Application for Naturalization

OMB No. 1615-0052; Expires 10/31/08

Instructions for N-400,
Application for Naturalization

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 part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
Form N-400 is an application for U.S. citizenship
(naturalization). For more information about the
naturalization process and eligibility requirements, please read
A Guide to Naturalization (M-476). If you do not already
have a copy of the Guide, you can get a copy from:
1. USCIS website (www.uscis.gov);
2. USCIS toll-free forms line at 1-800-870-3676; or
3. USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at
1-800-375-5283 (TTY:1-800-767-1833).

When Should I Use Form N-400?
You may apply for naturalization when you meet all the
requirements to become a U.S. citizen. The section of the
Guide called ''Who is Eligible for Naturalization'' and the
Eligibility Worksheet found in the back of the Guide are tools
to help you determine whether you are eligible to apply for
naturalization. You should complete the worksheet before
filling out Form N-400.
If you are applying based on five years as a lawful permanent
resident or based on three years as a lawful permanent resident
married to a U.S. citizen, you may apply for naturalization up
to 90 days before you meet the ''continuous residence''
requirement. You must meet all other requirements at the time
that you file your application with USCIS.
Certain applicants have different English and civics testing
requirements based on their age and length of lawful
permanent residence at the time of filing. If you are over 50
years of age and have lived in the United States as a lawful
permanent resident for periods totaling at least 20 years, or if
you are over 55 years of age and have lived in the United
States as a lawful permanent resident for periods totaling at
least 15 years, you do not have to take the English test, but
you do have to take the civics test in the language of your
choice.
If you are over 65 years of age and have lived in the United
States as a lawful permanent resident for periods totaling at
least 20 years, you do not have to take the English test, but
you do have to take a simpler version of the civics test in the
language of your choice.

Who May File Form N-400?
To use this form you must be ONE of the following:
1. A lawful permanent resident for at least five years and at
least 18 years old;
2. A lawful permanent resident for at least three years and at
least 18 years old;
AND
You have been married to and living with the same U.S.
citizen for the last three years;
AND
Your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last three years.
3. A member of one of several other groups eligible to apply
for naturalization (for example, persons who are nationals
but not citizens of the United States) and at least 18 years
old. For more information about these groups, please see
the Guide.
4. A person who has served honorably in the U.S. Armed
Forces;
AND
If you are at least 18 years old, a lawful permanent resident
with at least one year of U.S. Armed Forces service, and
you are filing your application for naturalization while still
in the service or within six months after the termination of
such service;
OR
You served honorably as a member of the Selected
Reserve of the Ready Reserve or in active-duty status
during a designated period of hostilities. You then may
apply for naturalization without having been physically
present in the United States for any specified period.
For more information, please go to the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov.
NOTE: If you are married to a U.S. citizen who is employed
or deployed abroad, in some circumstances you may be
eligible for expedited naturalization under section 319(b) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). For further
assistance, please see the Guide.
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev. 08/22/08) N

Who May Not File Form N-400?
In certain cases, a person who was born outside of the United
States to U.S. citizen parents is already a citizen and does not
need to apply for naturalization. To find out more information
about this type of citizenship and whether you should file
Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, read
the Guide.
Other permanent residents under 18 years of age may be
eligible for U.S. citizenship if their U.S. citizen parent or
parents file Form N-600 application on their behalf. For more
information, see ''Frequently Asked Questions'' in the Guide.

General Instructions
Step 1. Fill Out Form N-400
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "None."
4. Write your USCIS (or former INS) A-number on the
top right hand corner of each page. Use your A-number
on your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the
Alien Registration or ''Green'' Card). To locate your Anumber, see the sample Permanent Resident Cards in the
Guide. The A-number on your card consists of seven to
nine numbers, depending on when your record was
created. If the A-number on your card has fewer than nine
numbers, place enough zeros before the first number to
make a total of nine numbers on the application. For
example, write card number A1234567 as A001234567,
but write card number A12345678 as A012345678.
5. Answer all questions fully and accurately.

Step-by-Step Instructions
This form is divided into 14 parts. The information below will
help you fill out the form.
Part 1. Your Name (the person applying for naturalization)
A. Your current legal name - Your current legal name is
the name on your birth certificate unless it has been
changed after birth by a legal action such as a marriage
or court order.

