The appliance to use for U.S. citizenship by means of naturalization, formally often called Type N-400, Utility for Naturalization, is likely one of the longest and most detailed varieties that almost all immigrants will ever use. Nevertheless, with a bit of preparation, you possibly can full the applying by yourself. There are a number of supporting paperwork that you simply’ll have to submit with the N-400 utility or have accessible for reference. We’ve put collectively an N-400 doc guidelines and an outline that addresses the regularly requested questions on these paperwork. As soon as you are ready, filling out the U.S. citizenship utility is usually a fast course of.
After you’ve gone by means of the N-400 doc guidelines, be sure you evaluation among the most typical methods Type N-400 get denied.
Everlasting Resident Card (Inexperienced Card)
USCIS requires N-400 candidates to have a legitimate, unexpired inexperienced card. You’ll typically have to submit a photocopy of your card along with your N-400 utility. Though many candidates with a misplaced, stolen or mutilated inexperienced card have efficiently obtained citizenship utilizing CitizenPath, we suggest that you’ve got a legitimate, unexpired inexperienced card in your possession. Everlasting residents are required by regulation to hold proof of standing (INA 264(e)).
What’s extra, chances are you’ll want a inexperienced card whereas ready to turn into a U.S. citizen. In the course of the 8 to 12 months it takes to naturalize, it’s essential to have a inexperienced card for a number of different functions corresponding to:
- Verifying your proper to work within the U.S.
- Reentering the U.S. after journey overseas
- Qualifying for a house mortgage
- Renewing a driver’s license (state requires fluctuate)
When you do want to switch or renew your inexperienced card, it received’t delay your naturalization efforts a lot. File Type I-90, Utility to Substitute Everlasting Resident Card, to resume or substitute your card.
Roughly 1 to three weeks after submitting, USCIS will mail you a receipt letter that confirms you have got efficiently filed. Use a photocopy of this receipt letter in lieu of the inexperienced card photocopy along with your N-400 utility.
RECOMMENDED: Expired Inexperienced Card Creates 5 Huge Issues
Charges
Authorities Charges
Most individuals can pay authorities charges to file Type N-400, Utility for Naturalization. The present submitting charge is $640 plus a $85 biometrics providers charge. One fee within the quantity of $725 must be addressed to the “U.S. Division of Homeland Safety” if utilizing a private test, cash order or cashier’s test. You might even pay by bank card. Embody Form G-1450 to pay by bank card.
Nevertheless, candidates 75 years of age or older are exempted
from the biometrics providers charge. Candidates making use of based mostly on qualifying
army service pay no charges.
Price Waivers
Low-income candidates or these experiencing sure monetary hardships could qualify for a partial or full charge waiver. For extra data, the USCIS fee waiver page.
Preparation Charges
Attorneys could cost a variety of charges from $500-$2500 to assist
you put together the applying for naturalization. That is usually your best option
for candidates with a legal historical past or blemished immigration file.
For do-it-yourself preparers with straight-forward instances, CitizenPath is a wonderful method to make sure you’re doing all the pieces appropriately. If we do detect an issue, we provide you with an alert earlier than you even pay. Our software program will make it easier to put together the N-400 shortly and precisely. We even assure that your utility can be authorised by USCIS. See our critiques and get began.
Marriage Standing Paperwork
When you’ve ever been married, you’ll want a replica of your present authorized marital standing doc. This consists of your present:
- Marriage certificates; or
- Divorce or annulment decree; or
- Dying certificates of a former partner
Authorized Title Change Paperwork
When you have modified your title, you’ll want submit proof of the authorized title change. To find out if this is applicable to you, check out your present inexperienced card. In case your present authorized title is totally different than the title in your inexperienced card, you’ll have to submit documentation. Examples of acceptable paperwork embrace:
- Marriage certificates; or
- Divorce decree; or
- Any court-issued doc that legally modified your title
Maybe you bought married since your final inexperienced card was issued, chances are you’ll use this new title in your naturalization certificates so long as you possibly can present documentation. Submit the wedding certificates as proof.
Selective Service Registration
In case you are a male who lived in the US at any time between your 18th and twenty sixth birthdays, the Selective Service registration probably applies to you. By regulation, a person should register with Selective Service inside 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service can settle for a late registration however not after a person has reached his twenty sixth birthday. This requirement applies to U.S. residents, everlasting residents, refugees, asylees, and even undocumented aliens. It doesn’t apply to ladies or international nationals in the US with nonimmigrant visas. The nonimmigrant classifications embrace: international authorities officers, guests for enterprise and for pleasure, aliens in transit by means of the US, treaty merchants and traders, college students, worldwide representatives, momentary employees and trainees, representatives of international data media, alternate guests, fiance(e)s of U.S. residents, intracompany transferees, NATO officers, spiritual employees, and a few others.
Acquiring proof of your Selective Service registration is straightforward. Use the Selective Service Online Verification. You’ll want to supply a final title, Social Safety quantity, and date of delivery. You’ll immediately be supplied with a verification letter than may be printed or saved to your laptop. When you didn’t register as required, this will power you to delay your utility.
