Form N-400: How to Fill Out Your Naturalization Application

Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is the USCIS form green card holders file to become U.S. citizens. It runs 14 pages across 16 parts, and most of the confusion isn't about eligibility, it's about actually filling in the fields correctly, formatting dates the way USCIS expects, and knowing which sections apply to you. Here's how to complete it start to finish, whether you're typing it into a PDF or filling it out by hand before mailing.

Who Is Eligible to File Form N-400

You generally qualify to file N-400 if you meet all of the following:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen.
• You have been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that residency period, with no single trip abroad longer than 6 months (with some exceptions).
• You can read, write, and speak basic English, and pass the civics test, unless you qualify for an age or disability exception.
• You have demonstrated good moral character during the statutory period.

Some applicants file under special provisions, such as members of the U.S. military or spouses of military members stationed abroad. If any of those apply to you, read the official N-400 instructions for the specific part that covers your category before you start Part 1.

Documents to Gather Before You Start

Have these on hand so you're not stopping mid-form to dig through drawers:

• Your green card (front and back) for your A-number and exact permanent resident date.
• A list of every address you've lived at for the past 5 years, with move-in and move-out dates.
• Employer and school names and addresses for the past 5 years.
• Dates and destinations for every trip outside the U.S. in the past 5 years, including short day trips to Canada or Mexico.
• Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or death certificates if you've been married before.
• Your children's names, dates of birth, and current addresses, even if they don't live with you.
• Any court, arrest, or citation records, even if the case was dismissed or expunged.

If you'd rather not scan or photograph paper documents individually, you can merge multiple scans into one PDF to keep your supporting evidence organized in a single file.

Step by Step: Filling Out All 16 Parts

Open the current N-400 PDF in a browser-based editor like PDF Editify's fill tool rather than printing it blank. Typing directly into the form fields avoids the illegible handwriting that causes USCIS to send Requests for Evidence. Here's what each section actually asks for:

1. Part 1, Eligibility: Check exactly one box describing how you qualify (5-year resident, 3-year resident through marriage, military service, etc). This drives which later sections apply to you.
2. Part 2, Information About You: Legal name, any other names used, and your A-number. Write your A-number in the top corner of every page, USCIS instructions require it on each one.
3. Part 3, Biographic Information: Ethnicity, race, height, weight, and eye/hair color, used for your background check and naturalization certificate.
4. Part 4, Residence: Every address for the past 5 years, in order, with no gaps.
5. Part 5, Marital History: Current and past marriages, including your spouse's immigration and citizenship status if you're filing under the 3-year rule.
6. Part 6, Children: All children, biological, step, and adopted, regardless of age or whether they live with you.
7. Part 7, Employment and Schools: Every employer or school for the past 5 years with dates and addresses.
8. Part 8, Time Outside the U.S.: List every trip, including day trips, with departure and return dates. Add total days absent, USCIS checks this against your continuous residence requirement.
9. Part 9, Legal, Criminal, and Removal History: A long list of yes/no questions covering arrests, taxes, voting, and affiliations. Answer every question, don't skip any, even if the answer is no.
10. Part 10, Request for a Fee Reduction: Only fill this in if your household income falls at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines and you're requesting the reduced fee.
11. Part 11, Contact Information and Certification: Phone, email, and your certification that everything is true.
12. Parts 12-13, Interpreter and Preparer: Complete only if someone helped translate or prepare the form for you.
13. Part 14, Additional Information: Use this if any answer needed more space than the field allowed.
14. Parts 15-16: Left blank when you file; you'll sign Part 15 at your biometrics appointment and take the oath referenced in Part 16 at your naturalization ceremony.

Dates go in mm/dd/yyyy format throughout. If you're filling the PDF on-screen, use PDF Editify's signature tool to add your signature to Part 11 before printing, since USCIS still requires a handwritten, wet-ink signature on paper applications, a typed name isn't accepted.

Answering the Good Moral Character Questions Honestly

Part 9's yes/no questions are where applications stall. A "yes" answer to a question about an arrest, citation, or even a dismissed charge doesn't automatically disqualify you, but USCIS treats an inconsistent or incomplete answer far more seriously than an honest one. Court records get cross-checked, and a discrepancy between what you wrote and what a background check turns up can trigger a denial or removal proceedings, even for something minor from years ago.

If you have any arrest, citation, or court record, even one that was expunged or sealed, answer "yes" and use Part 14 to explain, and bring certified court dispositions to your interview. If you're unsure whether something needs to be disclosed, that's a question for an immigration attorney before you submit, not something to guess at on the form.

Filing Online vs by Mail and What Happens Next

You can file N-400 through your myUSCIS online account or by mailing a paper application to the USCIS lockbox address for your state, listed in the form instructions. The current filing fee is $760 for paper filing or $710 for filing online, with a reduced fee of $380 available if you qualify under Part 10. There's no separate biometrics fee, your appointment is covered by the filing fee, and as of a December 2025 USCIS policy update, N-400 filers are no longer eligible to reuse previously collected biometrics, so expect a new appointment regardless of what USCIS has on file from a past application.

Note that DHS proposed a rule in June 2026 that would raise the N-400 fee substantially and eliminate the reduced-fee and waiver options entirely. As of this writing that proposal is still in the public comment period and hasn't taken effect, but check the USCIS N-400 page for the current fee before you file, since the amount you send has to match exactly or your application gets rejected.

After filing, expect a receipt notice, then a biometrics appointment, then an interview where you'll take the civics and English tests and sign the form in front of an officer. Processing times vary widely by field office, often 6 to 12 months from filing to interview.

If you're managing scanned evidence, prior immigration paperwork, and the completed N-400 together, an occasional-use plan makes more sense than a recurring subscription for a one-time filing. PDF Editify's One Week Plan is $3 one time, it expires on its own with nothing to cancel, versus committing to a monthly subscription for a form you'll only fill out once. If you're also handling related paperwork like an AR-11 change of address or an I-765 work permit renewal, the same plan covers all of it.

FAQs

How long does Form N-400 take to process in 2026?

Most applicants wait 6 to 12 months from filing to interview, though this varies significantly by USCIS field office. Check your local office's processing times on the USCIS website before you file.

Can I fill out Form N-400 online and then print it?

Yes. Filling the fields digitally in a PDF editor and printing the completed form is common and helps avoid the illegible handwriting that leads to processing delays. You'll still need to sign the printed copy by hand before mailing it, since USCIS doesn't accept a typed signature on paper applications.

What happens if I answer a Part 9 question incorrectly?

An inaccurate answer, even an unintentional one, can be treated as a misrepresentation and jeopardize your application. If you're not sure how to answer a legal or criminal history question, consult an immigration attorney before submitting rather than guessing.

Do I need to submit my green card with Form N-400?

No, you don't mail your original green card with the application. You'll present it at your biometrics appointment and again at your interview.

Can I use a fee waiver for the N-400 filing fee?

Fee waivers and the $380 reduced fee are currently available for applicants who qualify under Part 10, though a proposed 2026 rule would eliminate both if finalized. Confirm current eligibility rules on the USCIS N-400 page before you file.