How to Become a United States Citizen - Complete Guide

To make an application for United States citizenship you require to submit Form N-400 with the USCIS. This procedure of requesting United States citizenship is called naturalization.

Prior to you submit the citizenship application with the USCIS, you require to figure out if you are qualified to obtain citizenship and also eliminate the possibility that you may currently be a United States citizen.

Normally, you can either obtain United States citizenship at birth or after birth. The procedure listed below relates to international nationals that wish to obtain United States citizenship after birth.

Steps on How to Make an Application for United States Citizenship

1. Examine Your Qualification or Eligibility

There are various qualification needs and also, they all depend upon your migration standing or status. However, to make this procedure much easier we have actually developed a standard citizenship qualification test.

Moreover, we have additionally included a checklist of fundamental qualification demands to obtain United States citizenship listed below.

• You must be 18 years or older.
• You need to be a Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) or green card holder long-term resident.
• For most individuals, the demand is to be a permanent resident cardholder for a minimum of 5 years.  Nonetheless, if you are married to a United States resident or citizen, then you need to be a permanent resident cardholder for a minimum of 3 years as well as fulfill various other demands.

2. Prepare Form N-400

If you find yourself qualified for United States Citizenship. After that, the following step is to prepare Form N-400.

Form N-400 is the Application for Naturalization. Form N-400 contains 20 web pages and also has 18 web pages of guidelines from the USCIS.

Form N-400 is long and also complicated. Errors in Form N-400 might result in denial, rejections, as well as a lost filing cost. This might lead you to need to repeat the procedure and also repay the filing charges.

That's why the online software application service is the most effective means to prepare your Form N-400. We make the form's questions as well as directions straightforward and also give value-added services to make your life a lot easier.

Most importantly we have over ten years of experience and have actually assisted over half a million individuals to successfully prepare their migration forms.

Moreover, to make an application for citizenship you require to submit Form N-400, which is the application for naturalization. You need to likewise include other supporting documents for the USCIS.

However, given that Form N-400 is lengthy and also complicated, you require to make certain that you prepare your Form N-400 thoroughly.

3. Prepare Your Supporting Files

Furthermore, you additionally need to send in a couple of supporting files when you are submitting Form N-400. It is essential to thoroughly prepare these files to prevent repeating the procedure.

The immigration procedure in the United States is already lengthy and time-consuming. Therefore, if you fail to submit the necessary documents it might result in longer processing time or in some cases straight-out denial of your application. However, if you are submitting the form on your own, make certain to include all essential supporting files.

One of the most typical supporting files needed are:

• A copy of your Permanent Resident card otherwise known as Green Card.
• 2 passport-size photographs.
• Additional files will certainly be needed according to your immigration standing.

Considering that you require to give a copy of your Permanent resident card, it is best to renew your Green Card prior to requesting citizenship if it is expired. While this is not a regulation, it is best to renew your Permanent residence card before making an application for United States citizenship, for a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) is required by law to bring a legitimate permanent residence card as evidence of {long-term or permanent residency.

This might seem complicated, but it is in your best interest to have a legitimate permanent residence card prior to applying for United States citizenship.

4. Send the United States Citizenship Application with Filing Charge

As soon as you prepare Form N-400 as well as have the needed supporting files. After that, you require to send out the citizenship application to USCIS and also pay the filing charges.

Presently, the filing charge for the citizenship application is $725. This includes the cost of processing Form N-400 which is $640 as well as a biometric charge of $85. However, you can not pay the application charge in cash. You need to pay by individual check, money order, bank card, or cashier's check.

However, if you are paying the filing charges using a Bank card then you require to affix Form G-1450 together with Form N-400 as well as other supporting files.

There are a couple of more points to remember as this is an expensive procedure.

• If your application is denied by USCIS your filing cost may not be reimbursed.
• You may be qualified for a fee waiver. However, if you are qualified then you require to complete Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.
• You require to arrange the last application that includes Form N-400, supporting files as well as any other forms based on your immigration status.

That's exactly how you make an application for United States citizenship. However, this is not the completion of the Naturalization procedure. After you apply, there are a couple of extra steps to finish prior to you ending up being a United States citizen. You can find out more regarding it by checking out our homepage for immigration articles.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, Form N-400 is long and also complex. Errors in Form N-400 might lead to denial, rejections, as well as a lost filing cost. Make certain to include all essential supporting files if you are submitting the form on your very own.

Moreover, the filing charge for the citizenship application is $725. This also includes the cost of processing Form N-400 which is $640 and also a biometric charge of $85.