N-426 Instructions Table of Changes

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 03/31/2025

What is the Purpose of Form N-426?
Persons who are currently serving honorably in the U.S. armed forces or who have served honorably in the past are
granted certain exemptions from the general requirements for naturalization. To establish eligibility, the law requires the
executive department under which such person is serving to certify whether the service member is serving honorably.
You (the service member applying for naturalization) should submit this form to certify your service with your Form
N-400, Application for Naturalization, if you are applying for military naturalization under the Immigration and
Nationality Act section 328 or 329 and you are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.
If you have served in the U.S. armed forces but have separated from service and are no longer serving, do not submit
this form. Instead, for each period of service, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty, NGB Form 22, National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service, or other official
discharge document. You should submit your official discharge documents with your Form N-400, in accordance with the
form instructions.

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ONLY personnel with certifying authority (generally a military official serving in pay grade of O-6 or higher or GS-15
or higher) from the military branch may certify this request. Recruiters cannot certify this request. Please review your
service’s specific policies on who can certify Form N-426.

General Instructions

We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.
Signature. You (or your signing authority) must properly complete your form. USCIS will not accept a stamped or
typewritten name in place of any signature on this form.
Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original handwritten signature
as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink
signature.
USCIS Contact Center. For additional information call the toll-free military help line 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645).
The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish.
How To Fill Out Form N-426

1. Type or print legibly in black ink.

2. Service members must complete Parts 1. - 2. fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you, type or
print “N/A,” unless otherwise directed. Certifying officials must complete Parts 3. - 4. Both service members and
certifiers must sign where indicated.
3. USCIS Online Account Number (if any). Providing your unique USCIS Online Account Number (OAN) helps you
manage your online account. You will only have an OAN if you previously filed a form that has a receipt number
that begins with IOE. If you filed the form online, you can find your OAN in your account profile. If you mailed us
the form, you can find your OAN at the top of the Account Access Notice we sent you. If you do not have a receipt
number that begins with IOE, you do not have an OAN. The OAN is not the same as an A-Number.

Form N-426 Instructions 03/09/23

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Processing Information
Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your certification, we will check it for completeness. You, and the certifying
official, must each complete your respective portions of Form N-426. If you do not properly complete this form, you will
not establish a basis for your eligibility and we may reject or deny your Form N-400.
Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
certification request. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an
original document from you, we will return it to you after we determine it is no longer needed.

DHS Privacy Notice
AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this request, and the associated evidence, is collected under the
Immigration and Nationality Act sections 328 and 329 and 8 U.S.C. sections 1439-40.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on 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 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.

DRAFT
Not For
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DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), 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, where allowable under relevant confidentiality provisions, share the information you
provide on this request and any additional requested evidence 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-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System and DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System] and the published impact assessment [DHS/USCIS/PIA-056 USCIS Electronic Immigration
System (USCIS ELIS) which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate,
for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

Paperwork Reduction Act

USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection of
information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 30 minutes per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the form, preparing statements,
attaching necessary documentation, 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, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive,
Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 1615-0053. Do not mail your completed Form N-426 to
this address.

Form N-426 Instructions 03/09/23

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