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N-400 Form

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An N-400 form is better known as an Application for Naturalization. It is used during the US citizenship process. It's important that form is filled out in full and that the required fee is also submitted to the USCIS. Background checks and reference checks will take place as a result of completing this form. For the best possible chance of having it approved, make sure that you provide as much information as you can.

N-400

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What is an N400?

This form is used by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services division. The N-400 form is known as an Application for Naturalization. This form is required as part of the process to become a U.S. citizen. A fee will need to be included when this form is submitted to the USCIS.
This is a very long form that will require detailed personal information about the applicant. This will include full name, country of nationality, physical appearance, and contact information. The individual will also need to list their previous residence and employment information for at least the past five years. Be sure to include as much information as possible on this form, as this will ensure the USCIS can get background checks and references regarding your application.

Eligibility

To apply for United States citizenship through naturalization you must meet the following requirements:

  • Age 18 years or above
  • Lawful permanent resident for 5 years or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen
  • Have maintained continuous residence during the past 5 years or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen
  • Have maintained physical presence during the past 5 years or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen
  • Have good moral character
  • Have basic knowledge of English
  • Have basic knowledge of U.S. history and government
  • Be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance

Most Common Uses

The N-400 is commonly used to apply for U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.

Common reasons an N400 would be denied

A N-400 would be denied if you fail your English and/or civics test in your initial interview, if you have a criminal history, or if you fail to meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements.  Your application could also be denied if you fail to meet financial obligations such as paying your taxes or child support.  A N-400 will also be denied if the USCIS believe that your answers are fraudulent or untrue.

Components of an N400

A N-400 contains the following sections:

  • Eligibility Information
  • Personal Information
  • Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities or Impairments
  • Contact Information
  • Residence Information
  • Parents’ Information
  • Biographic Information
  • Employment and School History
  • Time Outside the United States
  • Marital History
  • Children’s History
  • Additional Information
  • Statement, Certification, and Signature
  • Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, Signature
  • Preparer’s Information
  • Signature at Interview
  • Renunciation of Foreign Titles
  • Oath of Allegiance to the United States

How to complete an N400 (Step by Step)

