N-400, Application for Naturalization
The application for US citizenship, filed by a lawful permanent resident. Decided on the paper record, with a biometrics appointment and an interview.
What is required
Permanent Resident Card, both sides
RequiredA copy of both sides of your green card. A copy of only the front is the single most common incomplete filing.
Closes: Evidence of lawful permanent resident status
Marital history documents
RequiredYour current marriage certificate, and the certificate ending every prior marriage — divorce decree, annulment or death certificate — for you and for your spouse.
Closes: Evidence of marital status
Good moral character documentation
RequiredRecords of every arrest, citation, charge, conviction and traffic incident, and evidence of compliance with financial obligations including taxes and any child support order. Disclose everything the form asks about, including matters that were dismissed or expunged.
Closes: Good moral character
Selective Service registration
If it applies to youYour registration number, or a Status Information Letter where you did not register and were required to.
Applies when: You are male and lived in the US between the ages of 18 and 26.
Closes: Selective Service compliance
Evidence of continuous residence
If it applies to youDocumentation covering any trip outside the United States that lasted six months or more but less than a year, showing you did not abandon residence.
Applies when: You have taken a trip abroad of six months or longer during the statutory period.
Closes: Continuous residence
Evidence of your spouse's US citizenship for the last three years
If it applies to youYour spouse's US birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, the biographical page of their current US passport, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Applies when: You are filing under the three-year rule as the spouse of a US citizen.
Closes: Eligibility under INA 319(a)
Evidence of living in marital union for three years
If it applies to youDocumentation that you have lived in marital union with your citizen spouse for the whole three-year period.
Applies when: You are filing under the three-year rule as the spouse of a US citizen.
Closes: Marital union requirement
Military service documentation
If it applies to youForm N-426, DD Form 214 or your discharge orders, together with your official military orders.
Applies when: You are filing on the basis of military service.
Closes: Qualifying military service
Two passport-style photographs
If it applies to youTwo identical colour photographs taken within the last 30 days.
Applies when: You are residing outside the United States.
What the authority charges
- Filing fee, online$710
- Filing fee, paper$760
These go to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, not to us. We never add anything to a government fee.
Decision time: Around eight months nationally, against a backlog that passed 647,000 pending applications.
What cannot be done for you
- · A biometrics appointment, where USCIS directs one.
- · The naturalisation interview and the civics and English tests.
- · The oath of allegiance ceremony.
What changed recently
- USCIS can now deny without asking for the missing evidence firstin force 5 August 2026
Sources
- USCIS — Form N-400, Application for Naturalizationread 18 September 2026
- USCIS — reinforcing evidence standards (5 August 2026)read 18 September 2026
Last checked against these pages on 18 September 2026.
Have us do it
$99Every required initial evidence item accounted for, forms prepared, package assembled in filing order.
That is our fee only. Whatever US Citizenship and Immigration Services charges is paid by you, directly to them, and we never touch it.
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