Filing N-400 Without a Lawyer: The Complete 2025 Guide

Every year, thousands of green card holders submit their N-400 applications without paying an attorney a single dollar. The form is long, yes. It asks a lot of questions. But if your case is straightforward, you really don't need someone charging $500 to $5,000 to fill it out for you.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this though. There are situations where hiring a lawyer is the smart move. And there are situations where it's just throwing money away. This guide will help you figure out which camp you fall into.

What the N-400 Actually Involves

The N-400 is a 14-page form with 16 different sections. It covers your personal information, employment history, travel outside the U.S., family details, and a bunch of questions about your background and eligibility.

Here's what the process looks like from start to finish:

You fill out the application. You gather supporting documents like your green card and passport photos. You pay the filing fee. Then you wait for USCIS to schedule your biometrics appointment and, eventually, your naturalization interview. At the interview, an officer reviews your application with you and administers the English and civics tests.

That's it. No courtroom drama. No cross-examination. For most people, it's a straightforward conversation.

The 2025 civics test is now in effect for anyone who filed their N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. You'll be asked up to 20 questions from a pool of 128, and you need to get 12 right to pass. It's tougher than the old test, but still very doable with some dedicated studying.

When You Can Skip the Lawyer (and Save Thousands)

Let me be direct: if your situation is clean, you don't need a lawyer.

What does "clean" mean? You've been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen). You've maintained continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S. You've paid your taxes. You have no criminal record beyond maybe a minor traffic ticket. You haven't spent extended periods outside the country.

If that sounds like you, congratulations. You're in the "straightforward case" category, and there's really no reason to pay attorney fees.

The N-400 form itself is not complicated for someone in this position. It's just long. The questions are pretty basic: where do you live, where have you worked, have you ever been arrested. If you can honestly answer "no" to most of the Part 12 questions about your background, you're in good shape.

When You Actually Need a Lawyer

Now for the honest part. There are real situations where legal help isn't optional. Here's when you should seriously consider hiring an immigration attorney:

You have a criminal record. This is the big one. Even arrests that didn't lead to convictions can complicate your case. Certain crimes are "aggravated felonies" that permanently bar you from citizenship. Others might require you to show that enough time has passed. If you've had any run-in with law enforcement beyond a speeding ticket, get a legal opinion before you file.

You've had immigration violations. Overstaying a visa, entering without inspection, or any misrepresentation on previous applications can come back to haunt you. A lawyer can help you understand whether these issues will affect your eligibility and how to address them.

You've spent a lot of time outside the U.S. Trips longer than six months can break your continuous residence requirement. Trips of a year or more almost always do. If your travel history is complicated, you need someone who understands the rules around physical presence.

You're confused by the form. This might sound obvious, but if you're staring at questions and genuinely don't understand what they're asking, that's a sign you need help. Mistakes on the N-400 can lead to delays, requests for evidence, or even denials.

You've already been denied. If USCIS rejected your first application, don't just try again without understanding why. A lawyer can review the denial notice and advise whether you can fix the issues or need to wait before reapplying.

The Real Cost Breakdown

Let's talk money. Here's what you're actually looking at:

The USCIS filing fee is $760 if you submit by paper or $710 if you file online. But here's the thing: if you need a fee waiver or reduced fee, you have to file on paper. So if cost is a concern, you're probably looking at the $760 paper filing fee anyway.

Attorney fees vary wildly depending on location and complexity. A simple N-400 review might cost $500. Full service in a major city can easily hit $2,000 to $3,000. Complex cases with criminal issues or long absences? You could be looking at $5,000 or more.

For straightforward applications, that's a lot of money for what amounts to filling out a form.

Important: As of October 2025, USCIS no longer accepts checks or money orders. You'll need to pay by credit card (Form G-1450) or ACH bank transfer (Form G-1650). Read more about how to pay USCIS filing fees to avoid payment rejections.

What Guided Preparation Actually Offers

There's a middle ground between doing everything yourself and paying for a lawyer. Services like Immiva walk you through the application with plain-language questions, check for common errors in real time, and generate your completed forms for you.

This works well for people who want some hand-holding but don't have complicated legal issues. You still sign the forms and mail them yourself. You're still responsible for the content. But you're not staring at confusing government instructions wondering if you're doing it right.

The cost? Around $49. That's a fraction of what even a basic attorney consultation would run you.

This approach makes sense if you're comfortable with your eligibility but want help with the paperwork mechanics. It doesn't make sense if you have red flags in your background that need legal analysis.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you go DIY or use a service, here are the errors that trip people up:

Leaving questions blank. If a question doesn't apply to you, write "N/A" or "None." Empty fields can delay processing.

Inconsistent dates. Make sure your travel history, employment dates, and addresses match what you've reported on previous immigration applications and tax returns. USCIS will cross-reference.

Not disclosing arrests. Even if charges were dropped or records were sealed, you must disclose arrests. The form specifically says to include incidents "even if someone, including a judge or attorney, told you that it is no longer on your record."

Waiting too long to apply. You can file up to 90 days before meeting your continuous residence requirement. Don't sit on it once you're eligible.

Using the wrong form edition. USCIS updates forms regularly. Check that you're using the most current version (currently edition 01/20/25) or your application will be rejected.

The Interview: What to Expect

Your naturalization interview is probably less scary than you imagine. An officer will go through your application question by question, verify your answers, and give you the English and civics tests.

The English test covers reading, writing, and speaking. You'll read a sentence aloud, write a sentence that's dictated to you, and the officer will assess your speaking ability through your conversation.

The civics test is now 20 questions from the 128-question pool. You need 12 correct to pass. If you get 9 wrong, you fail. Study the official materials from USCIS. Most people who prepare adequately pass on the first try.

If you don't pass either test, you get one retry at a second interview. But failing twice means your application is denied.

Pro tip: Dress professionally for your interview, arrive early, and bring all your documentation. First impressions matter even if there's no formal requirement.