To complete a N-400, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Eligibility Information
    • 9 Digit A-Number
    • Indication that you are at least 18 years of age and a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years, a lawful resident for 3 years and married to a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years, a lawful permanent resident with a U.S. citizen spouse that is regularly engaged in INA section 319(b) employment abroad, applying on the basis of qualifying military service, or another reason. 
  • Personal Information
    • Legal name
    • Name as it appears on permanent resident card
    • Other names used since birth
    • Whether you would like to legally change your name
    • U.S. social security number
    • USCIS online account number
    • Gender
    • Date of birth
    • Whether you have any disability or impairment that prevents your from demonstrating your knowledge of English and/or civics
    • Whether you meet an exemption from the English language test
  • Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities or Impairments
    • Whether you are requesting accommodation because of your disabilities or impairments
  • Contact Information
    • Best daytime, evening, work, and mobile phone numbers
    • Email address
  • Residence Information
    • Current physical and mailing addresses
    • Dates of residence
  • Parents’ Information
    • Whether your U.S. citizen parents were married before your 18th birthday
    • Name of U.S. citizen mother, country of birth, date of birth, date became citizen, A-number
    • Name of U.S. citizen father, country of birth, date of birth, date became citizen, A-number
  • Biographic Information
    • Ethnicity
    • Race
    • Height
    • Weight
    • Eye color
    • Hair color
  • Employment and School History
    • Employer or school name
    • Address
    • Dates of attendance
    • Occupation 
  • Time Outside the United States
    • Total days spent outside the United States during the last 5 years
    • Number of trips of 24 hours or longer outside the U.S. in the past 5 years
    • List of all trips of 24 hours or longer taken outside the United States in the past 5 years
  • Marital History
    • Marital status
    • Whether your spouse is a member of the U.S. armed forces
    • Number of time you have been married
    • Current spouse’s name, prior legal names, date of birth, date of marriage, address, employer, citizenship status, immigration status, marriage history
    • Prior spouse’s name, immigration status, date of birth, country of birth, citizenship, date of marriage, date of termination of marriage, type of termination of marriage
  • Children’s History
    • Total number of children
    • Names, A-Numbers, dates of birth, country of birth, addresses, relationship to you
  • Additional Information
    • Whether you have ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen, registered to vote, voted, have a hereditary title in a foreign country, been declared legally  incompetent, owe any taxes, ever not filed taxes, called yourself a non-U.S. resident, been a member of any group, been a member of the Communist Party/any totalitarian party/a terrorist organization, advocated the overthrow of any government by force or violence, persecuted any person because of race/religion/national origin/membership in a social group/political opinion, associate with the Nazis, been involved in genocide/torture/killing/badly hurting someone on purpose/forcing sexual contact/not letting someone practice his or her religion, been a member of any military unit/paramilitary unit/police unit/self-defense unit/vigilante unit/rebel group/guerrilla group/militia/insurgent organization, been a worker or served in a prison/jail/prison camp/detention facility/labor camp/place where people were forced to stay, sold or given weapons to any person, received military/paramilitary/weapons training, recruited someone under 15 to serve in an armed force, use any person under 15 to do anything that helped people in combat, committed or attempted a crime you were not arrested for,  been arrested, been charged, been convicted, been placed in alternative sentencing or rehabilitative program, received suspended sentence and parole, been in jail or prison, been a drunkard, been a prostitute, been a smuggler of controlled substances,been married to more than one person at the same time, married someone for immigration benefits, helped someone enter the U.S. illegally, gambled illegally, failed to support your dependents or pay alimony, made any misrepresentation to obtain public benefit, given information or documentation to a U.S. government official that was false or misleading, lied to a U.S. official to gain admission or immigration benefits, whether you have been removed or deported, you have been ordered removed or deported, you have been placed in removal or deportation proceedings, you have any removal or deportation proceedings pending against you, served in the U.S. armed forces, currently in the U.S. armed forces, ever been court-martialed or administratively separated or  disciplined, ever left the U.S. to avoid the draft, ever applied for military exemption, ever deserted, registered for the Selective Service
    • Whether you support the Constitution and Government of the United States
    • Whether you understand the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and are willing to take it
    • Whether you are willing to bear arms on behalf of the U.S., perform noncombatant services in the U.S. armed forces, and perform work of national importance under civilian direction
  • Statement, Certification, and Signature
    • Certification that the applicant can read and understand English or used an interpreter 
    • Signature
    • Date
  • Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, Signature
    • Interpreter’s name
    • Business name
    • Mailing address
    • Contact information
    • Certification that interpreter is fluent in English and applicant’s language
    • Signature 
    • Date 
  • Preparer’s Information
    • Name
    • Business name
    • Mailing address
    • Certification of attorney or accredited representative status
    • Signature
    • Date 
  • Signature at Interview
    • USCIS Officer’s name or stamp
    • Date
    • Applicant’s signature
    • USCIS Officer’s signature
  • Renunciation of Foreign Titles
    • List of titles
    • List of order of nobility
    • Applicant’s printed name
    • Applicant’s signature
    • USCIS Officer’s signature
    • Date
  • Oath of Allegiance to the United States
    • Name
    • Signature
    • Date

How to file

To file a Form N-400, you will need to completely fill out the form and sign it.  Each application must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee and biometric services fee if applicable.  You should submit legible photocopies of all documents that are requested.  Type of print legibly in black ink.

You will need the following documents to submit your Form N-400:

  • Photographs
  • Photocopy of permanent resident card
  • Photocopy of your current legal marital status document
  • Documents for military personnel or spouses of military personnel:
    • Form N-426
    • Evidence of military service
    • Any  other documents required for Military Personnel (M-599)

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