What is Form N-400 and who can apply?
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old at time of filing
- Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
- Have 5 years of continuous residence (or 3 years if married to U.S. citizen)
- Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months of the past 5 years
- Have lived in your current state or USCIS district for at least 3 months
- Be able to read, write, and speak basic English
- Demonstrate good moral character
Who Qualifies (Specific Paths)
- Green card holders for 5+ years (general path)
- Married to U.S. citizen for 3+ years while holding green card
- U.S. military service members and veterans
- Employees of certain U.S. government contractors abroad
- Spouses of U.S. citizens employed abroad
- Children deriving citizenship through parents
Step-by-step naturalization process
- 1
Check Your Eligibility
Answer a few simple questions to confirm you meet the residency, physical presence, and other requirements for naturalization.
- 2
Complete Your N-400
Our guided system walks you through every question in plain English — we handle the legal fields and flag potential issues.
- 3
Gather Supporting Documents
Get a personalized checklist of documents you need, including green card copies, tax records, and travel history.
- 4
Review & Download
Review your completed packet, pay once satisfied, and download print-ready PDFs formatted to USCIS specifications.
- 5
File with USCIS
Mail your signed forms and documents to the correct USCIS address, or file online through your USCIS account.
- 6
Attend Biometrics & Interview
After filing, attend your biometrics appointment and naturalization interview where you'll take the English and civics tests.
- 7
Take the Oath of Allegiance
Once approved, attend your oath ceremony to officially become a U.S. citizen and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
Required Documents
- Copy of your Permanent Resident Card (green card) — front and back
- Two passport-style photographs (2x2 inches)
- Tax returns or transcripts for the past 5 years
- Travel history and passport stamps
- Marriage certificate (if applying based on marriage to U.S. citizen)
- Divorce decrees for any prior marriages
- Court records for any arrests, citations, or convictions
Processing Times
- National average: 5–7 months from filing to oath ceremony
- Fastest offices (e.g., Cincinnati): ~2.5 months
- Slower offices (e.g., Harlingen, TX): up to 18 months
- Biometrics appointment: 2–6 weeks after filing
- Interview scheduling varies significantly by field office
Filing Fees
- USCIS fee: $710 online / $760 paper (biometrics included)
- Reduced fee: $380 if household income is 150%–400% of poverty guidelines
- Fee waiver available for income at or below 150% of poverty guidelines
Forms you get with Immiva
- N-400Application for NaturalizationThe primary 20-page form to apply for U.S. citizenship
- G-1145E-Notification of Application AcceptanceOpt in to receive email and text alerts on your case status
- G-1450Authorization for Credit Card TransactionsPay the USCIS filing fee by credit or debit card
- G-1650Authorization for ACH TransactionsPay the USCIS filing fee directly from your U.S. bank account
- Filing ChecklistPersonalized Document ChecklistComplete list of supporting documents needed, current filing fee, and where to mail your application
Common mistakes that lead to N-400 denial
USCIS denies approximately 10% of naturalization applications each year — over 90,000 denials annually. These common mistakes can delay your citizenship or result in denial:
- Incomplete travel history — failing to list all trips outside the U.S.
- Math errors on residence and physical presence calculations
- Not disclosing arrests, citations, or traffic violations (even if dismissed)
- Inconsistencies between your N-400 and previous immigration forms
- Missing signatures on required pages
- Failing to include required supporting documents
- Outstanding tax debts or unfiled tax returns
- Filing too early (before meeting continuous residence requirement)
- Not reporting name changes used since becoming a permanent resident
How Immiva helps you succeed
Smart form filling — answer plain-English questions, we handle the legal fields Eligibility calculator built in — confirm 5-year/3-year path and 90-day early filing window Travel history tracker — automatically calculate days outside the U.S. Built-in validation catches errors before you file Personalized document checklist based on your specific situation Print-ready PDF packet formatted to USCIS specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Most applicants need to hold a green card for 5 years before applying. However, if you're married to a U.S. citizen and have been living together, you may qualify after just 3 years. You can file your N-400 up to 90 days before meeting the continuous residence requirement.
Yes. USCIS allows you to file Form N-400 up to 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous residence requirement. For example, if your 5-year anniversary is June 1, you can file as early as March 3. This is called the '90-day early filing' window.
The USCIS filing fee is $710 for online filing or $760 for paper filing. There is no separate biometrics fee. If your household income is between 150%–400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you may qualify for a reduced fee of $380. If your income is at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines, you may request a full fee waiver using Form I-912.
The national average processing time is currently 5–7 months from filing to oath ceremony, though this varies significantly by field office. Some offices like Cincinnati process cases in about 2.5 months, while others like Harlingen, TX can take up to 18 months. You can check processing times for your local field office on the USCIS website.
At your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will review your application, verify your identity, and ask questions about your background and eligibility. You'll also take the English test (reading, writing, and speaking) and the civics test. The civics test consists of up to 20 questions from a list of 128 — you must answer at least 12 correctly to pass.
Minor traffic violations like parking tickets or speeding tickets usually don't affect your application. However, you must still disclose all citations on your N-400. More serious violations like DUI/DWI, reckless driving, or driving without a license can raise 'good moral character' concerns and may require additional documentation or explanation.
Yes, you can travel internationally while your N-400 is pending. However, avoid trips longer than 6 months, as extended absences can disrupt your continuous residence and delay your case. Always carry your green card and N-400 receipt notice when traveling. Be prepared to explain any trips at your interview.
If your N-400 is denied, you'll receive a written explanation of the reasons. You have 30 days to file Form N-336 (Request for Hearing) to appeal the decision. Alternatively, you can address the issues and reapply with a new N-400. A denial does not affect your green card status in most cases, but consult an attorney if the denial was related to criminal issues or immigration violations.
No, you're not required to hire a lawyer to apply for citizenship. Many applicants successfully complete the process on their own or with guided preparation services like Immiva. However, if you have a criminal record, complex immigration history, extended absences from the U.S., or tax issues, consulting with an immigration attorney before filing is recommended.
A single trip of 6 months or more (but less than 1 year) creates a presumption that you broke continuous residence. You may overcome this by providing evidence you maintained ties to the U.S. (job, home, family, taxes). A trip of 1 year or more automatically breaks continuous residence, and you'll need to restart the clock — unless you obtained an N-470 (Application to Preserve Residence) before leaving.
The 2025 civics test applies to anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. It includes 128 possible questions (up from 100), and you'll be asked up to 20 questions during your interview — you must answer at least 12 correctly to pass. The test focuses more heavily on U.S. history and government, with fewer geography questions than the previous version.
Yes. If you're 50+ years old and have been a green card holder for 20+ years (50/20 rule), or 55+ years old with 15+ years as a green card holder (55/15 rule), you can take the civics test in your native language. If you're 65+ with 20+ years as a green card holder (65/20 rule), you qualify for a shorter, simplified version of the civics test. Medical exemptions are also available with Form N-648.