Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization

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

DRAFT

OMB No. 1615-0056; Expires 01/31/2011

Instructions for N-470, Application to Preserve
Residence for Naturalization Purposes

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 Number), 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?
Use Form N-470 to preserve your lawful permanent resident
status for naturalization purposes.
In certain limited situations, a person may be able to preserve
residency, previously accumulated for naturalization
purposes, even though he or she may be residing outside the
United States for longer than 1 year. Thus the time spent
abroad may be counted toward the residency requirement.
These cases involve persons employed in specific jobs in the
United States government and private sector as well as
religious organizations.
To obtain approval to preserve residency, such permanent
residents must file a Form N-470 application before departing
from the United States.
The regulations are different for religious workers proceeding
abroad to perform religious duties. Religious workers may
apply before or after departure, or after return to the United
States. They are not required to have lived in the United
States for a specific period of time prior to filing Form N-470.
Filing a Form N-470 does not relieve a permanent resident
from obtaining a reentry permit, in advance of trips outside
the United States for 1 year or more, nor does it relieve the
applicant from the naturalization law's physical presence
requirement.
An applicant qualifying for the residency preservation may
extend the benefit to his or her spouse and dependent children
who are all members of the same household and have lived
with the principal applicant while abroad.
Another exception to the residency requirement is made for
alien members of the U.S. Armed Forces. A permanent
resident employee of the U.S. government abroad who has
filed a Form N-470 is considered physically present in the
United States during such employment abroad. He or she
does not need to obtain a reentry permit.
NOTE: As a naturalization applicant, you may be eligible for
expeditious processing if your U.S. citizen spouse is
employed outside the United States as a missionary, or by a

U.S. corporation or as a member of the U.S. military. For
additional information, call our National Customer Service
Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visit our Internet Web site at
www.uscis.gov.

When Should I Use Form N-470?
Generally, applicants for naturalization must reside in the
United States for 5 years (3 years if qualifying under the
citizen-spouse exemption) immediately preceding the date of
filing an application for naturalization. Additionally,
naturalization applicants are required to have been physically
present in the United States for at least 30 months of those 5
years (18 months if eligible under the citizen-spouse
exemption).
Permanent residents who remain outside the United States for
more than 1 uninterrupted year will disrupt their naturalization
residence requirement, unless they are the beneficiaries of an
approved Form N-470.
You should use Form N-470 if you are a lawful permanent
resident (permanent resident) who will be absent from the
United States for more than one year due to qualifying
employment and you want to preserve your residence for
naturalization purposes.
Please note that in most cases you must have been physically
present and residing in the United States for an uninterrupted
period, without any absences whatsoever, for at least 1 year
after your admission as a lawful permanent resident before
you can file Form N-470.
In addition, you must submit the Form N-470 to USCIS
before you have been absent from the United States for a
continuous period of 1 year. However, if your absence from
the United States is, was or will be solely as a clergyman or
clergywoman, missionary, brother, nun or sister of a religious
denomination or interdenominational mission organization
having a bona fide organization within the United States, you
may file this application before or after an absence of 1 year
or more.
For additional information regarding qualifying employment
and eligibility, see Step 1 of these instructions.
Instructions for Form N-470 (Rev. 08/20/10) Y

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General Instructions.
How Do I File Form N-470?
You do not have to be in the United States to file Form N-470,
but you must file it before you have been absent for a
continuous period of one year. However, members of a
qualifying religious or interdenominational mission
organization may file Form N-470 before or after an absence
of one year or more.
You may include in your application a qualifying spouse and
dependent unmarried children, sons and daughters. These
family members must be permanent residents and are or will
be residing outside of the United States as members of your
household.
Follow the steps below to complete your application:
Step 1 - Reason for Filing Form N-470
Step 2 - Fill Out the Form N-470
Step 3 - Submit Your Application

Step 1. Reason for Filing Form N-470.

Step 2. Fill Out the Form N-470.
Use black ink. Type or print clearly using capital letters. If
an item does not apply to you, write "N/A." If the answer is
none, write "NONE."
This form is divided into Parts 1 through 5. The following
information should help you fill out the form.

