Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service

Instructions for Request for Certification
of Military or Naval Service
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS
Form N-426

OMB No. 1615-0053
Expires 08/31/2017

What is the Purpose of Form N-426?
This request is for current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces applying for naturalization under section 328
or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Completion and certification of this request by the applicant and
certifying official will serve as an authenticated certification of military service.

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NOTE: Recruiters are NOT authorized to certify Form N-426.

Failure to provide the information requested, with the exception of your U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), may delay a
final decision or result in denial of your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. However, USCIS will not deny your
Form N-400 for failure to provide your SSN. But, it may be difficult to verify your military service if you do not provide
it since USCIS searches military records using your SSN.

General Instructions

USCIS provides forms free of charge through the USCIS Website. In order to view, print, or fill out our forms, you should
use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not
have Internet access, you may call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and ask that we mail
a form to you. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Signature. Each request must be properly signed and filed. For all signatures on this request, USCIS will not accept a
stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person.
Filing Fee. There is no filing fee.
How To Fill Out Form N-426

1. Type or print legibly in black ink.

2. Requestors must complete Parts 1. - 4. Certifying Officials must complete Parts 5. - 8. Both requestors and certifiers
must sign where indicated.
3. If you need extra space to complete any item within this request, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional
Information.
4. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you, type or print “N/A,” unless otherwise
directed.
5. USCIS ELIS Account Number (if any). If you have previously filed an application, petition, or request using the
USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), provide the USCIS ELIS Account Number you were issued by
the system. The USCIS ELIS Account Number is not the same as an A-Number. If you were issued a USCIS ELIS
Account Number, enter it in the space provided.

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What Evidence Should You Submit?
Include the following documents pertaining to certification of your military service when you submit your completed and
signed Form N-400:
1. Completed and certified Form N-426; and
2. If applicable, copy of Form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or NGB Form 22,
National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service.

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Processing Information

Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your request we will check it for completeness. If you and the certifying official
do not completely fill out and sign this request, you will not establish a basis for your eligibility and USCIS may reject or
deny your request.
Requests for More Information. We may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
request. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. USCIS will return any requested
originals when they are no longer needed.

USCIS Privacy Act Statement

AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this request, and the associated evidence, is collected under the
Immigration and Nationality Act sections 328 and 329.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this request is for the Department of Defense to verify your military or naval service. This
request is submitted to the branch of the U.S. military in which you, as a naturalization applicant, are currently serving
or previously served in order to certify your military service. Completion and certification of this request by you and a
certifying official serve as an authenticated record of military service. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will
use the information you provide to grant or deny the immigration benefit you are seeking.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
and any requested evidence, may delay the naturalization process or result in failure to locate military records or prove
qualifying military service.
ROUTINE USES: DHS may share the information you provide on this request with other Federal, state, local, and
foreign government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses described in the
associated published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS/ICE/CBP-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking
System and DHS/USCIS-007 - Benefits Information System] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may
also share the information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

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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 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required
documentation and information, completing the request, preparing documents, attaching necessary documentation,
and submitting the request. 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
Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140, OMB
No. 1615-0053. Do not mail your completed Form N-426 to this address.

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