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The Trump Administration is likely to re-introduce “extreme vetting,” meaning all immigration benefit applications will have increased scrutiny. For naturalization, USCIS will look at your entire immigration history. Any attorney or DOJ accredited representative helping you with your case, will also want to see your immigration history so they can give you quality advice. Therefore, it is important to collect of your immigration history as best as you can.

  1. Search your home and ask your relatives for copies of all of your immigration records.
  2. Ask your prior legal counsel for copies of your file.
  3. If you cannot find your file from the above resources, you may need to file a Freedom of Information Request (FOIA) with the agency(ies) with whom you have had written or personal encounters: USCIS (benefits agency), ICE (enforcement agency), CBP (border agency), EOIR (immigration courts), DHS (OBIM requests). The results of your request will depend upon the quality and details of your request made. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, we recommend getting legal help with FOIA requests. See:

Your legal counsel and USCIS will request to see some or all of your criminal history. This includes whether or not your case was dismissed, expunged, not charged, vacated, or was deferred. You will need to know your case number, the city and county where you were arrested, and the relevant court where documents were filed or you made a court appearance.

  1. How to Get Criminal Records and What to Get
  2. Where to Get Records (in Washington State)
  3. Washington Criminal Records Search (use all names you have ever provided). This may give you case locations and numbers to help you go to the right court to ask for records. For any court, you will contact the “Clerk of the Court” who is the recordkeeper.
  4. If you were arrested but no charges were filed, contact the relevant police or sheriff’s station for a copy of the arrest report AND get a letter from the prosecutor stating no charges were filed.
  5. If a court does not have your records any longer because they were destroyed, ask for a letter on court letterhead stating the records no longer exist.
  6. If a court tells you that the records are in archives, demand that they search the archives.
  7. Parking tickets need not be reported UNLESS there is a warrant for your arrest for failure to pay the tickets.
  8. Driving offenses must be reported to USCIS, especially if you paid a fine of $500 or more. In Washington you can ask for a report from the Department of Licensing.
  9. It may also be helpful to run a FBI report and/or Washington Patrol WATCH report if you cannot find records from the courts. Be sure to order the versions based on fingerprints.
  10. Other ways to get court records:
    • Contact your criminal defense counsel, if you had counsel.
    • County court databases
  1. Request verification letter from DSHS – Office Locator
  2. Request verification letter from Social Security
  3. Sample DSHS letter
  1. Tax Transcripts (not required, but USCIS prefers these)
  2. From your accountant, bookkeeper or tax preparer
  3. Determining if you are legally claiming the right dependents
  4. Are you required to file a tax return? Income limits/status for not filing
  5. Do you need a tax payment plan?
  6. Other evidence of tax filing: If you E-filed your 1040, get a copy of your return AND proof of RECEIPT by the IRS (not just proof of submitting)

If you were born male and resided in the USA at any time, whether or not in documented status from age 18 to 26, you should have registered for the US Selective Service. See Who Must Register, as there are some exceptions. This is a database of eligible men who could be called into service IF there is ever a draft. This is different than military enlistment, which is entirely voluntary. Our current military is made up of voluntary enlistees.

If you did not register and should have, and you are between 26 and 31, you will need a letter from SSS excusing you. If you are 31 or older now, you do not need to do anything.

  1. Register now if you are 18-26
  2. Verification of Selective Service Registration
  3. 26-under 31 status information letter process

Naturalization applicants must be able to show they speak, read and write in English and they must take a test about US history and civics. Some people are exempt from the English part of the test based on age and how long they have had their green cards. They then take the civics/history test in their own language. But some people can waive or be exempt from the English AND civics test if they have a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment (disability) that prevents the person from learning. To apply for a disability waiver, the applicant must have a form N-648 completed by their treating physician or psychologist (specifically, only a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed to practice in the United States may complete the N-648.) The N-648 is submitted with the N-400 naturalization application by mail only.

At our Washington New Americans workshops, we do not complete applications for disability waivers. However, several of our partners do and they can also help with the N-400. See our Find Services page.

The filing fee for the N400 naturalization application is $760 if filing by mail and $710 if E-filing online. If you qualify for a fee waiver (Zero $0 fee) or a reduced fee of $380, you MUST file your N-400 by mail with your request. Currently, you cannot E-file and request a fee waiver or reduced fee. See our page with more details on Fee Waivers and Reduced Fees.

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