Naturalization Process: What to Expect from Start to Finish

Reviewed by: Muhammed Gulen, Esq.

The naturalization process has four main stages: you file Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with USCIS, attend a biometrics appointment if USCIS requires one, complete a naturalization interview that includes English and civics testing, and take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony. As of September 2026, the Form N-400 filing fee is $760 for paper filing or $710 for online filing, and how long the process takes depends on the USCIS field office handling your case.

1. File Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)

The first step in the naturalization process is to file Form N-400 with USCIS. The N-400 is the Application for Naturalization, the form used to apply for U.S. citizenship.

You can access Form N-400 on the USCIS website here.

The N-400 can be filed online through a USCIS online account or mailed to USCIS on paper. If you are requesting a fee waiver or a reduced fee, you cannot file online and must file a paper Form N-400.

Naturalization Requirements

Before you file your N-400, make sure you satisfy the eligibility requirements. Under the general provision (Section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act), you must:

1. Be at least 18 years old when you file
2. Be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
3. Have continuously resided in the United States as a permanent resident for the last 5 years (or 3 years if you are applying based on marriage to a U.S. citizen and meet the requirements of INA Section 319(a))
4. Have resided for at least 3 months immediately before filing in the state or USCIS district where you actually live (special rules apply to some applicants, for example certain students, who may be able to apply where they attend school or where their family lives if they remain financially dependent on their parents)
5. Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the applicable 5-year period (or 3-year period for qualifying spouses of U.S. citizens)
6. Demonstrate good moral character during the applicable 5-year period (or 3-year period), and up until you take the oath; USCIS may also look at conduct before that period if it is relevant to your present moral character
7. Demonstrate an ability to read, write, and speak basic English (unless you qualify for an age-based or disability-based exemption)
8. Pass a civics test on U.S. government and history (unless USCIS grants a disability-based exception)
9. Take an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution

Documentation to Provide with N-400

Each case is different, and the documents you need depend on your situation. USCIS publishes a checklist of required initial evidence on the Form N-400 page. If you need help determining which documents to include, feel free to email us at contact@ashoorilaw.com. Documents that may apply to your case include:

• A copy of both sides of your green card (Permanent Resident Card)
• A copy of your marriage certificate, and evidence of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship, if applying based on marriage to a U.S. citizen
• Divorce decrees or other proof that prior marriages ended (if applicable)
• Court dispositions for any arrests or citations (if applicable)
• Two or more character reference letters, preferably from U.S. citizens who know you personally. These are optional, but USCIS has said that proactively submitting at least two such letters with Form N-400 can help it decide to waive the neighborhood investigation described below.

USCIS no longer requires two passport photos with every filing. Based on processing needs, USCIS may request physical passport photos after you file and will send instructions if it does. Under the current Form N-400 instructions, specified applicants applying from outside the United States, including certain military applicants, spouses of military members, and spouses of U.S. citizens working abroad for qualifying employers, still must submit two passport-style photographs with the application.

Naturalization Fee

Submitting the correct filing fee matters: USCIS can reject an application filed with the wrong fee. As of September 2026, the Form N-400 filing fee is:

There is no longer a separate biometric services fee for Form N-400; biometrics are included in the filing fee. Applicants whose income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, who receive a means-tested benefit, or who face extreme financial hardship may instead request a full fee waiver (Form I-912) with a paper filing; check the current Form N-400 and Form I-912 instructions to see which option fits your situation. Certain current and former members of the U.S. armed forces applying under INA Sections 328 or 329 are exempt from the fee.

In June 2026, DHS published a proposed rule that would raise the fees for Form N-400 and Form N-336 and end the reduced fee option and fee waivers for those forms (military applicants would remain exempt). As of September 30, 2026 this is still only a proposal, not a final rule, and the fees above remain in effect. See Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments, 91 FR 37500 (June 23, 2026). The comment period closed on August 24, 2026, so a final rule could issue at any time; if the reduced fee or a fee waiver matters to your case, that timing is worth discussing before you file. Always check the current fee on the USCIS Fee Schedule before filing.

Naturalization Processing Time

How long the N-400 takes depends on the USCIS field office handling your case, and processing times change over time. USCIS publishes current processing times by form and field office, and those figures reflect how long it took to complete 80% of cases over the prior six months. Timelines vary case by case and can change. You can check the current N-400 processing time for your local field office here.

