Naturalization Process & Requirements

Once you know you are eligible to apply, you can complete the Form N-400 Application for Naturalization yourself or come to one of our workshops for help. As of January 16th, 2025, you can file by paper or by E-filing, but you can only E-file if you do NOT need a fee waiver or reduced fee (see Step 2). This may change in the future.

USCIS requires you to submit a filing fee of $760 with your N-400 application if filed by paper or $710 if you e-file. Low-income applicants may pay a reduced fee of $380, or no fee at all if they request a fee waiver on Form I-912. Fee waivers are only available if you are filing the N-400 by paper.

About a month after you submit Form N-400, USCIS will mail you a receipt notice (if you e-file, you’ll get a receipt right away). You can check the status of your case or current processing times on this website, or by calling the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (hearing impaired). If you have not received your receipt notice in the mail within 30 days, you should email the USCIS Lockbox directly at LockboxSupport@uscis.dhs.gov.

About 1-3 months after you mail your application, USCIS will either send you an appointment notice for biometrics or they will send you a letter stating they will re-use old biometrics already on file. If you receive an appointment, be sure to attend. If you cannot make your appointment, you must reschedule it. You can do this online if you create a MyUSCIS account, or by calling the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (hearing impaired). Do not miss any appointments or your application will be denied for abandonment.

A few months after you have completed your fingerprints, USCIS will schedule an interview and test with you to complete the naturalization process. If you cannot make your appointment, you must reschedule it through your MyUSCIS account or through the customer service number above. Do not miss any appointments or your case may be denied for abandonment.

At the interview, the immigration officer will review your application in immigration history in detail. You will then be given the naturalization test (unless waived). If all goes well, the officer will either set you up to take the oath of allegiance that day or will send you an appointment for a future date to take the oath (see Step 5).

At your interview, USCIS will make a one of three possible decisions:

• Granted—USCIS may approve your Form N-400 if the evidence in your record establishes that you are eligible for naturalization.
• Continued—USCIS may continue your application if you need to provide additional evidence/documentation, fail to provide the correct documents, or fail the English and/or civics test. If you fail the English or the civics test, you can schedule another appointment 2-3 months later to retake it. If you fail a second time, you will have to start the application process over again.
• Denied—USCIS will deny your Form N-400 if the evidence suggests you are not eligible for naturalization.

If you pass your interview, you can then participate in a naturalization ceremony. This could happen on the same day as your interview, if available. If a same-day naturalization ceremony is unavailable, USCIS will mail you a notification with the date, time, and location of your scheduled ceremony. At the time you take the oath, you will turn in your green card and will receive your naturalization certificate. At some sites, there may be someone there to help you register to vote. Once you have your certificate of naturalization, you can register to vote and apply for a US Passport. In addition, if you have any children under 18 who have green cards and are living with you, they will automatically become US citizens. They can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship (N-600) and/or apply for a US passport with proof of your relationship and your naturalization certificate.

Registering to vote – and voting – is one of the most important privileges and responsibilities that U.S. Citizens possess. As a citizen, you can influence government decisions that matter to you, your family, and your community. Registering is easy, and you can even complete the voter registration form in your native language. In Washington State, you can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at a County Elections Office.

You must be 18 years of age or older.

You must be a Legal Permanent Resident AND satisfy one of the following requirements:

1. You must have lived as a Legal Permanent Resident in the United States for five (5) years AND:
   1. You must not have left the United States for more than 6 months at a time.
   2. You must have been physically present in the United States for a total of at least 30 months.
      OR
2. You must have lived as a Legal Permanent Resident for three (3) years AND:
   1. Your spouse must have been a citizen for the last 3 years.
   2. You must have been married to and lived with your spouse for the last 3 years.
   3. You must not have left the United States for more than 6 months at a time.
   4. You must have been physically present here for a total of 18 months.

You must be a person of good moral character, as defined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This primarily involves being honest during your application process. Particular attention will also be paid to your criminal record.

If you have EVER been arrested or convicted of any crime, you must report it on your application. Even if a charge was removed from your record, or it happened many years ago. You should always seek advice from an immigration attorney or a BIA-Accredited legal services provider before applying for citizenship if you have ever been arrested. BIA-Accredited representatives only work at nonprofit organizations.

If any of the following is true for you, you will need legal advice before applying for citizenship. These things don’t necessarily mean that you cannot apply for naturalization, but you should talk with an immigration attorney so you can explain your situation to USCIS.

• Since getting your green card, you have been out of the U.S. for more than six months at a time
• You have moved to another country since getting your green card
• You have been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or have admitted to committing a crime
• You have been arrested for drug-related offenses
• You have been involved in prostitution or commercialized vice
• You have engaged in or are engaging in activity USCIS calls “terrorist activity.”
• You have been involved with illegal gambling
• You are on probation or parole from a criminal conviction
• A court has determined that you violated a protection order
• You are in deportation or removal proceedings or have a deportation order – past or present
• You have helped someone come to the U.S. illegally, even if the person is your child or spouse
• The information on your citizenship application differs from or contradicts the information you gave to get your green card or another immigration status
• You have lied or given false information to retain or obtain an immigration benefit, including your green card
• You are a male and did not register for the Selective Service between the ages of 18 and 26
• You have failed to pay taxes, or paid as a non-resident
• You have failed to pay child support
• You are what USCIS calls a habitual drunkard
• You came to the U.S. to practice polygamy
• You have voted or registered to vote in any election in the U.S.
• You claimed to be a U.S. citizen verbally or on a written form

You must be able to read, write, and understand basic English.

You do not have to speak English if you meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 50 years old AND have been a Permanent Resident for at least 20 years
• You are at least 55 years old AND have been a Permanent Resident for at least 15 years

If you do not have to take the English test, you must bring an interpreter to your interview. You still must take the U.S. history and civics test (described below), but you will take it in your native language.

You must demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and civics.

During the citizenship interview, the USCIS office will randomly ask you 10 questions about U.S. history and civics (taken from this list of 100 possible questions).

For most people, the questions will be asked verbally and in English (unless you meet the requirements listed above to bypass the English language requirement). You must answer 6 out of the 10 questions correctly to pass.

If you are at least 65 and have been a Legal Permanent Resident for at least 20 years, you can study from a list of just 20 questions. You will be asked 10 out of 20 questions and you must answer 6 correctly to pass.

If you have certain medical conditions that make it impossible for you to learn new information, you may not have to take either exam. A medical doctor or psychiatrist must complete Form N-648: Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. Examples of medical conditions that can qualify for the N-648 waiver include a traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, or PTSD.