can help you make this important decision.
If you decide you want to become a citizen of the United States, there is another step you should take before actually applying. That step is to carefully consider whether you qualify. The naturalization process
can be long and it costs money. It is not something you want to do if
you know ahead of time that you cannot qualify. Chapter 2 of this
book can help you decide whether or not you qualify. In most cases,
the question of whether or not you qualify will be clear and easy to
determine. However, if your personal situation or past actions are on
the borderline—that is, they appear close to a disqualifying action—
do not give up right away. There are many exceptions to disqualifications,
which will be discussed later.
Once you make the big decision and are reasonably sure you can
qualify, the hard work begins. Applying for naturalization requires
you to provide detailed information about yourself, your personal
background, your family, your job, your education, and your travel.
If you are the type of person who is well organized and saves all your
important papers, the application process will be easier for you. If
good recordkeeping is not one of the priorities in your life, you may
find that you will need to contact government agencies, schools,
family members, etc., to get the information you need to accurately
complete the application. If your background is complicated by criminal
activity, you may need to obtain official records, court decrees,
etc., and seek the help of an attorney.
This chapter takes you through the application process in detail so
that you can feel confident about completing the application form.
This chapter includes information on problem areas and how to
either avoid or address them; instructions on how to fill out each
section of the application; tips on what documents to send with your
application; and, details on where to file the application.
TIMING OF APPLICATION
Before you start to complete the application form, you will want to
know when you can file it. The application for naturalization is not
like a tax return or a visa extension request. There is no deadline by
which you have to file it; you file it when you want to become a U.S.
citizen. However, you must be eligible to file. This means you have
met all the requirements to become a U.S. citizen before filing. So, the
soonest you can file the application is when you meet all the requirements
discussed in Chapter 2.
THE NECESSARY
APPLICATION
The Application for Naturalization (USCIS Form N-400) is the only
form you can use and the only form you need to apply for naturalization
to U.S. citizenship. The form is available directly from the
USCIS for free. The best place to get the form is on the USCIS
website at www.uscis.gov (click on “Immigration Forms” at the top of
the page). You can also call the USCIS Forms Request Line at 800-870-3676.
It is very important that you fill out this form completely and accurately.
You are under oath when you fill out the form and if you
supply false information, very unfortunate things can happen: you
can be denied naturalization.
Form N-400 is divided into fourteen parts. Each part of the form is
reviewed in the following sections, along with tips on what information
to provide in each of the boxes of the form.
- Your Name
- Information about Your Eligibility (for Naturalization)
- Information about You
- Addresses and Telephone Numbers
- Information for Criminal Records Search
- Information about Your Residence and Employment
- Time Outside the United States
- Information about Your Marital Status
- Information about Your Children
- Additional Questions
- Your Signature
- Signature of Person Who Prepared the Application
- Signature at Interview
- Oath of Allegiance
DOCUMENTS AND FEES
As you can already see, an application for U.S. citizenship is an
exercise in paperwork. Form N-400 is complicated enough, but the
application package can get even more complicated depending on your
personal situation and your application status.
ALL applicants must send a copy of their permanent residence card (green
card), two identical photographs with their A-number written in pencil on
the back, and a check or money order for the fee.
The photograph requirements are:
• two standard, color passport photographs;
• printed on thin paper, unmounted;
• showing your full face from the front without any head covering (unless
your religion requires you to wear a head covering);
• enough white space in the margin to
allow you to sign the photograph if your application is approved;
and,
• your A-number written lightly in pencil on the back.
The current fees involved in applying for naturalization are:
Filing fee for Form N-400: $330.00
Biometric fee for fingerprints: 70.00
Total fees: $400.00
You must pay the fee by check or money order drawn on a U.S.
bank and payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Do not
send cash.
The other documents you need to send will depend on your answers to the
questions on Form N-400. The checklist on page 46, adapted from the official
document checklist provided by the USCIS, will help you decide what documents
to send.
WHERE TO FILE YOUR
APPLICATION
You should send your completed Form N-400 and all supporting documents to
the USCIS service center that serves the area where you live.
If you live in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Territory of
Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, send
your application to:
USCIS California Service Center
P.O. Box 10400
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1040
If you live in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington,
Wisconsin, or Wyoming, send your application to:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87400
Lincoln, NE 68501-7400
If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas, send your application to:
USCIS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851204
Mesquite, TX 75185-1204
If you live in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia,
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, send your
application to:
USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-9400
If you live overseas and are filing Form N-400, you should send your application
to the service center that serves the USCIS office where you want to be interviewed.
Source: Become a U.S. Citizen