• Under the “Form” section, select “N-400.”
• Under the “Field Office or Service Center” section, select your local field office. If your receipt notice lists the National Benefits Center, check the processing time for your local field office instead.

2. Biometrics Appointment

After you file Form N-400, you must generally submit biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, and signature) unless USCIS waives the requirement. If you are required to appear at an Application Support Center, USCIS will send you an appointment notice; in some cases USCIS instead reuses biometrics you previously submitted. If you fail to appear for the appointment without good cause and without notifying USCIS, you are treated as having abandoned your application.

Biometrics Appointment Notice

If USCIS requires an appointment, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice in the mail after filing. The notice specifies the date, time, and location of your appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center, along with instructions for rescheduling if needed.

Important Points About the Biometrics Appointment

• Arrive on time to your appointment
• Bring the original appointment notice with you
• Bring your Permanent Resident Card and a second form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport
• USCIS may use the photograph taken at this appointment on your Certificate of Naturalization, so dress accordingly

Personal (Neighborhood) Investigations

On August 25, 2026, USCIS issued policy guidance reintroducing personal investigations, also called neighborhood investigations, under INA Section 335(a). Unless USCIS waives it, the neighborhood investigation applies to all applicants and is generally conducted and completed before you are scheduled for your naturalization interview. The investigation covers at least the 5 years immediately before you filed, and USCIS may cover a longer period or look outside the United States where it considers that appropriate.

A USCIS investigator may take statements from people in the vicinity of your residences and of your employment or business, including neighbors, landlords, home association representatives, supervisors, managers, coworkers, business partners, clients, and contractors. The information gathered can cover your family status, social activities and associations, employment and periods of unemployment, financial obligations, education, reputation in the community, criminal history, military service, travel and activities outside the United States, current and past residences, credibility, and attachment to the United States. If USCIS intends to deny your application based on derogatory information from an investigation, it must give you notice of that information and an opportunity to respond.

USCIS may waive the neighborhood investigation as a matter of discretion, and it has said that proactively submitting at least two testimonial or character reference letters with Form N-400 can assist it in deciding that a waiver is appropriate. Those letters should preferably be written by U.S. citizens who personally know you and can speak to your moral character, integrity, reliability, community standing, and attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; each should give the writer’s contact details and immigration status, describe the relationship and how long they have known you, and offer specific examples. USCIS does not consider letters written by your immediate family or relatives, and a failure or refusal to provide letters may itself weigh in favor of conducting an investigation. An officer may request an investigation at any time before the Oath of Allegiance, including after your interview.

3. Naturalization Interview

At the naturalization interview, a USCIS officer examines your application under oath and administers the required English and civics tests. If you fail to appear for the interview and do not notify USCIS in writing of the reason within 30 days of the scheduled examination, with a request to reschedule, you are deemed to have abandoned the application and USCIS may administratively close it without deciding it on the merits. You can reopen an administratively closed application by written request within 1 year, with no additional fee, but the date of the reopening request then counts as the filing date for determining your eligibility. If you do not request reopening within that year, USCIS treats the application as abandoned and dismisses it without further notice (8 CFR 335.6).

Appointment Notice for the Naturalization Interview

Once your case is ready for interview scheduling, USCIS will send a notice with the date, time, and place of your interview. How long after filing the interview occurs depends on your field office; check the USCIS processing times page for current timelines.

What Happens at the Naturalization Interview?

When you arrive, the USCIS officer will introduce themselves, explain the purpose of the interview, and place you under oath.

Questioning Regarding Eligibility

Once you are under oath, the officer will review your Form N-400 and ask questions about your background, immigration history, travel in and out of the U.S., moral character, and other eligibility topics. These questions confirm that you satisfy the naturalization requirements. Answer truthfully; false testimony to obtain an immigration benefit can bar a finding of good moral character.

English Test

The officer will also test your ability to speak, read, and write basic English. Your speaking ability is assessed through your answers to the officer’s questions during the interview. For reading, you must read one of three sentences correctly. For writing, you must write one of three sentences correctly. Certain applicants are exempt from the English requirement based on age and years as a permanent resident (for example, applicants age 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or age 55 or older with 15 years). Applicants exempt on this basis take the civics test in the language of their choice. Separately, applicants with a qualifying medical disability may seek an exception to the English requirement, the civics requirement, or both, using Form N-648, depending on the condition a medical professional certifies and USCIS’s determination.