B. Your name exactly as it appears on your Permanent
Resident Card (if different from above) - Write your
name exactly as it appears on your card, even if it is
misspelled.
C. Other names you have used - If you have used any
other names, write them in this section. If you need
more space, use a separate sheet of paper.
If you have never used a different name, write ''N/A''
in the space for ''Family Name (Last Name)."
D. Name change (optional) - A court can allow a change
in your name when you are being naturalized. A name
change does not become final until a court naturalizes
you. For more information regarding a name change,
see the Guide.
If you want a court to change your name at a
naturalization oath ceremony, check ''Yes'' and
complete this section. If you do not want to change
your name, check ''No'' and go to Part 2.
Part 2. Information About Your Eligibility
Check the box that shows why you are eligible to apply for
naturalization. If the basis for your eligibility is not described
in one of the first three boxes, check ''Other'' and briefly write
the basis for your application on the lines provided.
Part 3. Information About You
A. U.S. Social Security Number - Print your U.S. Social
Security Number. If you do not have one, write ''N/A''
in the space provided.
B. Date of birth - Always use eight numbers to show your
date of birth. Write the date in this order: Month, Day,
Year. For example, write May 1, 1958, as 05/01/1958.
C. Date you became a permanent resident - Write the
official date when your lawful permanent residence
began, as shown on your Permanent Resident Card. To
help locate the date on your card, see the sample
Permanent Resident Cards in the Guide. Write the date
in this order: Month, Day,Year. For example, write
August 9, 1988, as 08/09/1988.
D. Country of birth - Write the name of the country
where you were born. Write the name of the country
even if it no longer exists.
E. Country of nationality - Write the name of the
country (or countries) where you are currently a citizen
or national.
1. If you are stateless, write the name of the country
where you were last a citizen or national.
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev. 08/22/08) N Page 2

2. If you are a citizen or national of more than one
country, write the name of the foreign country that
issued your last passport.
F. Citizenship of parents - Check ''Yes'' if either of your
parents is a U.S. citizen. If you answer ''Yes,'' you may
already be a citizen. For more information, see
''Frequently Asked Questions'' in the Guide.
G. Current marital status - Check the marital status you
have on the date you are filing this application. If you
are currently not married, but had a prior marriage that
was annulled or otherwise legally terminated, check
''Other'' and explain it.
H. Request for disability waiver - If you have a medical
disability or impairment that you believe qualifies you
for a waiver of the tests of English and/or U.S.
Government and history, check ''Yes'' and attach a
properly completed Form N-648, Medical Certification
for Disability Exceptions. If you ask for this waiver, it
does not guarantee that you will be excused from the
testing requirements. For more information about this
waiver, see the Guide.
I. Request for disability accommodations - We will
make every reasonable effort to help applicants with
disabilities complete the naturalization process. For
example, if you use a wheelchair, we will make sure
that you can be fingerprinted and interviewed, and can
attend a naturalization ceremony at a location that is
wheelchair accessible. If you are deaf or hearing
impaired and need a sign language interpreter, we will
make arrangements with you to have one at your
interview.
If you believe you will need us to modify or change the
naturalization process for you, check the box or write
in the space the kind of accommodation you need. If
you need more space, use a separate sheet of paper.
You do not need to send us Form N-648 to request an
accommodation. You only need to send Form N-648
to request a waiver of the test of English and/or civics.
We consider requests for accommodations on a caseby-case basis. Asking for an accommodation will not
affect your eligibility for citizenship.
Part 4. Information About Contacting You
A. Home address - Give the address where you now live.
Do not put post office (P.O.) box numbers here.
B. Mailing address - If your mailing address is the same
as your home address, write ''Same.'' If your mailing
address is different from your home address, write it in
this part.

C. Telephone numbers - By giving us your telephone
numbers and e-mail address, we can contact you about
your application more quickly. If you are hearing
impaired and use a TTY telephone connection, please
indicate this by writing (TTY) after the telephone
number.
Part 5. Information for Criminal Records Search
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will use the
information in this section, together with your fingerprints, to
search for criminal records. Although the results of this search
may affect your eligibility, we do not make naturalization
decisions based on your gender, race, or physical description.
For each item, check the box or boxes that best describes you.
The categories are those used by the FBI. You can select one
or more.
NOTE: As part of the USCIS biometrics service
requirement, you must be fingerprinted after you file this
application. If necessary, USCIS may also take your
photograph and signature.
Part 6. Information About Your Residence and
Employment
A. Write every address where you have lived during the
last five years (including in other countries).
Begin with where you live now. Include the dates you
lived in those places. For example, write May 1998 to
June 1999 as 05/1998 to 06/1999.
If you need separate sheets of paper to complete
section A or B or any other questions on this
application, be sure to follow the instructions under
"Step 1. Fill Out Form N-400" on Page 2.
B. List where you have worked (or, if you were a student,
the schools you have attended) during the last five
years. Include military service. If you worked for
yourself, write ''Self employed.'' Begin with your most
recent job. Also, write the dates when you worked or
studied in each place.
Part 7. Time Outside the United States (including trips
to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean)
A. Write the total number of days you spent outside of the
United States (including military service) during the
last five years. Count the days of every trip that lasted
24 hours or longer.
B. Write the number of trips you have taken outside the
United States during the last five years. Count every
trip that lasted 24 hours or longer.
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev. 08/22/08) N Page 3

