tests? Many schools and community 

organizations help people prepare for their 

naturalization tests.

USCIS has a variety of study materials 

available for the naturalization test at 

www.uscis.gov. These materials include 

the 100 civics (history and government) 

questions and answers; reading and writing 

vocabulary lists; Civics Flash Cards; and 

the study booklet, Learn About the United 

States: Quick Civics Lessons. In addition, 

you can find links to other Internet sites that 

can help you get more information on U.S. 

history and government and help you find 

English classes in your area.
Attachment to the Constitution

All applicants for naturalization must be 

willing to support and defend the United 

States and our Constitution. You declare 

your “attachment” to the United States and 

our Constitution when you take the Oath of 

Allegiance. In fact, it is not until you take 

the Oath of Allegiance that you actually 

become a U.S. citizen. If you are unwilling 

or unable to take the Oath of Allegiance 

in its entirety please see Page 38 for more 

information. 

What does the Oath require? When you 

take the oath, you must promise to do 

three things:

(1) Renounce Foreign Allegiances. As 

stated in the oath, you must renounce 

all foreign allegiances to become a U.S. 

citizen.

(2) Support the Constitution. You must 

also be willing to support and defend the 

principles of the Constitution and the laws 

of the United States.

(3) Serve the United States. When 

required by law, you must be willing to 

(a) fight in the U.S. Armed Forces, (b) 

perform noncombatant service in the 

U.S. Armed Forces, and (c) perform 

civilian service for the United States.

What else will USCIS consider about 

my promise to serve the United States? 

In addition to your promise to serve the 

United States when required, USCIS also 

considers the following three things when 

determining if you are truly willing to 

serve the United States: 

(1) Selective Service — If you are male, 

you generally need to register with the 

Selective Service System before applying 

for naturalization. If you are male and lived 

in the United States (in any status other 

than as a lawful nonimmigrant) during ages 

18 through 25, you must be registered with 

the Selective Service System. If you are 

male and entered the United States after 

you turned 26 years old, you do not have 

to register with the Selective Service.

The Oath of Allegiance

I hereby declare, on oath,

that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all 

allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, 

potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I 

have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

that I will support and defend the Constitution and 

laws of the United States of America against all 

enemies, foreign and domestic;

that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States 

when required by the law;

that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed

Forces of the United States when required by the 

law;

that I will perform work of national importance under 

civilian direction when required by the law; and

that I take this obligation freely without any 

mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help 

me God.

28
If you were required to register, you will 

need to provide your Selective Service 

number to USCIS when you apply. You 

may get your Selective Service number by 

calling 1-847-688-6888. For men born prior 

to 1960, this information can be obtained 

by writing the Selective Service, Records 

Division at:

Selective Service System

National Headquarters

Arlington, VA 22209-2425

If you have not registered, you must 

register at a United States Post Office or 

on the Selective Service System’s Internet 

site to receive a Selective Service number. 

The Selective Service System Internet site 

can be reached at www.sss.gov or through 

the USCIS Internet site at www.uscis.gov. 

You must have a Social Security number to 

register on the Internet.

If you were required to register, but did not 

register before you turned 26, you must do 

the following:

• Call 1-847-688-6888 or register 

online at www.sss.gov and complete 

the Selective Service System’s 

Questionnaire Form. Note that 

registering online may speed up the 

process;

• Receive a “status information” letter 

from the Selective Service; and

• Send the “status information” letter 

with your application.

(2) Alien Discharge from the U.S. Armed 

Forces — If you ever received an 

exemption or discharge from the U.S. 

Armed Forces because you are an alien, 

you may not be eligible for naturalization.

(3) Desertion from the U.S. Armed 

Forces — If you were ever convicted of 

desertion from the U.S. Armed Forces, you 

are not eligible for naturalization. Desertion 

means that you left military service before 

you were discharged.

A Guide to Naturalization 29
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31

What Should I Expect From 

the Naturalization Process?

Preparing to Apply

• Read A Guide to Naturalization.

• Complete the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet.

• Get an “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400).

• Visit our website at www.uscis.gov.

Completing Your Application and Getting Photographed

• Complete your application.

• Get two passport-style photographs taken.

• Collect the necessary documents.

• Send your application, passport-style photographs, documents, and fee (DO 

NOT SEND CASH) to the appropriate Lockbox Facility or Service Center.

• Keep a copy of everything you send to USCIS.

Getting Fingerprinted

• Receive an appointment letter from USCIS.

• Go to the fingerprinting location.

• Get your fingerprints taken.

• Mail additional documents if USCIS requests them.

• Wait for USCIS to schedule your interview.

Being Interviewed

• Receive an appointment for your interview.

• Go to your local USCIS office at the specified time.

• Bring state-issued identification, Permanent Resident Card, and any 

additional documents specific to your case.

• Answer questions about your application and background.

• Take the English and civics tests.

• Receive case status.

Taking the Oath

• Receive a ceremony date.

• Check in at the ceremony.

• Return your Permanent Resident Card.

• Answer questions about what you have done since your interview.

• Take the Oath of Allegiance.

• Receive your Certificate of Naturalization.

5
32

Preparing to Apply

1. Read A Guide to 

Naturalization

Reading A Guide to 

Naturalization is the first step in 

the naturalization process. We 

realize that some naturalization 

requirements may be difficult to 

understand. If you read this 

Guide before beginning the 

naturalization process, many of 

your questions will be answered. 

We hope that the information in 

this Guide will help you prepare 

your application. If you are well 

prepared, and send us the 

necessary information and 

documents, we can process your 

application more quickly. It is 

your responsibility to begin 

the naturalization process fully 

informed and ready to provide 

the necessary information and 

documents.

2. Complete the 

Naturalization

Eligibility Worksheet

Complete the Eligibility 

Worksheet in the back of 

this Guide to decide if you 

are eligible to apply for 

naturalization. If you do not meet 

all the requirements, you may 

save both time and money by 

waiting until you are eligible to 

apply.

If you complete the Eligibility 

Worksheet and have questions 

about your eligibility, you should 

seek advice by:

• Calling Customer Service at 

1-800-375-5283;

• Reviewing the information on 

the USCIS website at 

www.uscis.gov;

• Going to a USCIS 

information counter;

• Contacting a community 

immigrant assistance 

organization; or 

 

• Talking to an immigration 

attorney.

3. Get an “Application 

for Naturalization” 

(Form N-400)

Once you have completed the 

eligibility worksheet and believe 

that you are eligible for 

naturalization, you should obtain 

an application. The application 

is called the “Application for 

Naturalization” (Form N-400). 