Civics Test

The civics test covers U.S. government and history. Which version you take depends on when you filed:

Applicants age 65 or older with at least 20 years as a permanent resident receive special consideration: they study a shorter, specially designated list of questions and may take the test in the language of their choice. For the 2025 test, these applicants are asked up to 10 questions from a designated 20-question subset and must answer 6 correctly. USCIS publishes study materials for both test versions at its Citizenship Resource Center.

What Happens if You Fail the English or Civics Test?

If you fail any portion of the English test or the civics test at the initial interview, USCIS must give you a second opportunity to pass the failed portion within 90 days after the first examination (8 CFR 312.5(a)); in practice the second appointment is usually scheduled 60 to 90 days out. If you fail again at the second appearance, you no longer meet the statutory education requirement and the application is denied. Note that if you ask to postpone the second examination to a date more than 90 days after the first one, you must agree in writing to waive the 120-day decision rule described below, so that USCIS instead has 120 days from the second interview (8 CFR 312.5(b)).

Here is a general list of documents you may need at the interview:

• Permanent Resident Card
• State-issued ID card or driver’s license
• All passports and travel documents, current and expired
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Evidence of name change (if applicable)
• Tax returns or IRS transcripts for the statutory period (5 years, or 3 years for qualifying spouses of U.S. citizens)
• Evidence that you maintained continuous residence in the U.S.
• Your interview appointment notice

4. Oath of Allegiance

After USCIS approves your application, you will receive a notice to attend an Oath of Allegiance ceremony. Depending on the field office, the oath may be administered the same day as your interview or scheduled for a later ceremony. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the oath. At the ceremony you will take an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the United States, among other commitments. Certain individuals may qualify for a modified oath (for example, based on religious objections to bearing arms) or a waiver of the oath based on a qualifying disability. Before the ceremony, you will complete the questionnaire on the back of Form N-445 about anything that changed since your interview, such as travel abroad, arrests, or marital status changes. You surrender your green card at the ceremony and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Review the certificate for errors before you leave. Once you take the oath, the naturalization process is complete and you can apply for a U.S. passport.

Conclusion

Naturalization is the process through which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen after satisfying the eligibility requirements. Understanding each stage helps applicants plan, particularly if they are deciding between applying for citizenship or renewing their green card, including paying the green card renewal fee. Here are the 4 main steps in the naturalization process:

1. File Form N-400 with USCIS (online for $710, or on paper for $760, as of September 2026);
2. Attend a biometrics appointment if USCIS requires one;
3. Attend the naturalization interview, where a USCIS officer reviews your application, asks questions under oath, and administers the English and civics tests;
4. Take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, which is the moment you become a U.S. citizen.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I file my N-400 before I complete 5 years as a permanent resident?

  Yes, in limited circumstances. USCIS allows filing up to 90 calendar days before you complete the continuous residence requirement if you are applying under the 5-year general provision or the 3-year provision for spouses of U.S. citizens. Filing earlier than that window allows can result in denial.

• Can I travel abroad while my N-400 is pending?

  You can generally travel as a permanent resident while the application is pending, but travel carries risks. You must continue to meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements through the oath: an absence of more than 6 months but less than 1 year creates a presumption that you broke continuous residence, and an absence of 1 year or more generally breaks it. Extended or repeated travel can also raise questions about whether you abandoned your permanent residence. Bring all passports and travel documents to your interview.

• Which civics test will I take?

  It depends on your filing date. If you filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 civics test (up to 20 questions from a list of 128; 12 correct answers to pass). If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 test (up to 10 questions from a list of 100; 6 correct answers to pass). Applicants 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident test from a shorter designated list.

• Is there still a separate biometrics fee?

  No. Since the fee rule that took effect April 1, 2024, biometric services are included in the N-400 filing fee. Under the fee structure in effect as of September 30, 2026, there is no separate biometric fee.

• What happens if my N-400 is denied?

  If USCIS denies your application, you can request a hearing before a different officer by filing Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings) within 30 calendar days after you are served with the denial (the regulations add 3 days when the decision is mailed). If the denial is upheld, you may seek review in federal district court. Depending on the reason for denial, you may also be able to reapply later.

• Do I lose my green card if my naturalization application is denied?

  A denial of the N-400 does not by itself take away permanent resident status. However, if the interview reveals grounds of removability (for example, certain criminal issues or abandonment of residence), USCIS can refer the case for removal proceedings. If you have any criminal history or long absences, have an attorney review your case before filing.