CITIZENSHIP

Documents Checklist for Naturalization Application

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Application for Naturalization for U.S. Citizenship Form:  N-400                  Online: Online application is available but not required Filing Fee: $640         Biometrics Fee: $85 biometrics fee  (Total Fee: $725) Do not send original documents unless specifically requested. TRANSLATIONS:   If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language to English. Required Documents For All Applicants: 🗹 A copy of your Permanent Resident Card (or copy of Form I-90 filing receipt if you lost your resident card); 🗹 Photocopy of the applicant’s current legal marital status document, if applicable (e.g.; marriage certificate, divorce, annulment decree, or death certificate of former spouse); 🗹 A money order payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” for current filing fee and biometric fee ($725 as of September 2023). Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempted from the biometrics services fee. If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, send the following 4 items: 🗹 1.  Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years: a. Birth certificate (if your spouse never lost citizenship since birth); or b. Certificate of Naturalization; or c. Certificate of Citizenship; or d. The inside of the front cover and signature page of your spouse’s current U.S. passport; or e. Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; and 🗹 2. Your current marriage certificate; and 🗹 3. Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and 🗹 4. Documents referring to you and your spouse: a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years. If You Are Outside the U.S.: 🗹 Two passport-style photographs If Applying Based on Military Service: 🗹 A copy of your official military orders; 🗹 DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or discharge orders (if separated from service); 🗹 Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service; If You Are Applying Under INA 319(b): Evidence of your citizen spouse’s employment abroad (if applying under INA 319(b))

False Claim to U.S. Citizenship

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Inadmissible and deportable for making a false claim to U.S. citizenship. INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(ii); INA §237(a)(3)(D). A person who falsely represents or has falsely represented themselves to be a U.S.citizen for any purpose or benefit under the INA or any other federal or state law is inadmissible anddeportable Therefore, as written, DHS could apply these provisions to a broad range of scenarios,including someone who is underage and uses the U.S. passport of an older friend to get into a bar andhave a drink, someone who votes in an election not realizing that they are not permitted to vote, orsomeone who falsely claims to be a citizen in filling out an I-9 to get employment. There is a limitedand narrow statutory exception for certain children of U.S. citizens. INA § 212(a)(6)(C); INA § 237(a)(3)(D).INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(ii)(II); INA § 237(a)(3)(D)(ii)