C. Provide the requested information for every trip that
you have taken outside the United States since you
became a lawful permanent resident. Begin with your
most recent trip.
Part 8. Information About Your Marital History
A. Write the number of times you have been married.
Include any annulled marriages. If you were married to
the same spouse more than one time, count each time
as a separate marriage.
B. If you are now married, provide information about your
current spouse.
C. Check the box to indicate whether your current spouse
is a U.S. citizen.
D. If your spouse is a citizen through naturalization, give
the date and place of naturalization. If your spouse
regained U.S. citizenship, write the date and place the
citizenship was regained.
E. If your spouse is not a U.S. citizen, complete
this section.
F. If you were married before, give information about
your former spouse or spouses. In question F.2, check
the box showing the immigration status your former
spouse had during your marriage. If the spouse was not
a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident at that
time, check ''Other'' and explain. For question F.5, if
your marriage was annulled, check ''Other'' and explain.
If you were married to the same spouse more than one
time, write about each marriage separately.
G. For any prior marriages of your current spouse, follow
the instructions in section F above.
NOTE: If you or your present spouse had more than one
prior marriage, provide the same information required by
section F and section G about every additional marriage on
a separate sheet of paper.
Part 9. Information About Your Children
A. Write the total number of sons and daughters you have
had. Count all of your children, regardless of whether
they are:
1. Alive, missing, or dead;
2. Born in other countries or in the United States;
3. Under 18 years old or adults;
4. Married or unmarried;

7. Born when you were not married.
B. Write information about all your sons and daughters.
In the last column (Location), write:
1. "With me" - if the son or daughter is currently living
with you;
2. The street address and state or country where the
son or daughter lives - if the son or daughter is not
currently living with you; or
3. "Missing" or "Dead" - if that son or daughter is
missing or dead.
If you need space to list information about additional
sons and daughters, attach a separate sheet of paper.
Part 10. Additional Questions
Answer each question by checking ''Yes'' or ''No.'' If any part
of a question applies to you, you must answer ''Yes.'' For
example, if you were never arrested but were once detained by
a police officer, check ''Yes'' to the question ''Have you ever
been arrested or detained by a law enforcement officer?'' and
attach a written explanation.
We will use this information to determine your eligibility for
citizenship. Answer every question honestly and accurately. If
you do not, we may deny your application for lack of good
moral character. Answering "Yes" to one of these questions
does not always cause an application to be denied. For more
information on eligibility, please see the Guide.
Part 11. Your Signature
After reading the statement in Part 11, you must sign and date
it. You should sign your full name without abbreviating it or
using initials. The signature must be legible. Your application
will be rejected if it is not signed.
If you cannot sign your name in English, sign in your native
language. If you are unable to write in any language, sign
your name with an ''X.''
NOTE: A designated representative may sign this section on
behalf of an applicant who qualifies for a waiver of the Oath
of Allegiance because of a developmental or physical
impairment (see the Guide for more information). In such a
case, the designated representative should write the name of
the applicant and then sign his or her own name followed by
the words "Designated Representative." The information
attested to by the Designated Representative is subject to the
same penalties discussed on Page 7 of these instructions.

5. Living with you or elsewhere;
6. Stepsons or stepdaughters or legally adopted; or
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev.08/22/08) N Page 4

Part 12. Signature of Person Who Prepared
the Form for You
If someone filled out this form for you, he or she must
complete this section.
Part 13. Signature at Interview
Do not complete this part. You will be asked to complete this
part at your interview.
Part 14. Oath of Allegiance
Do not complete this part. You will be asked to complete this
part at your interview.
If we approve your application, you must take this Oath of
Allegiance to become a citizen. In limited cases, you can take
a modified oath. The oath requirement cannot be waived
unless you are unable to understand its meaning because of a
physical or developmental disability or mental impairment.
For more information, see the Guide. Your signature on this
form only indicates that you have no objections to taking the
Oath of Allegiance. It does not mean that you have taken
the oath or that you are naturalized. If USCIS approves
your application for naturalization, you must attend an oath
ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

Step 2. General Requirements
Photographs.You must submit two identical passportstyle 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.
The photos must be 2" x 2" and 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; however, your face must be
visible. Using pencil or felt pen, lightly print your name
and Alien Registration Number on the back of each photo.
NOTE: Any digital photo submitted needs to be
produced from a high-resolution camera with at least
3.5 mega pixels of resolution.
Copy of Permanent Resident Card. Applicants who are lawful
permanent residents of the United States must submit
photocopies (front and back) of Form I-551 (Permanent
Resident Card). If you have lost your Form I-551, attach a
copy of any other entry document or a photocopy of a receipt
showing that you have filed Form I-90, Application to Replace
Permanent Resident Card.