You may obtain Form N-400 by 

calling the USCIS Forms Line 

(1-800-870-3676) or by 

downloading it from the Internet 

at www.uscis.gov.

USCIS has developed educational materials, such as Civics Flash Cards and Learn About 

the United States: Quick Civics Lessons, to help you prepare for the naturalization interview. 

You can find these resources and other study materials for the naturalization test at 

www.uscis.gov.
A Guide to Naturalization 33

Completing Your Application 

and Getting Photographed

1. Complete your 

application

Once you have Form N-400, 

you must fill it out completely. 

USCIS may ask for additional 

information if your application is 

incomplete. This will delay the 

processing of your naturalization 

application.

You will be required to answer 

questions about your application 

at your interview. When 

completing your application, you

should answer all questions 

honestly. Be sure to keep a copy 

of your completed application for 

your records. 

2. Get two photographs 

taken

You must include two standard, 

passport-style, color photographs 

with your application. 

Be sure there is enough white 

space in the margin of the 

photographs so you will have 

room to sign your full name if 

your application is approved. The 

photographs must also be:

• Unmounted and printed 

on thin paper, on a white 

background with a full frontal 

view of your face; and

• Taken within 30 days of the 

date they are sent to USCIS.

Finally, your head should be 

bare (unless you are required by 

your religious beliefs to wear a 

headcovering). In all cases, your 

facial features must be visible.

You should print your name and 

“A–number” lightly in pencil on 

the back of each photograph. For 

more information on photograph 

requirements, see the single page 

titled “USCIS is Making Photos 

Simpler,” at www.uscis.gov.

For more information on photo 

standards, visit the Department 

of State’s website at www.travel.

state.gov or contact Customer 

Service at 1-800-375-5283.

3. Collect the 

necessary documents

Applicants who are lawful 

permanent residents of the United 

States must submit photocopies 

(front and back) of Form I-551 

(Permanent Resident Card). 

Depending on the circumstances, 

some applicants must send 

certain documents with their 

application. For more information 

on the documents you must 

send with your application, see 

the Document Checklist located 

at the back of this Guide. If 

you do not send the necessary 

documents with your application, 

the processing of your application 

may be delayed. In most cases, 

you should send a copy of a 

document, but you should be 

prepared to bring the originals 

with you to your interview. We 

may also ask you to send other 

documents to us before your 

interview, or to bring additional 

documents with you to your 

interview.

Be sure to send an English 

translation with any document 

that is not already in English. 

The translation must include a 

statement from the translator that 

he or she is competent to translate 

and that the translation is correct. 

If you do not have a required 

document and cannot get a 

certified copy of the original, 

submit a certification from the 

original recording authority 

explaining why it cannot be 

provided. In that case we will 

consider other evidence such as 

notarized affidavits. 

The Document Checklist will 

tell you when you need to send 

original documents and when 

you may send copies. Remember 

to make and keep copies of all 

documents you send to USCIS.
34

4. Send your application, 

documents, and fee to the 

USCIS Lockbox Facility

Send your application directly to 

the USCIS Lockbox that serves 

your area. If you try to take or 

mail your application to a local 

USCIS office, it will be returned 

to you.

The current fee you must send 

with your application is on the 

one-page insert titled “Current 

Naturalization Fees” in the back 

of this Guide. Military applicants 

filing for citizenship under 

Sections 328 and 329 of the INA 

do not require a fee.

If you reside in Alaska, Arizona, 

California, Colorado, Hawaii, 

Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, 

Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 

Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, 

Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, 

Washington, Wisconsin, 

Wyoming, Territory of Guam, or 

Northern Mariana Islands, send 

your application to:

USCIS Lockbox Facility

USCIS

P.O. Box 21251

Phoenix, AZ 85036

Private Courier (non-USPS) 

Deliveries:

USCIS

Attention: N-400

1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S. 

Suite 100

Phoenix, AZ 85034

If you reside in Alabama, 

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, 

District of Columbia, Florida, 

Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 

Mississippi, New Hampshire, 

New Jersey, New Mexico, New 

York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, 

Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode 

Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, 

Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West 

Virginia, or U.S. Virgin Islands, 

send your application to:

USCIS Lockbox Facility

USCIS

P.O. Box 660060

Dallas, TX 75266

Private Courier (non-USPS) 

Deliveries:

USCIS

Attention: N-400

2501 S. State Hwy 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

Military Members and Spouses:

If you are a veteran or an active 

member of the U.S. Armed 

Forces and are eligible to apply 

for naturalization under Section 

328 or 329 of the INA, or are 

the spouse of a current member 

of the U.S. Armed Forces, send 

your application to:

USCIS Service Center

Nebraska Service Center

P.O. Box 87426

Lincoln, NE 68501-7426

Private Courier (non-USPS) 

Deliveries:

Nebraska Service Center

850 S Street

Lincoln, NE 68508

What if I live overseas? If 

you are overseas and filing 

Form N-400, you should send 

your application to the USCIS 

Lockbox Facility that serves the 

USCIS office where you want to 

be interviewed. 

What if I am currently serving 

in active duty status in the 

military? If you are applying for 

naturalization based on qualifying 

military service, and are currently 

serving in an active duty status, 

you may go to your service’s 

personnel office for information 

on how to prepare your 

application. You should speak to 

your personnel office even if you 

are stationed overseas. For more 

information, see “Naturalization 

Information for Military 

Personnel” (Form M-599).
A Guide to Naturalization 35

1. Receive an appointment 

letter from USCIS

Once you have filed your 

application, USCIS will 

send you a letter telling you 

where and when to have your 

fingerprints taken.

In most cases, the letter will tell 

you to go to an Application 

Support Center. A van may be 

available in certain areas of 

Alaska and Hawaii to fingerprint 

applicants who are located far 

from the nearest fingerprinting 

location. Your notice from 

USCIS will tell you if a van 

serves your area.

2. Go to the 

fingerprinting location

Take your notice letter from 

USCIS, your Permanent 

Resident Card, and another form 

of identification (driver’s license, 

passport, or State identification 

card) with you. Your second 

form of identification should 

have your photograph on it. 

If you are 75 years or older 

at the time you file your 

application, you do not have 

to be fingerprinted. If you are 

living overseas, USCIS will tell 

you to have your fingerprints 

taken at a U.S. consular office.

3. Get your fingerprints 

taken

Currently, all sites take 

fingerprints electronically. 

