Filing N-400 Without a Lawyer: The Complete 2026 Guide

You can file for U.S. citizenship yourself, and for most people, that's exactly what makes sense.

Learn when you can file your N-400 citizenship application without an attorney, when you actually need legal help, and how guided preparation services offer a cost-effective middle ground. Includes 2026 fee breakdown and civics test updates.

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 remains in effect for 2026. 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 100-question test, but still very doable with some dedicated studying. USCIS provides free study materials, flashcards, and practice tests on their website.

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. This includes DUIs, which can affect your good moral character determination.

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.

You owe back taxes or child support. These won't automatically disqualify you, but they raise questions about your moral character. An attorney can help you document that you're addressing these obligations.

The Real Cost Breakdown for 2026

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: 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.

Documents You'll Need to Gather

Before you start filling out anything, get your documents together. Nothing's worse than getting halfway through the form and realizing you need to dig through old files.

Required for everyone:

• Copy of your green card (front and back)
• Payment for the filing fee

*Note: You don't need to submit passport photos. USCIS will take your photo at your biometrics appointment.*

Depending on your situation:

• Passport and travel documents (for travel history)
• Tax returns from the past 5 years (or 3 if applying based on marriage)
• Court records for any arrests, citations, or convictions
• Marriage certificate if applying based on marriage to a U.S. citizen
• Divorce decrees or death certificates for previous marriages
• Selective Service registration (for males who were 18-26)

Don't wait until the last minute. Court records can take weeks to obtain.

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. These mistakes get citizenship applications denied more often than you'd think:

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

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. If your N-400 says you worked at Company X from 2019-2022 but your green card application said 2018-2021, that's a problem.

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." Failing to disclose is worse than the arrest itself.

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. Always download the form directly from uscis.gov right before you file. Check the edition date in the bottom left corner. Using an outdated version means automatic rejection.

Miscounting your trips abroad. This is common. People forget short trips or get dates wrong. Go through your passport stamps carefully. Check your calendar, photos, credit card statements—anything that helps reconstruct your travel history.

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. It's basic stuff—not college-level English.

The civics test is 20 questions from a 128-question pool. You need 12 correct to pass. Study the official materials from USCIS. The 128 civics questions study guide breaks down what you need to know.

If you don't pass either test, you get one retry 60-90 days later. Failing twice means your application is denied.

Practical tips for interview day:

• Arrive 15-30 minutes early. Late arrivals may be rescheduled.
• Bring your interview notice, green card, passport, and any documents USCIS requested.
• Dress professionally. You don't need a suit, but don't show up in flip-flops.
• Answer questions directly. Don't volunteer extra information.
• If you don't understand a question, ask the officer to repeat it.
• Be honest. If you made an error on your application, tell the officer. They can correct it.

How Long Does All This Take?

Processing times vary by location, but here's what you can generally expect in 2026:

• Filing to biometrics: 2-4 weeks
• Biometrics to interview: 4-8 months (varies by field office)
• Interview to oath: Same day to 4 weeks
• Total timeline: 6-12 months for most people

Check the USCIS processing times page for your specific field office. If your case has complications—RFEs, background check delays, or anything requiring additional review—add more time.

Quick Takeaways

• Most straightforward cases don't need a lawyer. No criminal record, no immigration violations, no extended time abroad? You can handle this yourself.
• Lawyer fees range from $500 to $5,000 on top of the $760 USCIS filing fee.
• Guided services like Immiva cost around $49 and help you avoid common mistakes.
• Always disclose everything. Hiding information is worse than whatever you're trying to hide.
• The 2025 civics test is still in effect for 2026. 20 questions, need 12 correct.
• Processing takes 6-12 months depending on your field office.

References

• USCIS N-400 Application for Naturalization - Official form and instructions
• USCIS Processing Times - Check current wait times by field office
• 2025 Civics Test Study Materials - Official USCIS study resources
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 - Citizenship and naturalization policies