How to Check Your Selective Service Registration

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WHAT IS THE SELECTIVE SERVICE? The Military Selective Service Act requires that all men (including anyone whose gender was assigned as male on their birth certificate) living in the United States register with the Selective Service System (SSS) within 30 days of their 18th birthday. The SSS is used by the U.S. government in times of war to draft soldiers into service. While there are currently no plans to draft soldiers into the military, the U.S. government views the Selective Service as an important readiness tool in case there is a significant military conflict that requires more troops than have voluntarily joined the military. This law applies to all men living in the United States, including U.S. citizens, green card holders, people in valid immigration status, as well as anyone whose status has expired or is otherwise undocumented. Only men who are in the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 years old are required to register. ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS? Yes. First, if you entered the United States after the age of 26 or were not in the United States between ages 18 and 26, you do not need to register because you entered after the required age. Second, if you are in a valid non-immigrant status (such as a student visa) until the age of 26, you are seen as living here only temporarily because of the temporary nature of your visa and not required to register. Third, men born after March 29, 1957, and before December 31, 1959, are not required to register. SEE CHART OF WHO MUST REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE HOW TO: CHECK YOUR SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION If you are a man – or were assigned the gender of male at birth – and you were in the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, you should check yourSelective Service record to see if you registered. If you became a lawful permanent resident between the ages of 18 and 26, USCIS may have sent your information tothe SSS based on your permanent residence application, and you may have been registered that way. ONLINE: If you registered for the Selective Service with your Social Security number, you can verify your registration online at https://www.sss.gov/verify/. You will need to provide your last name, Social Security Number, and date of birth.If a record is found, you can download and print an official Selective Service Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the web site and include it with your application. BY PHONE: If you can’t verify your registration because you don’t or didn’t have a Social Security number at the time you filed, you will have to call the SSS at 888-655-1825. WHAT IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO REGISTER AND DIDN’T? If you have not or did not register and you are between the ages of 18 and 26, you should register immediately. If you are over the age of 26 but were in the United States between the ages of 18 and 26,and the failure to register was within the good moral character time period, you will have an opportunity to submit your statement and other evidence to USCIS showing that you did not knowingly or willfullyfail to register. USCIS may also require you to submit a Status Information Letter stating whether you were required to register. You can find this form online by visiting https://www.sss. gov/verify/sil/, which you will have to download, complete and mail to the address below: SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEMATTN: SILP.O. BOX 94638PALATINE, IL 60094-4638You can also call the SSS to request the Status Information Letter by phone at 847-688-6888. WHEN I REGISTERED FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE, I MAY HAVE USED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) THAT WAS NOT MY OWN. WHAT SHOULD I DO? You can update your Social Security number with the SSS by calling 1-847-688-6888 during business hours (9am to 5pm Eastern). Changes can take several weeks to complete, and the SSS will send you a new registration letter with the updated information. You can also write to the SSS and request the change: SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEMP.O. BOX 94638PALATINE, IL 60064-4638 WHAT ABOUT TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS? ACCORDING TO THE US GOVERNMENT (from SSA.gov): US citizens or immigrants who are born male and changed their gender to female are still required to register. Individuals who are born female and changed their gender to male are not required to register. OPM notes that “transgender” refers to people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g. the sex listed on an original birth certificate). The OPM Guidance further explains that the term “transgender woman” is typically used to refer to someone who was assigned the male sex at birth but who identifies as a female. Likewise, OPM provides that the term “transgender man” typically is used to refer to someone who was assigned the female sex at birth but who identifies as male. > The legal authority is based on the Military Selective Service Act (MSSA), which does not address gender identity or transgender persons. >Presidential Proclamation 4771 refers to “males” who were “born” on or after January 1, 1960. >Changes to the MSSA involving Selective Service registration requires Congressional action. It cannot be changed through Presidential Proclamation or Executive Order. As such, the registration requirement remains based on the assigned gender at birth. NOTE: Transgender students are welcome to call us at 888-655-1825 regarding their registration requirements if they need a status information letter from Selective Service that clarifies whether or not they are exempt from the registration requirement. Individuals who have changed their gender to male will be asked to complete a Status Information Letter (SIL) request form and provide a copy of their birth certificate. Keep your original SIL and send copies to state-based financial aid institutions if needed. FUN FACT: THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM’S ANNUAL BUDGET IS $26,000,000.00. Learn more about the requirements for selective service registration from the government’s website. WHO MUST REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE CHART[Download]