However, manual workstations 

are available for applicants 

whose prints cannot be taken 

electronically.

In order to do a criminal 

background check, USCIS will 

send your fingerprints to the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI). In some cases, the FBI 

may reject your fingerprints 

because of the quality of the 

prints.

If the FBI rejects your 

fingerprints, USCIS will notify 

you and schedule a second visit 

to the fingerprinting site. You 

will not be asked to pay again.

If the FBI rejects your 

fingerprints twice, you will be 

asked to provide police 

clearances for each place you 

have lived in the past 5 years. 

You will need to contact the 

police departments in the places 

you have lived to get these 

clearances.

4. Mail additional 

documents if USCIS 

requests them

While the FBI is checking 

your background, USCIS will 

locate your immigration file. 

Sometimes USCIS may need 

additional documents from you 

before we can schedule your 

interview. If USCIS needs more 

information from you, we will 

send you a letter telling you 

what information we need and 

where to send it.

5. Wait for USCIS to 

schedule your interview

Once everything is ready, 

USCIS will schedule you for an 

interview. USCIS will send you 

an interview notice in the mail 

that will tell you the date, time, 

and place of your interview.

Getting Fingerprinted
36

Being Interviewed

1. Receive an appointment 

for your interview

USCIS will send you a notice in the 

mail telling you when and where 

you must appear for your 

interview. You will not receive a 

second notice. 

What if I cannot go to my 

interview? If you must reschedule 

your interview, you should write to 

the office where your interview is 

scheduled as soon as possible. You 

should explain your situation and 

ask to have your interview 

rescheduled. When a new date has 

been set, USCIS will send you a 

new interview notice.

To make sure you get your interview 

notice, you must notify USCIS every 

time your address changes.

2. Go to your local USCIS 

office at the specified time

You should go to the office where 

you are to be interviewed at least 

30 minutes before the time of your 

interview. Many USCIS offices are 

crowded, so unless you need to, you 

may not want to bring other people 

with you to your interview.

If you do not go to your 

interview and do not contact 

USCIS beforehand, we will 

“administratively close” your case. 

If we administratively close your 

case and you do not contact USCIS 

within 1 year to reopen your case, 

we will deny your application.

Rescheduling an interview may add 

several months to the naturalization 

process, so try to attend your 

original interview date.

3. Bring identification 

and provide additional 

documents if USCIS 

requests them

You should bring the following 

identification to your interview: (a) 

your Permanent Resident or Alien 

Registration Card, (b) your passport 

(even if it has expired), (c) State 

Identification Card, and (d) any Reentry Permits you have.

In some cases, USCIS may ask 

you to bring additional documents 

to the interview. These documents 

will be listed on your appointment 

letter. If you don’t bring the 

necessary documents, your case 

may be delayed or denied. USCIS 

strongly recommends that you 

also bring two additional passportstyle photographs with you to the 

interview.

4. Answer questions 

about your application 

and background.

At your interview, a USCIS 

officer will explain the purpose 

of the interview, ask to see your 

identification, and place you under 

oath. He or she will ask you about:

• Your background;

• Evidence supporting your case;

• Your place and length of 

residence;

• Your character;

• Your attachment to the 

Constitution; and

• Your willingness to take an 

Oath of Allegiance to the United 

States.

In addition, the USCIS officer 

may ask you some other questions 

to make sure that you meet all 

the eligibility requirements. Be 

prepared to explain any differences 

between your application and the 

other documents you provided to 

USCIS.

Remember that you are under oath. 

Always tell the truth during your 

interview. If you lie during your 

interview, you will be denied 

citizenship. If you are granted 

citizenship, but then USCIS 

finds out that you lied on your 

application or during your 

interview, your citizenship may be 

taken away.

If you want a representative to 

accompany you to your interview, 

you must first send us a “Notice of 

Entry of Appearance as Attorney 

or Representative” (Form G-28) 

with your application. Also, if 

you are exempt from the English 

requirements, you may bring an 

interpreter to the interview or 

USCIS may select one for you. 

If you have any disabilities, you 

may bring a family member or 

legal guardian to be present with 

you during the interview at the 

discretion of the USCIS officer.
A Guide to Naturalization 37

5. Take the English and 

civics tests

During your interview, a USCIS 

officer will also test your ability to 

read, write, and speak English 

(unless you are exempt from the 

English requirements). You will 

also be given a civics test in 

English (to test your knowledge 

and understanding of U.S. history 

and government) unless you are 

exempt. Even if exempt from the 

English test, you will need to take 

the civics test in the language of 

your choice or qualify for a waiver.

English. Study materials have 

been publicly released by USCIS 

and are available at www.uscis.gov

under Education and Resources.

Your English skills will be tested 

in the following ways:

(1) Reading. To test your ability 

to read in English, you must 

read one sentence, out of 

three sentences, in a manner 

suggesting to the USCIS 

officer that you understand the 

meaning of the sentence.

(2) Writing. To test your ability 

to write in English, you must 

write one sentence, out of three 

sentences, in a manner that 

would be understandable as 

written to the USCIS officer. 

(3) Speaking. Your ability to speak 

English is determined by your 

answers to questions normally 

asked by USCIS officers during 

the naturalization eligibility 

interview on Form N-400.

Civics. During your interview, 

the USCIS officer will ask you 

to orally answer a set of civics 

questions. You must answer six (6) 

out of 10 civics questions correctly 

to achieve a passing score. All 100 

civics questions have been publicly 

released by USCIS and are 

available at www.uscis.gov under 

Education and Resources.

6. Receive a decision

After your interview, we will give 

you a Form N-652 that gives you 

information about the results of 

your interview. Based on all the 

information you have given us, we 

will either grant, continue, or deny 

your naturalization application 

after your interview. 

Granted. Sometimes USCIS can 

tell you if you will be granted 

citizenship at the end of your 

interview. In some cases, you may 

be able to attend an oath ceremony 

the same day as your interview 

(where available). Otherwise, 

you will receive a notice telling 

you when and where your oath 

ceremony will be.

Continued. The USCIS officer 

may also “continue” your case. 

This means your case is put on 

hold. If your case is continued, it 

will add time to your naturalization 

process. The most common reasons 

for continuation are (a) failing the 

English and civics tests, and (b) 

failing to give USCIS the correct 

documents.

When your case is continued, you 

will be asked to do one of two 

things: 

(1) Come back for a second 

interview. If you fail one or both 

of the tests, we will reschedule you 

to come back for another 

interview, usually within 60-90 

days of the first interview. At that 

time, you will be tested again. If 

you fail the test(s) a second time, 

we will deny your application.

