Who qualifies for naturalization?

Under the general rule, you must:

  • Be 18 or older when you file.
  • Be a permanent resident for at least 5 years.
  • Keep continuous residence for those 5 years and until the oath.
  • Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of the 5 years.
  • Live in your state or USCIS district for 3 months before you file.
  • Show good moral character for the 5 years and until the oath.
  • Pass the English and civics tests, unless an exception applies.
  • Be attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

What if you are married to a U.S. citizen, or you travel?

Spouses of U.S. citizens can file after 3 years as a permanent resident. You must live in marital union with your spouse for those 3 years, and your spouse must be a citizen for that whole time. You need 18 months of physical presence in the 3 years.

A trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year creates a presumption that you broke continuous residence. You can rebut it with evidence, such as proof that you kept your U.S. job and home. A trip of 1 year or more breaks continuous residence, unless you have an approved Form N-470 for certain work abroad.

You can file up to 90 calendar days before you complete the 5-year or 3-year period.

What documents does the N-400 checklist ask for?

  • Both sides of your green card.
  • Your marriage certificate and proof that prior marriages ended.
  • Records of any arrest anywhere in the world, with proof that you completed any sentence.
  • An IRS or state payment agreement, if you owe taxes.
  • Proof of your U.S. home and job during any trip of more than 6 months.
  • Certified English translations of foreign-language documents.

How much does Form N-400 cost, and how long does it take?

As of October 2026, the N-400 fee is $760 on paper and $710 online. The reduced fee is $380 if your household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You can also request a fee waiver with Form I-912. Both requests need a paper filing.

Processing times vary, so check the USCIS processing-times tool. The N-400 receipt notice extends your green card for 2 years.

What happens at the interview and the tests?

USCIS first takes your fingerprints, photograph, and signature. At the interview, an officer asks about your application and background and checks your spoken English. You must read one of three sentences and write one of three sentences correctly.

If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 civics test. The officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you need 12 correct. Earlier filers need 6 correct out of 10 on the 2008 test.

If you fail a part, USCIS retests it 60 to 90 days later. A second failure leads to a denial. You become a citizen when you take the Oath of Allegiance at a public ceremony.

Exceptions depend on your age and years as a permanent resident when you file:

  • 50/20 or 55/15: age 50 with 20 years, or age 55 with 15 years. You skip the English test and take the civics test in your language with an interpreter.
  • 65/20: age 65 with 20 years. You skip the English test and answer 10 civics questions from a special list of 20, with 6 correct to pass.
  • Form N-648: a licensed doctor or clinical psychologist certifies that a disability prevents you from meeting the English or civics requirement.

Which problems need an attorney review before you file?

The N-400 asks about your whole history. False testimony to get an immigration benefit bars good moral character. A person can also lose citizenship later if they got it by willful misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact. Review these issues first:

  • Any arrest, charge, or conviction, even if a court sealed or expunged it.
  • Drug offenses, two or more DUI convictions, or 180 days or more in jail in the statutory period.
  • Unfiled or unpaid taxes. A "nonresident alien" tax filing can also suggest that you abandoned your residence.
  • A false claim to U.S. citizenship, or an unlawful voter registration or vote. USCIS can issue a Notice to Appear for these acts.
  • Men who had to register with Selective Service and did not. If you file between ages 26 and 31 (26 and 29 under the spouse rule), you must show the failure was not knowing and willful.
  • Unpaid child support.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Since August 15, 2025, officers weigh positive factors in the good moral character review (PM-602-0188). Examples are community involvement, family caregiving, education, stable lawful employment, and tax compliance.

USCIS resumed neighborhood investigations in 2025 and added them to its Policy Manual on August 25, 2026. An investigator can interview people who know you, near your home and workplace. USCIS can waive the investigation, for example if you submit enough character letters. USCIS prefers letters from U.S. citizens and does not consider letters from relatives.

Since June 13, 2025, USCIS reviews Form N-648 more closely for fraud.

USCIS memos PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 put pending applications on hold for nationals of 39 countries in two travel proclamations. The list includes Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. A Rhode Island federal court vacated the memos on June 5, 2026. A California federal court enjoined them on August 24, 2026. The hold itself stays blocked.

On August 14, 2026, the First Circuit paused the Rhode Island ruling for one part during the appeal. That part is the re-review of approved benefits for people from those countries who entered on or after January 20, 2021. This litigation can change, so get a case-specific review before you file.

On June 23, 2026, DHS proposed an N-400 fee of $1,330 on paper and $1,280 online. The proposal also ends the reduced fee and fee waivers. It is not a final rule as of October 28, 2026, so the current fees apply.

How Buroz Law helps

Rene Buroz is an immigration attorney in Aventura, FL. The firm reviews your dates, trips, records, and taxes before you file. We prepare Form N-400 and the evidence, answer requests for evidence, and prepare you for the interview, in English or Spanish.

Step by step

  1. Confirm your date

    Count 5 years, or 3 years under the spouse rule, from the date you became a permanent resident. You can file 90 days early.

  2. Review risks and records

    Check your trips, arrests, taxes, and Selective Service status. Collect the checklist documents.

  3. File and pay

    File Form N-400 online or by mail and pay the fee.

  4. Attend biometrics and the interview

    Give your fingerprints at the biometrics appointment. Then attend the interview and take the English and civics tests.

  5. Decision and oath

    If USCIS approves, you become a U.S. citizen at the oath ceremony. If USCIS denies, you can request a hearing with Form N-336.

Frequent questions

Can I apply after 3 years of marriage to a U.S. citizen?

Yes, if you are a permanent resident for 3 years and live in marital union with your spouse for those 3 years. Your spouse must be a citizen for that whole time.

How many questions are on the 2025 civics test?

The officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128. You pass with 12 correct answers.

How much is the N-400 fee in October 2026?

The fee is $760 on paper or $710 online. The reduced fee of $380 is for paper filings with household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Do I need character letters?

They are optional. USCIS can consider them when it decides whether to waive a neighborhood investigation.

Related

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