USCIS Form N400 is an application for citizenship. If you have lived in the US for some time and meet the requirements for citizenship, you can apply for naturalization by filing this form. You should not apply with this form if you were born in the US or if you were born to US citizens. In this case, you are already a US citizen and only need to claim your rightful citizenship to enjoy all the advantages of citizenship.
The N400 Form for citizenship is 10 pages long and also has instructions of 8 pages. The filing fee for the form is $595 and some applicants need to pay an addition $85 biometric fee for a total of $680. Military applicants do not need to pay the filing fee and applicants who are 75 years of age or older do not need to pay the biometric fee. Since the costs of the filing the form can be high, it is important to ensure that you meet the immigration requirements for citizenship before you apply.
The requirements for US citizenship are usually as follows:
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
- You must meet residency requirements by living as a legal permanent resident in the US for a specific period of time and in the current state where you reside for a specific period of time.
- You must not have been convicted of serious crimes and must be able to show good “moral character.”
- You must have an adequate grasp of the English language and US civics to pass the naturalization test.
- You must understand and be willing to take an oath to the effect that you believe in the US Constitution.
The specific requirements for citizenship may vary, depending on specific circumstances. For example, active members of the US armed forces have residency requirements waived. Read the instructions for Form N400 carefully to determine whether you meet the requirements for citizenship. Do not apply until you meet all the requirements.
When filing Form N400, you must submit the completed form as well as two color passport-style photos of yourself, a money order for your biometrics and filing fee, and a photocopy of your green card (both front and back). Once you have filed N400, you can keep track of your citizenship application online at the USCIS website. After your form has been reviewed and accepted, you will be scheduled for an interview. During this interview, you will need to pass the citizenship test, which asks you to show your knowledge of the English language and US civics. Once you have passed the test, you will be scheduled for a citizenship ceremony. During this ceremony, you will take an oath of citizenship and be sworn in as a US citizen. At that point, you will be a naturalized citizen.