Part 1. Information about you.
1. Family Name (Last name) - Give your legal name. If you
have two last names, include both and use a hyphen (-)
between the names, if appropriate.
2. Home Address - Give your physical street address. This
must include a street number and name or a rural route
number. Do not put a post office box (P.O. Box) number
here.
3. Mailing Address - Give your mailing address, if different
from your address.
4. Daytime Telephone Number - Give a telephone number
with area code where you can be reached during the day.
5. Country of Birth - Give the name of the country where
you were born.

Check the box in Part 2 of Form N-470 that applies to your
request.

6. Country of Citizenship - Give the name of the country of
which you are a citizen.

My absence from the United States is:

7. Date of Birth - Use eight numbers to show your date of
birth (example: May 1, 1979, should be written 05/01/1979).

1. On behalf of the U. S. Government - Check Box A if you
are, or will be employed by, or are under contract with the
U.S. Government. This includes members of the U.S.
Armed Services.
2. For the purpose of carrying on scientific research on
behalf of an American institution of research - Check
Box B if you are employed by a qualifying organization.
3. For the purpose of engaging in the development of

foreign trade and commerce of the United States on
behalf of an American firm or corporation or a
subsidiary thereof - Check Box C if you are employed by a
qualifying firm or corporation.
4. Necessary to the protection of property rights outside the
United States of an American firm or corporation
engaged in the development of foreign trade and
commerce of the United States - Check Box D if you are
employed to perform such services.
5. On behalf of a public international organization of which
the United States is a member- Check Box E if you are
employed by a qualifying organization.
NOTE: Your employment cannot have started until after
your admission as a permanent resident.
6. Solely because of my capacity as a clergyman or
clergywoman, missionary, nun, or sister of a
denomination or mission having a bona fide organization
in the United States - Check Box F if you are to serve in
such capacity for a qualifying mission or organization.

8. A # - This is your Alien Registration File Number. It can
be found on your Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card.
9. U.S. Social Security # - If you do not have a U.S. Social
Security number, leave this blank.

Part 2 - Reason for Request.
Note that your absence from the United States is:
A. On behalf of the U. S. Government.
B. For the purpose of carrying on scientific research on
behalf of an American institution of research.
C. For the purpose of engaging in the development of foreign
trade and commerce of the United States on behalf of an
American firm or corporation or a subsidiary thereof.
D. Necessary for the protection of property rights outside the
United States of an American firm or corporation engaged
in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the
United States.
E. On behalf of a public international organization of which
the United States is a member.
F. Solely because of your capacity as a clergyman or
clergywoman, missionary, brother, nun or sister of a
denomination or mission, having a bona fide organization
in the United States.
Instructions for Form N-470 (Rev. 08/20/10) Y Page 2

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Part 3 - Additional information.
1. Number 1 - Give the date you entered the United States as
a lawful permanent resident or the date you adjusted status
to that of a lawful permanent resident.
2. Number 2 - Mark the appropriate box.
3. Number 3 - When furnishing information regarding
absences, you must show each departure from and return
to the United States, including absences in foreign
contiguous countries (i.e., Canada, Mexico), no matter
how short.
4. Numbers 4 through 7 - Give all the requested information.

Part 4 - Signature.
As the applicant, you must sign and date the Form N-470. If
you do not sign the form, the application will be returned as
incomplete.

Part 5 - Signature of person preparing form,
if other than the applicant.
If you, the applicant, did not fill out Form N-470, the preparer
must also sign, date and give his or her address.

Where to File?
You should submit your application to the USCIS office
having jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United
States.

What is the Filing Fee?

C. Your check or money order must be honored by the
bank or financial institution on which it is drawn. If it
is not, we will charge you a fee and your application
and any document issued to you will not be valid.
NOTE: Please spell out Department of Homeland
Security. Do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."

How to Check If the Fees Are Correct.
The form fee on this form is current as 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 Web site at www.uscis.gov, select "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.

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 "Online Change of
Address" 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:

The filing fee for Form N-470 is $330.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your
check or money order for the application 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 the
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam and are filing your application
there, make it payable to the Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your application there, make it payable to the
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Evidence.