(2) Provide additional 

documents. If USCIS needs 

more information from you, we 

will give you a Form N-14. This 

form explains what information 

or documents you must provide 

us, and tells you when and how 

you should return the information 

to us. If you do not follow the 

instructions, we may deny your 

application.

Denied. USCIS may also deny 

your application for naturalization. 

If USCIS denies your application 

for naturalization, you will receive 

a written notice telling you why.

What can I do if USCIS denies 

my application? If you feel that 

USCIS was wrong to deny you 

citizenship, you may request a 

hearing with a USCIS officer. Your 

denial letter will explain how to 

request a hearing and will include 

the form you need. The form for 

filing an appeal is the “Request 

for Hearing on a Decision in 

Naturalization Proceedings under 

Section 336 of the INA” (Form N336). You must file the form with 

USCIS, including the correct fee, 

within 30 days after you receive a 

denial letter.

If, after an appeal hearing with 

USCIS, you still believe USCIS 

was wrong to deny you citizenship, 

you may file a petition for a new 

review of your application in U.S. 

District Court.
38

1. Receive a 

ceremony date

If USCIS approves your 

application for naturalization, 

you must attend a ceremony and 

take the Oath of Allegiance to 

the United States. USCIS will 

notify you by mail of the time 

and date of your ceremony. 

The notice USCIS sends 

you is called the “Notice of 

Naturalization Oath Ceremony” 

(Form N-445). In some cases, 

USCIS may give you the option 

to take the oath on the same day 

as your interview. 

If you arrange to take a “sameday” oath, USCIS will ask you 

to come back to the office later 

that day. At this time, you will 

take the oath and receive your 

Certificate of Naturalization. 

2. Check in at 

the ceremony

When you arrive at the 

ceremony, you will be asked 

to check in with USCIS. You 

should arrive at least 30 minutes 

before your scheduled ceremony. 

Remember that there are often 

many other people being 

naturalized with you who must 

also be checked in with USCIS.

If you cannot attend the 

ceremony on the day you are 

scheduled, you should return 

the USCIS notice (Form N-445) 

to your local USCIS office. 

You should include a letter 

explaining why you cannot be at 

the ceremony and asking USCIS 

to reschedule you.

The naturalization ceremony is 

a solemn and meaningful event. 

Please dress in proper attire to 

respect the dignity of this event 

(please no jeans, shorts, or flip 

flops).

3. Return your Permanent 

Resident Card

You must return your Permanent 

Resident Card to USCIS when 

you check in for your oath 

ceremony. You will no longer 

need your Permanent Resident 

Card because you will get your 

Certificate of Naturalization at 

the ceremony.

4. Answer questions about 

what you have done since 

your interview

If more than a day has passed 

between your interview and 

the ceremony, we will ask 

you several questions. These 

questions will be on the back of 

the notice (Form N-445) USCIS 

sends you.

Some questions on the back 

of the N-445 include: “Have 

you traveled outside the United 

States?” and “Have you claimed 

exemption from military 

service?” You should read the 

questions carefully and mark 

your answers before you arrive 

at the ceremony.

Answer the questions on the 

back of Form N-445 only for the 

time since your interview.

5. Take the Oath

Every naturalization candidate 

is required to recite the Oath of 

Allegiance to become a U.S. 

citizen. The words of the Oath 

of Allegiance can be found on 

Page 28. The Oath of Allegiance 

must be recited at a formal 

naturalization ceremony in 

front of a USCIS official. Once 

recited, USCIS will issue you a 

Certificate of Naturalization.

Waiver or Modification of 

the Oath of Allegiance. In 

certain circumstances there can 

be a modification or waiver of 

the Oath of Allegiance. These 

circumstances are as follows: 

• If you are unable or unwilling 

to promise to bear arms or 

perform noncombatant service 

because of religious training 

and belief, you may request 

to leave out those parts of 

the oath. USCIS may require 

you to provide documentation 

from your religious 

Taking the Oath
A Guide to Naturalization 39

organization explaining its 

beliefs and stating that you are 

a member in good standing. 

• If you are unable or unwilling 

to take the oath with the 

words “on oath” and “so help 

me God” included, you must 

notify USCIS that you wish 

to take a modified Oath of 

Allegiance. Applicants are 

not required to provide any 

evidence or testimony to 

support a request for this type 

of modification. See 8 CFR 

337.1(b). 

• USCIS can waive the Oath of 

Allegiance when it is shown 

that the person’s physical or 

developmental disability, or 

mental impairments, makes 

them unable to understand, 

or to communicate an 

understanding of, the meaning 

of the oath. See 8 USC 337. 

Hereditary Titles. If you have 

any hereditary titles or positions 

of nobility, you must renounce at 

the oath ceremony.

6. Receive your Certificate 

of Naturalization

Once you have taken the oath, 

you will receive your Certificate 

of Naturalization. You may use 

this document as proof that you 

are a U.S. citizen. 

We strongly recommend that 

you go to your nearest Social 

Security Administration (SSA) 

office to update your Social 

Security record soon after your 

naturalization ceremony.

This is important because your 

Social Security record will be 

used to establish eligibility for 

benefits and to demonstrate 

authorization to work. The 

nearest SSA office can be found 

by calling 1-800-772-1213 or at 

www.socialsecurity.gov.

To Update your Citizenship 

with SSA. In order to update 

your citizenship status in your 

SSA record, you will need 

to present your Certificate of 

Naturalization or your U.S. 

passport to the SSA.

To Change your Name in SSA’s 

Records. If at the oath ceremony 

you also changed your name 

from that shown in your SSA 

record, and your Certificate of 

Naturalization does not show 

your old and new names, you 

will also need to present:

• A State driver’s license or 

other acceptable form of 

identification in your old name 

as shown in your SSA record. 

This identity document in your 

former name can be unexpired 

or expired. It must contain 

your photo and/or biographical 

information about you.

• If you changed your name 

more than two years ago, 

you will also need to present 

a recently issued identity 

document showing your new 

legal name as shown on your 

Certificate of Naturalization or 

U.S. passport.

• E-Verify Program. SSA’s 

records will be used to verify 

your employment eligibility 

by all employers who use 

E-Verify. In order to prevent 

name-related mismatches in 

E-Verify, the name that you 

provide on your “Employment 

Eligibility Verification” (Form 

I-9) must match the name that 

is in SSA’s records. Therefore, 

we encourage you to update 

your records with SSA as soon 

as possible.

