Guides

How to apply for citizenship (Form N-400)

The whole naturalization process, start to finish: eligibility, filing the N-400, biometrics, the interview, and the oath.

The naturalization timeline

Every step from filing the N-400 to the oath, roughly how long each takes, and how to avoid the common delays.

N-400 fees and fee waivers

What the filing fee covers, how to pay it, and how to get a full fee waiver (Form I-912) if you can't afford it.

Continuous residence & physical presence

The two requirements people confuse — and the long trips abroad that quietly break them and reset your clock.

Good moral character

What USCIS actually checks, why honesty matters most, and when to talk to an attorney before you file.

Dual citizenship: can you keep your nationality?

The U.S. generally allows it — the real question is what your birth country does. What the oath means, and who to ask.

If your application is denied or continued

Two of the three outcomes are not the end. What 'continued' really means, the N-336 appeal, and when to refile.

The Oath of Allegiance ceremony

The final step, start to finish: the N-445 questionnaire, what to bring, the oath itself, and your first hours as a citizen.

Interview documents checklist

Exactly what to bring: the must-haves everyone needs, plus the extras for marriage, children, taxes, and any court history.

After you become a citizen

Your first steps: protect your certificate, get a passport, register to vote, update Social Security, and sponsor family.

How to pass the civics test

A realistic study plan: flashcards first, then mock tests, plus how to handle the answers that change.

What really happens at the interview

A walk through interview day — check-in, the oath, the civics questions, and the part most people don't expect.

The reading & writing test

There's an English literacy part too. It's short and very passable — here's exactly how it works.

Can you test in your own language? (50/20, 55/15, 65/20)

Age + green-card-years can exempt you from English, or shrink the civics list to 20 questions. Who qualifies, plainly.

What changed in the 2025 test

128 questions instead of 100, 20 asked instead of 10. Which version applies to you, and why it matters.