Attach copies, showing the front and back of the following
documents, if available. Do not send original documents
unless instructed to do so.
As evidence of your eligibility, submit letters or affidavits
from the appropriate officer or the department or agency of
the U.S. Government, American research institution,
American firm or corporation, public international
organization, or religious denomination or interdenomination
mission organization. Depending on the circumstances why
you are applying to preserve your residence, the letters or
affidavits should include the following documentation:
Instructions for Form N-470 (Rev. 08/20/10) Y Page 3

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1.

2.

An official communication from the appropriate office of
the department or agency of the U.S. Government, or the
public international organization; or
Affidavit or affidavits executed by the appropriate
administrative official of the American institution or
religious denomination or interdenominational mission
for whom you are, were or will be employed or with
whom you entered into a contract; or by the appropriate
administrative official of the American firm or
corporation, or subsidiary thereof by whom you are or
will be employed.

When an affidavit is made with respect to employment by
such firm, corporation or subsidiary, it should state:
1. The title of the official making the affidavit, the name
of the firm or corporation in which he or she holds
office and whether he or she has access to records of
the same;
2. Whether the employing organization is an American
firm or corporation engaged in the development of
foreign trade and commerce of the United States, or
subsidiary thereof;
3. The nature of the business conducted by the employing
organization, church, religious denomination or
interdenominational mission organization;
4. If it is a corporation, the name of the State under laws
of which it was organized, the date of incorporation
and that it is existent;
5. If it is a subsidiary (whether American or foreign) of an
American firm or corporation engaged in the
development of foreign trade and commerce of the
United States, the affidavit should be:
A. Executed by an appropriate administrative
official of the parent organization, and

8. Your absence from the United States was or will be
necessary for the protection of the property rights
abroad of the employing firm or corporation or
subsidiary during the period or periods of absence to be
considered;
9. Solely in the capacity of a regularly ordained
clergyman or clergywoman, missionary, brother, nun
or sister; and
10. In the case where employment is for a public
international organization, the date when and place
where you were first employed.
In addition, you must submit the following evidence.
1. Attach a copy showing the front and back of your I-551,
Permanent Resident Card.
2. Copies of legal evidence of a name change or date of birth
(See Part 3 of the form).
3. A complete copy of all passports in your possession,
expired or unexpired, issued to you since your admission
as a permanent resident to the United States.
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.
Translations. Any document containing foreign language
submitted to USCIS shall 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.

B. Should state the facts of ownership and/or
control of the subsidiary, and

What is the effect of claiming nonresident alien status?

C. Should state the exact percentage of stock
owned by the parent organization.

After having been admitted to the United States as a
permanent resident, if you claim or claimed nonresident alien
status under the income tax laws, you may be regarded as
having abandoned your residence in the United States and as
having lost permanent resident status under the immigration
and nationality laws. Consequently, you may be or become
ineligible for naturalization or for preservation of residence.
If you have claimed nonresident alien status, submit a full
explanation. This should be written on a separate sheet(s) of
paper.

6. The facts of your employment, including the nature of
the services performed by you during the period or
periods of absence to be considered;
7. Whether you will be engaged in the development of
foreign trade and commerce of the United States; or

Instructions for Form N-470 (Rev. 08/20/10) Y Page 4

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What is the effect on employment changes or on a
valid document for reentry?

Penalties.

Approval of this application will be only for the employment
and conditions stated. Any changes of employment must be
approved by a new application.

If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this Form N-470, we will
deny the Form N-470 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.

Approval of this application will not relieve you of the
requirement to present a valid document for reentry into the
United States.

In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

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 the Form N-470 involves a
determination of whether you have established eligibility
for the requested benefit. You will be notified of the
decision in writing.

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-470.

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 35 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 Products Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529-2210.
OMB No. 1615-0056. Do not mail your application to this
address.

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 Web site 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 Web site. 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.

Check List
Did you completely fill out and sign the form?
Did you attach all required evidence?
Did you attach a check or money order for the
application fee?
You should keep copies of your application and documents
for your records.
Instructions for Form N-470 (Rev. 08/20/10) Y Page 5