Apply for a U.S. Passport. We 

strongly recommend that you 

apply for a U.S. passport soon 

after your oath. You will not be 

able to travel abroad until you 

have your U.S. passport. Please 

allow sufficient time between 

your ceremony and any planned 

travel to receive your passport.

• In addition to your Certificate 

of Naturalization, a passport 

serves as evidence of 

citizenship. If you lose your 

Certificate of Naturalization, 

you may request a replacement 

by filing an “Application for 

Replacement Naturalization/

Citizenship Document” (Form 

N-565).

• You can get an application 

for a passport at your 

oath ceremony in the U.S. 

Citizenship Welcome Packet 

or at most United States Post 

Offices. On the web, visit 

http://travel.state.gov.
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40
A Guide to Naturalization 41

What Kind of Customer Service 

Can I Expect?

You should expect USCIS staff to be:

• Professional.

• Courteous.

• Knowledgeable.

You should expect the naturalization process to be:

• Fair.

• Consistent.

• Timely.

You should expect information on the naturalization process and on the status 

of your application to be:

• Accurate.

• Readily available.

USCIS also expects certain things from you. You should:

• Treat USCIS employees with courtesy.

• Read A Guide to Naturalization.

• Read and follow the instructions on your application.

• Be prepared at each step of the process.

Making a Customer Service Complaint

USCIS realizes that in some offices it takes a long time to process applications. We are 

currently working to reduce processing times. If you have a question about processing, 

please visit www.uscis.gov or call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 1-800-767-

1833).

If you have a complaint about the way that a USCIS employee treated you, you should 

speak with that employee’s direct supervisor if possible. If your complaint is not handled to 

your satisfaction, or if you could not speak with the supervisor, you may write a letter to the 

director of your USCIS District Office. Filing a complaint will not affect your eligibility for 

naturalization.

6
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A Guide to Naturalization 43

There are many resources 

available to naturalization 

applicants. Some of these are:

Customer Service. If you need 

more information about the 

naturalization process and you 

live in the continental United 

States, you may call Customer 

Service at no charge (1-800-

375-5283) for help. Not all 

services may be available to 

callers from all areas.

Community-Based 

Organizations (CBOs). In 

most communities, there 

are organizations that assist 

immigrants who want to become 

citizens. These organizations 

often offer classes to prepare 

immigrants for the English and 

civics requirements. They may 

also help immigrants complete 

their applications. CBOs may 

charge a fee or they may offer 

their services free of charge.

You may locate a CBO by 

contacting your local USCIS 

office. You may also look in the 

phone book under “Immigration 

and Naturalization” or 

“Immigration and Naturalization 

Consultants” or talk to other 

immigrants who have been 

naturalized.

Adult Education Classes. In 

many communities, there are 

adult education classes to help 

you learn English. Some classes 

can teach you English and U.S. 

civics and history at the same 

time. To find these classes, you 

can call your local community 

college or public school district 

office. Look in the blue pages 

of your phone book under 

“Schools - Public.” Some CBOs 

and public libraries also offer 

English classes.

You should be certain that the 

organization or attorney you 

contact is reliable and has a 

good reputation. One way to 

be sure of the quality of a CBO 

is to ask them for references 

or if the Board of Immigration 

Appeals (BIA) accredits them.

USCIS Internet Site. You can 

learn more about immigration 

and naturalization, download 

relevant forms, including 

Form N-400, and A Guide 

to Naturalization, and get 

other information, including 

educational materials to help 

you prepare for the English and 

civics tests, from the USCIS 

website at www.uscis.gov.

Immigration Attorneys. If 

you have questions about your 

eligibility for naturalization, 

you may want to talk to an 

immigration attorney. Attorneys 

are usually listed in the phone 

book under “Lawyers” or 

“Attorneys.” In many cases, the 

phone book also has a directory 

of attorneys by the type of law 

they practice. You may be able 

to find attorneys who assist 

immigrants by looking in the 

directory under “Immigration 

and Naturalization.”

USCIS Information Counters.

If you have questions that have 

not been answered either by this 

Guide or by the other resources 

listed here, you may always go 

to the information counter at 

your local USCIS office. There 

you may speak directly to a 

USCIS representative. To make 

an appointment at your local 

USCIS office, visit our website 

at www.uscis.gov and click on 

InfoPass.

Where Do I Go for Help?

7
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A Guide to Naturalization 45

Glossary of Terms

A Guide to Naturalization – The 

booklet you are reading.

Aggravated Felony – Usually 

refers to particularly serious 

crimes. If you have committed 

an aggravated felony, you may 

be permanently ineligible for 

naturalization. The Immigration 

and Nationality Act and the laws 

in each State determine what is 

considered an aggravated felony.

Application Support Center 

(ASC) – USCIS offices where 

applicants usually have their 

fingerprints taken. Once you have 

filed your application with USCIS, 

you will receive a notice telling 

you which ASC serves your area.

AR-11, “Alien’s Change of 

Address Card” – This is the form 

you use to tell USCIS when you 

have moved to a new address. The 

AR-11 is pre-printed with USCIS’ 

address. It is very important to tell 

USCIS when your address changes. 

This way, you will receive any 

information USCIS sends you, 

including interview notices and 

requests for additional documents.

Certificate of Naturalization –

A certificate given at the oath 

ceremony. It serves as evidence of 

your citizenship. USCIS also 

recommends getting a United 

States passport as evidence that 

you are a U.S. citizen.

Community-Based Organization 

(CBO) – Organizations that assist 

immigrants who are new to the 

United States or who are going 

through the naturalization process.

Many CBOs will help you 

complete your application and 

guide you through the 

naturalization process. CBOs may 

charge a fee or offer their services 

free of charge. 

Constitution – The supreme law 

of the United States. It may be 

changed only through amendment 

by Congress and ratification by 

three-fourths of the States.

Continued – One of three things 

that may happen to your case after 

your interview (granted, denied, or 

continued). If your case is 

continued, it is put on hold until 

further action is taken by you or 

USCIS. If your case is continued, 

USCIS may ask you to provide 

more documents or to come to an 

additional interview.

Continuous Residence – An 

important requirement for 

naturalization. Continuous 

residence may be broken if you 

take a single trip out of the country 

that lasts for 6 months or more.

Denied – One of three things that 

may happen to your case after your 

interview (granted, denied, or 

continued). If your application is 

denied, USCIS has determined that 

you have not met the eligibility 

requirements for naturalization. 

