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U.S. Citizenship & Naturalization

How to apply for U.S. Citizenship

By Philip Curtis, President, VisaAmigo.com
This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions for apply to become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

Step 1:  Determine if you qualify for U.S. Citizenship:
In order to apply for U.S. Citizenship you must:
  1. Be at least 18 years of age.
  2. Have been lawfully admitted to U.S. for permanent residence.
  3. Have resided in U.S. for 5 years prior to filing application. (*Three (3) years if you obtained residency through marriage to a U.S. Citizen.)
  4. Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the previous 5 years.
  5. Have resided in state of application for at least 3 months.
  6. Have good moral character.
  7. Must show attachment to the principles of the Constitution.
  8. Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
  9. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government.
  10. Take an oath of allegiance.

The USCIS also has a a web page dedicated to the general naturalization requirements. You should also review the USCIS guide to naturalization.

During the naturalization process you will also have to take a written or oral test. The USCIS recently revised and updated this test. It is useful to review the information about the new naturalization test before continuing on.

Step 2:  Initial Preparation

You should plan ahead to file your petition and now when exactly you are eligible to file. As far as timing is concerned an applicant for naturalization must meet certain continuous residency requirements. A petition for naturalization can be filed up to 3 months before the applicant meets the continuous residency requirements. Once you have determined the appropriate time to file the petition, the next step is to gather the required documentation. The most common reason for delay or rejection of naturalization petitions is failure of the applicant to provide the required supporting documentation. In the case of a naturalization petition, little supporting documentation is required. You will need:
  1. A photocopy of your lawful permanent resident card (front and back.)
  2. Two color photographs of the applicant.
Be sure to keep copies of all documents sent to the USCIS for your records.

Step 3:   Prepare Form N-400
The next step in the naturalization process is to prepare the official government form to apply for citizenship. This is Form N-400. You should download the form by following the previous link. It is also a good idea to download the instructions for the form as well, even though we will provide you with further guidance. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this form. Once you have downloaded the form complete all of the sections with the requested information. (*Note you will not be able to save the form with the information.)
Step 4: File the Petition
Once you have complete Form N-400 and gather the required supporting documentation, the next step is to file the petition. In order to file the petition you must determine the appropriate USCIS office to send the petition to and prepare a check for the appropriate filing fee. The location where you will file your petition depends on where you live. In order to determine where to file your petition you must review the filing instructions on the USCIS website. Once you have determine the appropriate place to file your petition, obtain a certified check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of the appropriate filing fee. At the time this guide was written the current filing fee is $675.00 but is it important to confirm the appropriate fee with the USCIS before filing. In order to confirm that your petition is in order we recommend that you review the USCIS checklist for Form N-400.

Step 5: Naturalization Petition Processing
When the USCIS has received your petition it will be entered in their database and go through initial processing. You should receive a response from the USCIS within 30-45 days indicating that your petition has been accepted or rejected. If you petition has been accepted you will receive a "receipt notice." If your petition is rejected the USCIS will return the entire petition along with a letter explaining why the petition was rejected. Assuming the petition was accepted, the next step in the process is to be fingerprinted. The USCIS will send you a notice in the mail directing you to attend a biometrics appointment at the Application Support Center nearest you. It is important that you do not miss this appointment. Although rescheduling is possible it could cause significant delays. Once you have been finger-printed you will be scheduled for a naturalization interview at the nearest USCIS District office.  At the interview the USCIS officer will review your petition and confirm that you meet the qualifications for U.S. Citizenship.  The officer will then conduct a brief oral examination to ensure you meet the English language and understandign of U.S. government requirements.  If your petition is in order and you pass the oral examination the USCIS officer will approve your petition.  You will then receive a notice in the mail to attend a naturalization ceremony.

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