For example, if you have been arrested or convicted of a
crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report,
court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant
documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning
the circumstances of your arrest or conviction that you would
like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was
alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit
documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not
involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less
than $500 or points on your driver's license.
For more information on the documents you must send with
your application, see the Document Checklist in the Guide.

Translations. Any document containing foreign language

submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by a full English
language translation which the translator has certified as
complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that
he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language
into English.

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original
document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary
legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents
submitted when not required will remain a part of the record,
even if the submission was not required.

Where To File?
For naturalization applicants filing under military provisions,
section 328 or 329 of the INA, and for eligible spouses of
active members of the Armed Forces of the United States
filing for naturalization, please refer to the specific filing
instructions below the general filing instructions.
If you are the applicant and you reside in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Territory of Guam, or the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, send your
application to the USCIS Lockbox Facility at the following
address:
USCIS
P.O. Box 21251
Phoenix, AZ 85036
For express/courier deliveries, use the following address:
USCIS
Attn: N-400
1820 E Skyharbor Circle S, Floor 1
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, some
applicants must send certain documents with their application.
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev. 08/22/08) N Page 5

If you are the applicant and you reside in Alabama, Arkansas,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, send your application
to the USCIS Lockbox Facility at the following address:
USCIS
P.O. Box 299026
Lewisville, TX 75029
For express/courier deliveries, use the following address:
USCIS
Attn: N-400
2501 S State Hwy 121, Bldg. #4
Lewisville, TX 75067
All naturalization applications filed under the military
provisions, section 328 or 329 of the INA, should be sent to
the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) regardless of geographic
location or jurisdiction. In addition, spouses of members of
the Armed Forces of the United States filing for
naturalization should also send their application to the NSC
regardless of whether they are filing from within the United
States or abroad. Please send your application to:
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87426
Lincoln, NE 68501-7426
For express/courier deliveries, use the following address:
Nebraska Service Center
850 S Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
For further information on where to file, including if you are
currently overseas, read the section in the Guide titled
"Completing Your Application and Getting Photographed" or
call the NCSC at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 1-800-767-1833) or
visit our website at www.uscis.gov and click on "Immigration
Forms."

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for Form N-400 is $595.
An additional biometric fee of $80 is required when filing
Form N-400. After you submit Form N-400, USCIS will
notify you about when and where to go for biometric services.
NOTE: All naturalization applicants filing under the military
provisions, section 328 or 329 of the INA, do not require a
filing fee.

Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempt from the
biometric fee. Individuals who require fingerprinting and who
reside outside of the United States at the time of filing an
application or petition for immigration benefits are exempt
from biometric fees.
You may submit one check or money order for both the
application and biometric fees, for a total of $675.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for Form N-400 and the biometric fee:
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 application
there, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your application there, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
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 of 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:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms," and check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the fee schedule included in your form
package, if you called USCIS to request the form; or
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev.08/22/08) N Page 6

3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.
NOTE: If your Form N-400 requires payment of a biometric
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
online at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS," and follow the prompts. Or you may complete and
mail a 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
Any Form N-400 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee will be rejected. Any application that is not
completed in accordance with these instructions, is missing
pages or otherwise not executed in its entirety, or is not
accompanied by the required initial evidence may also be
rejected. If your Form N-400 is rejected, the form and any
fees will be returned to you and you will be notified why
the form is considered deficient. You may correct the
deficiency and resubmit Form N-400. An application or
petition is not considered properly filed until accepted by
USCIS.

Requests for more information or interview. USCIS
may request more information or evidence, or request that you
appear at a USCIS office for an interview. USCIS may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. USCIS will
return these originals when they are no longer required.
Decision. The decision on Form N-400 involves a
determination of whether you have established eligibility for
the requested benefit. If you do not establish a basis for
eligibility, USCIS will deny your Form N-400. 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 alternative 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 Form N-400, we will
deny your Form N-400 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

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-400.

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 6 hours and 8 minutes
per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
and 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. 1615-0052. Do not mail your application to this
address.
Form N-400 Instructions (Rev.08/22/08) N Page 7