Districts – The geographic 

divisions of the United States used 

by USCIS. 

G-28, “Notice of Entry of 

Appearance as Attorney or 

Representative” – The form you 

must file with your Form N-400 if 

you wish to bring a representative 

with you to your USCIS interview.

Good Moral Character – Good 

moral character is an important 

eligibility requirement for 

naturalization. When determining 

if an applicant has good moral 

character, USCIS considers such 

things as honesty and criminal 

records.

Granted – One of three things that 

may happen to your case after your 

interview (granted, denied, or 

continued). If USCIS determines 

that you are eligible, your 

application will be approved or 

“granted.” After you take the Oath 

of Allegiance, you will be a United 

States citizen.

8
46

N-400, “Application for 

Naturalization” – The N-400 is 

the form that all people 18 years 

of age or older use to apply for 

naturalization.

N-445, “Notice of Naturalization 

Oath Ceremony” – If you are 

approved for naturalization, you 

will receive an N-445 telling you 

when and where to attend your 

oath ceremony. On the back of the 

form will be several questions that 

you must answer before you check 

in at the ceremony.

N-470, “Application to Preserve 

Residence for Naturalization 

Purposes” – The N-470 is a form 

that certain types of applicants 

who plan to remain longer than 

a year outside the United States 

may file to preserve “continuous 

residence” status.

N-565, “Application for 

Replacement Naturalization/ 

Citizenship Document”  – If 

you lose your Certificate of 

Naturalization, or your Certificate 

of Citizenship, you may file an 

N-565 to get a replacement. 

USCIS advises naturalized citizens 

to also obtain a United States 

passport as evidence of their U.S. 

citizenship.

N-600, “Application for 

Certificate of Citizenship” –

Qualified U.S. residents born 

outside the United States to U.S. 

citizen parents, or parents who 

became citizens, may file a Form 

N-600 to get a Certificate of 

Citizenship.

N-600K, “Application for 

Citizenship and Issuance of 

Certificate under Section 

322” – Qualified children born to 

U.S. citizen parents, and currently 

residing outside the United States, 

may obtain naturalization and a 

Certificate of Citizenship by filing 

Form N-600K.

N-648, “Medical Certification 

for Disability Exceptions” – 

The form used to apply for a 

disability exemption. If you have 

a qualifying medical disability that 

prevents you from fulfilling the 

English and civics requirement, 

you must have a licensed medical 

or osteopathic doctor, or licensed 

clinical psychologist complete 

and sign an N-648. Applicants are 

encouraged, but not required, to 

submit the N-648 at the time of 

filing the N-400 to ensure timely 

adjudication of both applications.

Naturalization – Naturalization is 

the process by which immigrants 

apply to become U.S. citizens.

Naturalization Eligibility 

Worksheet – This is a worksheet 

in the back of this Guide that you 

may use as a tool to determine 

whether you are eligible for 

naturalization. Do not send this 

worksheet to USCIS at any time; 

it is for your use only.

Oath Ceremony – To become a 

naturalized citizen of the United 

States, you must attend an oath 

ceremony where you take the Oath 

of Allegiance to the United States.

Oath of Allegiance to the United 

States – The oath you take to 

become a U.S. citizen. When you 

take the Oath of Allegiance to the 

United States, you are promising 

to give up your allegiance to other 

countries and to support and 

defend the United States and its 

Constitution and laws. Ability 

to take and understand the 

Oath of Allegiance is a normal 

requirement for becoming a 

naturalized U.S. citizen.

Outlying Possessions – The 

current outlying possessions of the 

United States are American Samoa 

and Swains Island.

Permanent Resident – A 

Permanent Resident is a person 

who has been granted permanent 

resident status in the United States 

and has (or is waiting for) a 

Permanent Resident Card.

Permanent Resident Card –

The Permanent Resident Card is a 

USCIS document that identifies a 

person as a Permanent Resident. 

The Permanent Resident Card 

may be identified as Form I-551. 

The Permanent Resident Card 

used to be known as the Alien 

Registration Card and/or “Green 

Card.”

Physical Presence – Physical 

presence in the United States is an 

important eligibility requirement. 

Most naturalization applicants 

must spend a specified amount of 

time in the United States in order 

to meet the physical presence 

requirement for naturalization. 
Except in a few cases, time spent 

outside of the United States, even 

brief trips to Canada and Mexico, 

does not count toward your 

“physical presence.”

Port-of-Entry – The Port-ofEntry is the place where you 

legally entered the country as a 

Permanent Resident.

Selective Service – The Selective 

Service System is the Federal 

agency responsible for providing 

manpower to the U.S. Armed 

Forces in an emergency. Male 

applicants generally are required 

to have registered with the 

Selective Service before applying 

for naturalization. See pages 

28-29 for information on who 

is required to register, how to 

register, and what to do if you 

were required to register but did 

not, or call the Selective Service 

System at 1-847-688-6888 for 

more information.

Service Center – USCIS Service 

Centers handle and adjudicate 

most applications for immigration 

services and benefits. There are 

four USCIS Service Centers in the 

United States. 

USCIS Forms Line – The 

USCIS Forms Line distributes 

all forms for immigration and 

naturalization. You can call the 

Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676

to have any USCIS forms sent to 

you, including the “Application 

for Naturalization” (Form N-400).

USCIS Information Counter – 

USCIS offices have information 

counters staffed by USCIS 

employees called Immigration 

Information Officers (IIOs). IIOs 

are available to answer questions 

you have about naturalization. 

Remember to use InfoPass to 

make an appointment to talk to an 

IIO. Visit our website at 

www.uscis.gov for instructions on 

how to use InfoPass.

USCIS Lockbox Facility – There 

are four Lockbox Facilities in 

the United States that handle the 

receipting of applications for 

immigration services and benefits.

U.S. National (but not U.S. 

Citizen) – A person who, because 

of his or her birth in American 

Samoa or on Swains Island, 

owes permanent allegiance to 

the United States, and who may 

naturalize based on residence 

in an outlying possession of the 

United States.

United States Passport – A U.S. 

passport is an official document 

that identifies you as a U.S. 

citizen. All naturalized citizens 

are encouraged to get a passport 

as soon as possible after they are 

naturalized.

A Guide to Naturalization 47
Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services M-477

Document Checklist

All applicants must send the following 3 items with their N-400 application:

1.□ A photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card or “Green Card”). 

