Application to File Declaration of Intention

OMB No. 1615-0078; Expires 07/31/08

Instructions for N-300, Application to
File Declaration of Intention

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions

Please read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A #), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper
and indicate the section and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?

What Is the Filing Fee?

This form is for a permanent resident to apply for a
Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United
States. A Declaration of Intention is not required for
naturalization, but may be required by some States if you wish
to engage in certain occupations or professions, or obtain
various licenses.

The filing fee for the Form N-300 is $235.00.

Who May File This Application?
If you are a lawful permanent resident over the age of 18
years, you may apply for a Declaration of Intention. You must
be in the United States when you file this application.

What Initial Evidence Must Be Submitted?
After ensuring that the personal information required on all 3
pages of the application is complete, you must file your
application with:
A copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or
other evidence that you are a lawful permanent resident.

Photographs.
You must submit two identical color photographs of yourself
taken within 30 days of the filing of this application. The
photos must have a white to off-white background, be printed
on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and
unretouched. NOTE: Digital photos are not acceptable.
Passport-style photos must be 2" x 2." The photos must be in
color with full face, frontal view on a white to off-white
background. Head height should measure 1" to 1 3/8" from top
of hair to bottom of chin, and eye height is between 1 1/8" to 1
3/8" from bottom of photo. Your head must be bare unless
you are wearing a headdress as required by a religious order of
which you are a member. Using pencil or felt pen, lightly
print your name and Alien Receipt Number on the back of the
photo.

Where to File?
File this application at the local office of the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) having jurisdiction over
your place of residence.

Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check
or money order for the Form N-300.
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States
and must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam and are filing your petition
there, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your petition there, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
C. If you live outside the United States, Guam, or the
U.S. Virgin Islands, contact the nearest U.S.
consulate or embassy for instructions on the
method of payment.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send
us a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds
transfer (EFT). This means we will copy your check and
use the account information on it to electronically debit
your account for the amount of the check. The debit from
your account will usually take 24 hours, and will be shown
on your regular account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it.
If the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of
insufficient funds, we may try to make the transfer up to
two times.

How to Check If the Fees Are Correct?
The form and biometric fees on this form are current as the the
edition date appearing in the lower right corner of this page.
However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can
verify if the fees are correct by following one of the steps
below:

Form N-300 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y

1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms" check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form
package, if you called us to request the form; or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.
NOTE: If your Form N-300 requires payment of a biometric
service fee for USCIS to take your fingerprints, photograph or
signature, you can use the same procedure to obtain the correct
biometric fee.

Address Changes.
If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
on-line at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts or by completing and mailing
Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail
to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Processing Information.
Acceptance. Any application that is not signed or
accompanied by the correct fee will be rejected with a
notice that the application is deficient. You may correct
the deficiency and resubmit the application. However, an
application is not considered properly filed until accepted
by USCIS.

Requests for More Information. We may request more
information or evidence, or we may request that you
appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will
return these originals when they are no longer needed.
Decision. The decision on the Form N-300 involves a
determination of whether you have established eligibility
for the requested benefit. You will be notified of the
decision in writing.

USCIS Forms and Information.
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at
1-800-870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and
information on immigration laws, regulations and procedures
by telephoning our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 or visiting our internet website at www.uscis.
gov.
As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties.
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this request, we will
deny the benefit you are filing for, and may deny any other
immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe
penalties provided by law, and may be subject to criminal
prosecution.

Initial Processing. Once the application has been
accepted, it will be checked for completeness, including
submission of the required initial evidence. If you do not
completely fill out the form or file it without the required
initial evidence, you will not establish a basis for
eligibility and we may deny your application.

Form N-300 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 2

Privacy Act Notice.
We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form N-300.

Paperwork Reduction Act.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 45 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0078. Do not mail your application to this
address.

Form N-300 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 3