#               N-400, Application for Naturalization

**ALERT:** On Jan. 31, 2024, we published a final rule in the Federal Register that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective April 1, 2024.

Applications and petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees or we will not accept them.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form

The new filing fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later. If you are filing an acceptable prior form edition on or after April 1, 2024, you must include the new filing fee.

If you file online, you need to submit your online application and drafts for the current version of Form N-400 on or before March 31, 2024. This requirement only applies to Form N-400. On April 1, we will delete any Form N-400 drafts in progress, and you will have to restart your application. 

Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Use this form to apply for U.S. citizenship. Check your eligibility.

File Online

Check Naturalization Eligibility

## Form Details

Form N-400: Use with Adobe Reader  (PDF, 751.94 KB)

Instructions for Form N-400  (PDF, 870.58 KB)

G-1151.pdf  (PDF, 692.82 KB)

04/01/24. Starting June 3, we will accept only the 04/01/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 09/17/19 E and 09/17/19 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. The new filing fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later. If you are filing an acceptable prior form edition, you must include the new filing fee. 

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions. 

You generally have 2 options for filing your Form N-400 with USCIS:
                    - Online; or
                    - By mail (paper).

**Filing Your Form N-400 Online**

You must create a USCIS online account to file your Form N-400 online. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - View personalized case completion date estimates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Attorneys and Accredited Representatives: You can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all of your clients’ applications in one place.

You cannot file online if you are requesting a fee waiver or a reduced fee; you must file a paper Form N-400. 

**Filing Your Form N-400 by Mail**

If you submit Form N-400 on paper, we will mail you a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice with instructions on how to create an online account to track and manage your case. We will process your application even if you do not create an online account, but we encourage you to create and access your online account. We will continue to mail you copies of notifications about your case. Please check our Direct Filing Addresses for Form N-400 page for information on where to mail your application. Applications that are not submitted to the appropriate direct filing address may experience processing delays.

You may file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous 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 US citizen.

Please see our USCIS Early Filing Calculator page for additional information. 

You can find the filing fee for Form N-400 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

The fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later. 

If you file your Form N-400 by mail (paper), you can pay the fee with a money order, personal check, cashier’s check or pay by credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

**When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.** If you pay by credit card or debit card, you cannot later dispute the payment. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.

If you are submitting multiple forms, pay each filing fee separately. We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests, which requires us to use multiple systems to process your package. We may reject your entire package if you submit a single, combined payment for multiple forms.

Did you know? USCIS will automatically extend the validity of your Permanent Resident Card (commonly called Green Card) for up to 24 months after you properly apply for naturalization. This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive this automatic extension of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and may not need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). See more information here. 

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form N-400. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. **Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.**

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

**Filing Tips:** Review our Tips for Filing Forms by Mail page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form.

**Don’t forget to sign your form.**We will reject any unsigned form.

**E-Notification:** If you want to receive an email and/or text message that we have accepted your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the first page of your form.
                    - Biometrics : Applicants who file Form N-400 must generally submit biometrics unless the requirement is waived. An applicant who is required to appear at an Application Support Center (ASC) to submit biometrics will receive a notice of their scheduled appointment. If we determine you are eligible for naturalization, we may use the photograph taken at the ASC on your Certificate of Naturalization. Therefore, we recommend that on the day of your ASC appointment, you dress in clothing that is acceptable for display on your Certificate of Naturalization. We will not reject a photograph based solely on your desire to modify the photograph shown on your certificate.
                    - Photographs : Based on processing needs, you may need to submit physical passport photographs after you have already filed your Form N-400. We will send you a request for physical photographs with instructions on how to submit them.
                    - Attorney or representative : You may be represented, at no expense to the U.S. government, by an attorney or other duly authorized or accredited representative. Your representative must submit  Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative , with your Form N-400. They may also submit Form G-28 at the time of your interview.
                    - Lost or Expiring Permanent Resident Card (Green Card):  Effective Dec. 12, 2022, after you properly file Form N-400, you will receive a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends your Green Card for 2 years from the “Card Expires” date on your Green Card. This notice will serve as proof that your Green Card, which is evidence of your lawful permanent resident status, has been extended. The notice should be presented together with your Green Card. If you lose your Green Card, you generally must still file Form I-90 even if you have applied for naturalization. If you have been issued a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends the validity of your Green Card, but your notice has been destroyed or lost, then you generally must file Form I-90 to renew your expiring Green Card.

## Biometrics for Service Members

We will review your application and conduct required background and security checks, which may include you providing us with your fingerprints. This can be done in 1 of these ways:
                    - If you were fingerprinted for a previous immigration application, we will use these fingerprints, if available.
                    - If you are stationed outside the United States, you may submit 2 properly completed FD-258 fingerprint cards and 2 passport-style photos taken by the military police or officials with the Department of Homeland Security at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate.
                    - You may also submit your fingerprints at an Application Support Center (ASC) before or after you file your Form N-400. Be sure to include your A-Number and show your unexpired military ID card or Delayed Entry Program ID card.

If you have case specific questions, you can contact the Military Help Line at 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645, TTY: 800-877-8339) or militaryinfo@uscis.dhs.gov.

**Learn About Citizenship**
                      - Citizenship Resource Center
                      - Citizenship and Naturalization
                      - How Do I Apply for Citizenship? (PDF, 2.21 MB)
                      - A Guide to Naturalization

**Citizenship Tools and Resources**
                      - USCIS Early Filing Calculator
                      - Practice Civics Test
                      - Preparing for the Oath

**File Online**
                      - How to Create a USCIS Online Account
                      - Tips for Filing Forms Online
                      - Online Filing for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives

**Paying with a Credit Card**
                      - Pay Your N-400 Application Fee with Your Credit Card
                      - Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions

**Prepare for the Interview and Test**
                      - The Naturalization Interview and Test
                      - Study for the Test
                      - Check for Test Updates
                      - Citizenship Multilingual Resources

**Filing Tips and Guidance**
                      - Federal Poverty Guidelines
                      - Request For Reduced Fee
                      - Request for Fee Waiver
                      - Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
                      - Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request 
                      - Free Adobe Reader to view, print, or complete forms

**Policy and Guidance**
                      - USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization
                      - Guidance: Group Processing Events

04/02/2024

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