If you have lost the card, submit a photocopy of the receipt of your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident 

Card; and

2.□2 identical color photographs, with your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) written lightly in pencil on the back 

of each photo. For details about the photo requirements, see Part 5 of Form M-476, A Guide to Naturalization, and the Form 

N-400, Application for Naturalization instructions. If your religion requires you to wear a head covering, your facial features 

must still be exposed in the photo for purposes of identification; and

3.□ A check or money order for the application fee and the biometrics services fee for fingerprinting, as stated in the M-479, Current 

Naturalization Fees, enclosure in the Guide.(Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempted from fingerprinting and the 

biometrics services fee). Write your A-Number on the back of the check or money order. 

You may also pay using a credit card. There is no additional fee when you do so. The N-400 is the only form that you can 

pay for by credit card using the G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. Check www.uscis.gov for more specific 

information.

Send copies of the following documents, unless we ask for an original.

If an attorney or accredited representative is acting on your behalf, send:

□ A completed original Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative.

If your current legal name is different from the name on your Permanent Resident Card, send:

□ The document(s) that legally changed your name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document).

If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, send the following 4 items:

1. □ Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years:

a. Birth certificate (if your spouse never lost citizenship since birth); or

b. Certificate of Naturalization; or

c. Certificate of Citizenship; or

d. The inside of the front cover and signature page of your spouse’s current U.S. passport; or

e. Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; and

2.□ Your current marriage certificate; and

3.□Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and

4.□ Documents referring to you and your spouse:

a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or

b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or

c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years.

If you were married before, send:

□ Proof that all earlier marriages ended (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificates(s)).

If you are currently in the U.S. military service and are seeking citizenship based on that service, send:

□ A completed original Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service.

Form M-477 (Rev. 01/28/2016 N)
If you have taken any trip outside the United States that lasted 6 months or more since becoming a Lawful Permanent 

Resident, send evidence that you (and your family) continued to live, work and/or keep ties to the United States, such as:

□ An IRS tax return “transcript” or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last 5 years (or for the last 3 years if 

you are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen).

□ Rent or mortgage payments and pay stubs.

If you have a dependent spouse or child(ren) who do not live with you, send:

□ Any court or government order to provide financial support; and

□ Evidence of your financial support (including evidence that you have complied with any court or government order), such as:

a. Cancelled checks;

b. Money and receipts;

c. A court or agency printout of child support payments;

d. Evidence of wage garnishments;

e. A letter from the parent or guardian who cares for your child(ren).

If you have ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, and no charges were filed, send:

□ An original official statement by the arresting agency or applicant court confirming that no charges were filed.

If you have ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, and charges were filed, send:

□ An original or court-certified copy of the complete arrest record and disposition for each incident (dismissal order, conviction 

record or acquittal order).

If you have ever been convicted or placed in an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program (such as a drug 

treatment or community service program), send:

□ An original or court-certified copy of the sentencing record for each incident; and

□ Evidence that you completed your sentence:

a. An original or certified copy of your probation or parole record; or

b. Evidence that you completed an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program.

If you have ever had any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged or otherwise removed from your record, 

send:

□ An original or court-certified copy of the court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging or otherwise removing the arrest 

or conviction, or an original statement from the court that no record exists of your arrest or conviction.

 NOTE: If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you may send any countervailing evidence or evidence in your favor 

concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to 

consider.

If you have ever failed to file an income tax return since you became a Lawful Permanent Resident, send:

□ All correspondence with the IRS regarding your failure to file.

If you have any Federal, state or local taxes that are overdue, send:

□ A signed agreement from the IRS or state or local tax office showing that you have filed a tax return and arranged to pay the 

taxes you owe; and

□ Documentation from the IRS or state or local tax office showing the current status of your repayment program.

 NOTE: You may obtain copies of tax documents and tax information by contacting your local IRS offices, using the Blue 

Pages of your telephone directory, or through its Web site at www.irs.gov.

If you are applying for a disability exception to the testing requirement, send:

□ An original Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, completed less than 6 months ago by a licensed 

medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed clinical psychologist.

If you did not register with the Selective Service and you (1) are male, (2) are 26 years old or older, and (3) lived in the United 

States in a status other than as a lawful nonimmigrant between the ages of 18 and 26, send:

□ A “Status Information Letter” from the Selective Service (Call 1-847-688-6888 for more information).

Form M-477 (Rev. 01/28/2016 N) Page 2
Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services M-479

Current Naturalization Fees

The fee for filing your naturalization application is:* $595.00

The biometric services fee for having your fingerprints taken is:** $ 85.00

Total: $680.00

You must send the $680.00 fee with your application. Pay the fee with a check or money order drawn 

on a U.S. bank payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Do not use the initials DHS or 

USDHS. Do Not Send Cash. 

You may also pay using a credit card. There is no additional fee when you do so. The N-400 is the only 

form that you can pay for by credit card using the G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. 

Check www.uscis.gov for more specific information.

Residents of Guam should make the fee payable to the “Treasurer, Guam,” and residents of

the U.S. Virgin Islands should make the fee payable to the “Commissioner of Finance of the

Virgin Islands.”

If required, USCIS may also take your photograph and signature as part of the biometric services.

Remember that your application fee is not refundable even if you withdraw your application

or if your case is denied.

* If you are applying for naturalization based on your own service in the Armed Forces of the United 

States, no filing fee is required.

** If you are 75 years or older, or if you are filing on the basis of your service in the Armed Forces

of the United States, do not send the biometric services fee for fingerprinting with your application.

Form M-479 (Rev. 01/28/16)N
 M-480

 Form M-480 (Rev. 06/15/06)N

Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

Instructions

What Is the Purpose of This Worksheet?

The attached “Eligibility Worksheet” will help you decide if you are eligible to apply for naturalization. Do not send the

completed worksheet to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Who Should Complete This Worksheet?

If you are 18 years of age or older and are thinking about applying for naturalization based on your years as a Permanent 

Resident, you should complete this worksheet.

Who Should Not Use This Worksheet?

You should not use this worksheet to decide your eligibilty to apply if you are:

Under 18 years of age and want to apply for naturalization based on your parents’ or adopted parents’ 

citizenship (see Questions 25 and 26 on pages 13-15 in A Guide to Naturalization for information on how 

to obtain citizenship).

A Permanent Resident whose spouse was a U.S. citizen who died while on active duty in the U.S. 

Armed Forces (see pages 18 and 19 in A Guide to Naturalization for information on your naturalization 

requirements).

•

Applying for naturalization based on active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces (see pages 18 and 19 in A 

Guide to Naturalization for information on your naturalization requirements).

