Application to File Declaration of Intention

OMB No. 1615-0078; Expires 09/30/2010

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?
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.

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.
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.
NOTE: Because of the current USCIS scanning
process, if a digital photo is submitted, it needs to be
produced from a high resolution camera, which has at
least a 3.5 mega pixel.

Where to File?

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for the Form N-300 is $235.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check
or money order for 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.
Embassy or consulate 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:

File this application at the local office of U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) having jurisdiction over your
place of residence.
Form N-300 Instructions (Rev. 09/08/09)Y

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 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
online 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.
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.
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 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 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 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.

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 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 Products Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC
20529-2210. OMB No. 1615-0078. Do not mail your
application to this address.

Form N-300 Instructions (Rev. 09/08/09)Y Page 2