Form N-400
Citizenship Eligibility Check
Find out if you are ready to apply for U.S. naturalization on Form N-400.
- Free
- 2 minutes
- No signup required
The short answer
Who qualifies for U.S. citizenship?
You generally qualify for U.S. citizenship if you have been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You also need to meet the continuous residence, physical presence and good moral character requirements. You can file up to 90 days before you meet the residence requirement.
What USCIS asks for
What USCIS asks for
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a permanent resident (green card holder)
- Have held your green card for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen
- Meet continuous residence and physical presence requirements, check yours here
- Be able to read, write and speak basic English
The check
What this citizenship eligibility check covers
- Your eligibility path (3-year vs 5-year)
- Earliest filing date (90-day early filing window)
- Continuous residence requirements
- Physical presence calculation
- Potential red flags (trips abroad, tax issues, criminal history)
- Required documents for your situation
Questions
Frequently asked questions
You are generally eligible if you have held a green card for 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen, and you meet the residence and good moral character requirements. This free check evaluates all of them against your answers.
The 3-year path is for green card holders married to and living with a U.S. citizen for 3 years. The 5-year path is for every other green card holder.
You can file up to 90 days before you meet the residence requirement. This check shows your exact earliest filing date.
Trips under 6 months generally do not cause problems. Trips over 6 months may break continuous residence, and trips over a year almost always do. For a quick answer, run your trips through the free residence calculator.
We ask about the things that complicate a citizenship application: arrests, long trips abroad, tax filings and selective service. Everything you tell us gets checked, and anything that needs attention shows up before you file. If your answers point to an open immigration court case, a removal order or a prior denial, we say so, and that is the point to talk to a lawyer. Immiva prepares your N-400 for $199.
Next
Where to go from here
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