•

A spouse of a U.S. citizen who is (a) a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, (b) an employee or contractor of 

the U.S. Government, (c) an employee of an American institution of research, (d) an employee of an American 

owned firm, (e) an employee of a public international organization, or (f) a clergy member (see pages 20 and 

21 in A Guide to Naturalization for more information).

•

Directions for the Eligibility Worksheet:

1. Answer the questions on the worksheet by checking “True” or “Not True.” If you answer “Not True” to 

 certain questions, you may be asked to answer additional questions on pages 3 and 4. Most applicants will

 not need to answer the questions on pages 3 and 4.

2. If you have completed the worksheet and believe you are eligible for naturalization, please call the USCIS

 Forms Line (1-800-870-3676) to request an application (Form N-400), or download the form from the 

 Internet at www.uscis.gov.

3. If you have completed the worksheet and you still have questions regarding your eligibility, you 

 should read A Guide to Naturalization. You may also wish to get advice from an immigrant assistance 

 organization or immigration attorney.

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

•
 

Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

1. I am at least 18 years old.

2. I am a Permanent Resident

 of the United States, and I have been issued a

 Permanent Resident Card (formerly

 called Alien Registration Card).

3. I have been a Permanent Resident for:

You are not eligible to

apply for naturalization.

Exception: You do not 

need to be at least 18 

years old for military naturalization under section 

329 of the INA. 

You are not eligible to

apply for naturalization.

five years

or more*

three to five

years*

less than

three years

See Attachment A

on Page 3

You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

True Not True

True Not True

STOP

STOP

STOP

4. During the last five years, I have not

 been out of the United States for 30

 months or more.

5. During the last five years (or the last three

 years if I qualify under Attachment A), 

 I have not taken a trip out of the 

 United States that lasted one year or more.

6. I have resided in the district or state in

 which I am applying for citizenship for 

 the last three months.

7. I can read, write and speak basic English.

8. I know the fundamentals of U.S. history 

 and the form and principles of the U.S.

 government.

STOP

STOP

STOP

STOP

STOP

For exceptions, see

Attachment B on page 3.

For exceptions, see

Attachment C on page 3.

You must wait until you

have lived in the state or 

district for three months

to apply.

For exceptions, see

Attachment D on page 4.

For exceptions, see

Attachment E on page 4.

Go to Question 9.

 Form M-480 (Rev. 03/31/06)N Page 1

*Naturalization applicants may file their applications 90 days before they have satisfied the “continuous residence” require- 

 ment.
Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

9. I am a person of good moral character.

True Not True

10. One of the following is true:

 (a) I am female, or

 (b) I am a male registered with the Selective

 Service, or

 (c) I am a male who did not enter the United States

 under any status until after my 26th birthday,

 or

 (d) I am a male who was in the United States

 between the ages of 18 and 26 but who did

 not register with the Selective Service, and I

 will send a “Status Information Letter” from

 the Selective Service explaining why I did not 

 register with my application.

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

11. I have never deserted from the U.S.

 Armed Forces.

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

12. I have never received an exemption or

 discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces on

 the grounds that I am an alien. 

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

13. I am willing to perform either military or

 civilian service for the United States if required

 by law. (NOTE: If your religious teachings and 

 beliefs prohibit you from performing military

 service, you must be willing to perform

 non-military service.)

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

14. I will support the Constitution of the 

 United States.

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

15. I understand and am willing to take an oath

 of allegiance to the United States.

STOP You are not eligible to 

apply for naturalization.

 Form M-480 (Rev. 06/15/06)N Page 2

STOP HERE: You are probably eligible to apply for naturalization. Please call the Forms Line (1-800-870-3676) 

for an “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) and be sure to read A Guide to Naturalization.

STOP

(d) I am a male who was in the United States 

between the ages of 18 and 26 but who did 

not register with the Selective Service, and 

I will send a “Status Information Letter” from 

the Selective Service explaining why I did not 

register with my application. 

(e) I am a male who was in the United States 

between the ages of 18 and 26 as a lawful 

nonimmigrant.

06/04/12

or
Attachment A - Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

I have been a Permanent Resident for three to five years

I am married to, and living with, a U.S.

citizen.

I have been married to that U.S. citizen 

for at least the past three years.

My spouse has been a U.S. citizen 

for at least the past three years.

During the past three years, I have not been 

out of the country for 18 months or more.

If you answered “True” to all four questions, go to Question 5 on page 1.

True Not True

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

Attachment B

I have been out of the country for 30 months or more

I am: (a) A person who has served on board a 

 vessel operated by or registered in the 

 United States, or

 (b) An employee or an individual under contract

 to the U.S. Government, or

 (c) A person who performs ministerial or priestly

 functions for a religious denomination or an

 interdenominational organization with a valid

 presence in the United States.

True Not True

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

If you answered “True,” see pages 20 and 21 in A Guide to Naturalization to get more 

information and go to Question 5 on page 1.

Attachment C

I have been out of the country for one year or more

Since becoming a Permanent Resident,

I have not taken a trip out of the United

States that lasted for one year or more without an

approved “Application to Preserve Residence

for Naturalization Purposes” (Form N-470).

NOTE: Only certain persons can use Form N-470. 

See Pages 18-21 in A Guide to Naturalization for 

more information.

If you answered “True,” go to Question 6 on page 1.

 Form M-480 (Rev. 06/15/06)N Page 3

True Not True

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.
Attachment D - Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

I cannot read, write or speak basic English

I am over 50 years old and have lived in the 

United States for at least 20 years since I became a Permanent Resident, or

I am over 55 years old and have lived in the 

United States for at least 15 years since I became a Permanent Resident, or

I have a disability that prevents me from

fulfilling this requirement and will be filing a

“Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions”

(Form N-648) completed and signed by a doctor with

my application.

NOTE: Only certain people can use this exemption. 

See pages 26 and 27 in A Guide to Naturalization for

more information.

If you answered “True” to one of these questions, go to Question 8 on page 1.

True Not True

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

Attachment E

I have a disability that prevents me from fulfilling the civics requirement

I have a disability that prevents me from fulfilling the

civics requirement, and I will be filing “Medical

Certification for Disability Exceptions” (Form N-648)

completed and signed by a doctor with my application.

NOTE: Only certain people can use this exemption. 

See pages 26 and 27 in A Guide to Naturalization for

more information.

If you answered “True” to the question, go to Question 9 on page 2.

True Not True

STOP You are not eligible to apply

for naturalization.

 Form M-480 (Rev. 06/15/06)N Page 4