RECOMMENDED: Failing to Register for Selective Service
For candidates which are making use of on the idea of marriage to a U.S. citizen, their N-400 doc guidelines consists of some extra gadgets:
Sure everlasting residents are eligible for naturalization after simply three years in the event that they had been married to a U.S. citizen for this whole time. The accelerated citizenship necessities do have some extra supporting doc necessities to qualify.
Proof Earlier Marriages Had been Terminated
Along with proof of your present marriage standing, you’ll want proof that each one earlier marriages (if relevant) ended. Another phrases, you’ll want proof that any prior marriages had been terminated by means of divorce or demise. Once more, examples of acceptable paperwork embrace divorce decrees, annulments or demise certificates.
Proof Partner Has Been a U.S. Citizen for at Least 3 Years
To qualify underneath this provision, it’s important to supply proof that your partner has been a U.S. citizen for a interval of a minimum of three years and continues to be a U.S. citizen. Examples of acceptable proof embrace a photocopy of your partner’s:
- Delivery certificates (in case your partner by no means misplaced citizenship since delivery); or
- U.S. passport (within entrance cowl and signature web page); or
- Certificates of naturalization; or
- Certificates of citizenship; or
- Type FS-240, Report of Delivery Overseas of a Citizen of the US
Proof of a Bona Fide Marriage
Along with the wedding certificates, you’ll have to submit corroborating proof that the wedding is real. Usually, this may be most successfully demonstrated with paperwork that present you’ve mixed funds, lived collectively repeatedly, and had kids collectively (if relevant).
Submit paperwork to show that you simply and your partner have lived in marital union for a minimum of three years previous to the date that you simply file Type N-400, Utility for Naturalization. Examples of acceptable paperwork embrace:
- Copies of joint tax returns for every of the final three years (or two if all three usually are not but accessible). You might submit a tax transcript as an alternative of the tax return. To acquire a free IRS tax transcript, go to www.irs.gov. Choose “Instruments” after which choose “Order a Return or Account Transcript.” For help, you may as well name the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.
- Copies of statements from joint accounts with each spouses’ names. Joint accounts could embrace checking, financial savings, bank card, insurance coverage insurance policies, leases or mortgages. Present statements that span the size of the three years (if attainable). For instance, embrace a replica for each three months over the course of the three years.
- Copies of delivery certificates for any kids born into the wedding (if attainable).
- Another proof of household ties that reveal your bona fide marriage. You might present pictures of each spouses (e.g. holidays, visiting prolonged household, and so forth.). Present the date and placement and names of different individuals within the picture.
Present a number of examples of your bona fide marriage. It’s vital to point out that you simply’ve had shared monetary obligations, joint residences and household ties (e.g. pictures). For all proof, present examples that span the complete three-year interval if attainable.
Past the N-400 Doc Guidelines
This N-400 doc guidelines covers the gadgets required in typical purposes for naturalization. Please discuss with your personalised submitting directions from CitizenPath or the USCIS filing instructions for instructions in your particular scenario. Extra documentation could also be required if in case you have ever didn’t file an revenue tax return as required, have an arrest file, or have traveled extensively (corresponding to journeys over 6 months) overseas. Typically these conditions demand the steering of skilled authorized counsel.
You might submit photocopies of all of paperwork talked about above when submitting Type N-400 (except in any other case indicated). Nevertheless, we suggest that you simply take an unique to your naturalization interview. Hardly ever are unique paperwork requested. But when the USCIS officer wants affirmation, you’ll be ready to deal with the scenario. In any other case, your case could also be delayed.
Acquire a Copy of Your Immigration File
As part of the naturalization course of, a USCIS officer will consider your complete immigration historical past to verify your everlasting residence was granted appropriately. This is usually a little intimidating as a result of most individuals are not sure of that data the federal government has. Effectively, yow will discover out.
You have got the precise to request a replica of your personal immigration file by means of a Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) request. In truth, immigration attorneys will routinely file FOIA requests to get this data earlier than submitting extra varieties. There isn’t a authorities submitting charge, however this is usually a prolonged course of. It could take six months to get a complete file. Need assistance? CitizenPath might help you put together Type G-639, Freedom of Data Act Request, to acquire your immigration file.
Getting ready Type N-400
Though documentation might not be required, there may be extra data you’ll have to have readily available when making ready the N-400 utility. Usually, you will have 5 years of:
- Handle historical past
- Employment historical past
- Journey historical past (time exterior the U.S.)
In case you are making use of on the idea of marriage to a U.S. citizen, these histories are lowered to 3 years.
About CitizenPath
CitizenPath offers easy, reasonably priced, step-by-step steering by means of USCIS immigration purposes. People, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or cellular machine to arrange immigration varieties precisely, avoiding pricey delays. CitizenPath permits customers to attempt the service free of charge and offers a 100% money-back assure that USCIS will approve the applying or petition. We offer assist for Inexperienced Card Renewal (Type I-90), the Citizenship Utility (Type N-400), and several other different immigration packages.