N 400 Application Form
What Is the Purpose of Form N-400?
Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is an application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. If your biological or legal adoptive mother or father is a U.S. citizen by birth, or was naturalized before you reached your 18th birthday, you may already be a U.S. citizen. Before you consider filing this application, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov for more information on this topic and to review the instructions for Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, and Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.
If either of your parents is a United States citizen, complete Part 6. Information About Your Parents as part of this application. If neither of your parents is a United States citizen, skip Part 6. and complete Part 7. Biographical Information.
General Eligibility Requirements
You may apply for naturalization when you meet all the requirements to become a U.S. citizen. General eligibility requirements are the following:
- 1. You are at least 18 years of age at the time of filing (except active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces);
- 2. You are a permanent resident of the United States for a required period of time;
- 3. You have lived within the state or USCIS district where you claim residence for at least 3 months prior to filing;
- 4. You have demonstrated physical presence within the United States for a required period of time;
- 5. You have demonstrated continuous residence for a required period of time;
- 6. You demonstrate good moral character;
- 7. You demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution;
- 8. You demonstrate a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as “civics”) as well as an ability to read, write, speak and understand basic English; and
- 9. You take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States. Some applicants may be eligible for a modified oath.
How To Fill Out Form N-400
- 1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
- 2. If you need extra space to complete any item in this application; use and attach a separate sheet of paper; type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; and indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers.
- 3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been married and the question asks “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A,” unless otherwise directed. If your answer to a question, which requires a numeric response, is zero or none (for example, “How many children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None,” unless otherwise directed.