HOW TO: Naturalization/Citizenship

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U.S. Citizenship

Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? No. You can file USCIS forms yourself, including Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which can be submitted online. However, some people choose to seek assistance from a lawyer or Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)-accredited representative.  If you decide to get legal assistance, you can start here: Many people offer to help with immigration services. Unfortunately, not all of them are authorized or qualified to do so. If you are seeking legal help to complete your Application for Naturalization, please be aware that only attorneys and EOIR-accredited representatives can provide legal advice about which forms and documents to attach to your application, explain immigration options you may have, and communicate with USCIS about your case. For additional information, please review USCIS’ guidance on the unauthorized practice of immigration law. If you decide to submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, without legal assistance, obtain information about the naturalization application process and study materials to help you prepare for the naturalization test at the Citizenship Resource Center. Also visit, the N-400, Application for Naturalization page and read the instructions. Will I be asked all of the civics questions during the naturalization interview? For the 2008 version of the civics test, there are 100 available civics questions on the naturalization test (PDF, 368.79 KB), but you will not be asked to answer all of them during your naturalization interview. You will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to to pass the 2008 version of the civics test. For the 2020 version of the civics test, there are 128 available civics questions on the naturalization test, but you will not be asked to answer all of them during your naturalization interview. You must answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the 2020 version of the civics test.  Do I need to bring original documents such as birth and marriage certificates to the naturalization interview? Yes. You should bring certain original documents to your interview. In the instructions to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, USCIS provides an extensive list of examples of original documents that you should bring to the interview, depending on different case scenarios. Examples of these documents include: original birth, marriage, divorce, final adoption and naturalization certificates; court orders/decrees; evidence of child support payments; court-certified arrest reports; and probation/parole records. Certain certified copies of documents can also be provided.  You should also submit copies–preferably certified copies–of these documents at the initial filing of your application. These documents should be submitted as evidence in support of your application, and will facilitate the USCIS officers’ review of your request. When should I submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions? Applicants for naturalization seeking an exception to the English and/or civics requirements for naturalization because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment are encouraged to submit this form at the time they file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, with USCIS. However, USCIS recognizes that certain circumstances may prevent concurrent filing of the naturalization application and the disability exception form. Accordingly, an applicant may file the disability exception form during any part of the naturalization process, including after the application is filed but before the first examination, during the first examination, during the re-examination if the applicant’s first examination was rescheduled, and during the rehearing on a denied naturalization application. How will I know what the decision is on the Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, I submitted? The decision on your Form N-648 will be made at the time of your naturalization interview. If your Form N-648 is found to be sufficient, and the licensed medical professional who completed your Form N-648 indicated on the form that you were unable to comply with all of the educational requirements, the officer will conduct the eligibility interview in your language of choice with the use of an interpreter and will not test you on any of the educational requirements. If your Form N-648 is found to be sufficient, and the licensed medical professional indicated on the form that you were unable to comply with only some of the educational requirements, the officer will administer the tests for the other requirements.  You will be permitted to use an interpreter if the medical professional indicated that you were unable to comply with the English speaking requirement. If your Form N-648 is found to be insufficient, the officer must proceed with the eligibility interview in English and administer all portions of the English and civics testing as if you had not submitted Form N-648. What should I do if I have already applied for naturalization and my Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is expiring? While one’s lawful permanent resident status does not expire, barring naturalization or termination of status, a lawful permanent resident must have valid, unexpired proof of lawful permanent residence in their possession at all times. Applying for naturalization does not change this requirement. However, effective Dec. 12, 2022, a naturalization applicant who properly submits Form N-400 will receive a Form N-400 receipt notice that, when presented with their Green Card, automatically extends the validity of the Green Card for 24 months from the “Card Expires” date. This receipt notice must be presented to show that your Green Card, which is proof of your lawful permanent resident status, has been extended, such as for purposes of employment or travel authorization. If you have been issued a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends the validity of your Green Card, but it has been lost or destroyed, then you generally must file Form I-90 to renew your expiring Green Card. For more information on renewing your Green Card, visit uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/replace-your-green-card or uscis.gov/i-90. If I fail a portion of the naturalization test, when will I be retested? Unless you are eligible for an exception to the English or civics requirements, you will be given two opportunities to meet the English and civics requirements. If you fail any portion of these requirements, you will be retested during a new interview on the portion of the test that you … Read more

RE-TAKING THE NATURALIZATION ENGLISH OR CIVICS TEST

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NY

The N-400, Application for Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen includes an English exam and a civics exam. People are often nervous about this portion of the N-400 naturalization interview, but there is no need to be. If an applicant fails either the English or the civics portion of the test they will scheduled for a second interview for re-examination. When Can You Re-Take the N-400 Naturalization English/Civics Test? A minimum of 60 days must elapse before being scheduled for a re-examination of the civics and/or English portions of the naturalization exam. See 8 CFR 335.3(b) . Re-examination must take place no more than 90 days from the initial examination. The second N-400 interview should be scheduled within 60-90 days.  See 8 CFR 312.5(a). Re-Filing N-400 After Failing Examination Twice The 90 days rule applies only to re-examinations, which are not treated the same as when filing a new N-400 after an application is denied for failing the test twice.  You may refile after 60 days. From USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Chapter 2, Section F: If an applicant fails any portion of the naturalization test a second time, the officer must deny the application based upon the applicant’s failure to meet the educational requirements for naturalization. USCIS Policy Manual  RELEVANT REGULATIONS  8 CFR 335.3(b) (re-examination no earlier than 60 days from initial examination).  8 CFR 312.5(a) (re-examination no later than 90 days from initial examination). USCIS POLICY MANUAL  Volume 12, Chapter 2, Section F (link) If an applicant fails any portion of the English test, the civics test, or all tests during the initial naturalization examination, USCIS reschedules the applicant to appear for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination.Volume 12, Chapter 2, Section F (link)