How do I fill out Form N-400?

What should I check before I start?

First, make sure you are ready to apply. Our guide to who can apply covers the requirements, and you can file up to 90 days early on most paths.

Then check two things:

• The form version. As of November 2026, the edition is 01/20/25. The date is at the bottom of the form and its instructions. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posts the current one on its Form N-400 page.
• How you will file. You can file online or on paper. Your choice affects your fee.

Our guide to N-400 fees explains who can pay less, and the change USCIS has proposed.

What should I gather first?

Most of the form asks about your history. Filling it out is much easier if you collect this first. Where the form asks about the last 5 years, it means the last 3 years on the marriage path.

Our documents checklist covers what to send with your form. USCIS also says that sending at least two character reference letters with your form can help it decide whether to waive a neighborhood investigation. They are optional.

What does each part of the form ask?

The form has 16 parts. You complete the first 14, and an officer has you complete the last two at your interview.

Part 2 also has two optional choices that are easy to miss. You can ask a court to change your name when you become a citizen. You can also ask USCIS to share your information with the Social Security Administration, so it can issue a card or update your status after your oath.

How do I fill it out correctly?

These small rules come from the form's instructions, and they can prevent delays.

1. Use black ink and write clearly

   If you are filing on paper, type or print in black ink, and stay inside the answer spaces.

2. Answer every question

   If a question doesn't apply to you, write "N/A". If the answer to a number question is zero, write "None". Only skip a question if the instructions say to.

3. Add your A-Number to each page

   It goes at the top right. If your A-Number has fewer than nine digits, add zeros at the front. For example, A1234567 becomes A001234567.

4. Don't use correction fluid or tape

   USCIS's scanners can read through it. If you need to make big corrections, it recommends starting a new form.

5. Include every page and sign it

   Send all pages, even blank ones. Your signature must be handwritten. A photocopy or scan of a form with a handwritten signature is accepted.

If you file online, USCIS says to fill out all sections as completely as you can, and to follow the form's instructions for answers that are zero or don't apply. Check everything before you submit, because USCIS says you can't make changes to an online application afterward.

How should I answer the questions in Part 9?

Part 9 helps USCIS decide whether you have good moral character and are attached to the Constitution. Read each question slowly, and answer it truthfully. When a question says "EVER," the form says it means at any time, anywhere in the world, unless the question says otherwise. So it covers your whole life, not just your last 5 years. If you answer "yes" to the conduct questions, the form asks you to explain.

If you leave out an offense, USCIS may deny your application, even if the offense itself would not have been a problem. Lying under oath to get an immigration benefit is its own bar to citizenship. See our guides to good moral character and the questions an officer asks about your application.

If you would answer "yes" to one of these questions, or you aren't sure what a question means, talk to a legal professional before you file.

What can get my form rejected?

The instructions name several problems that can lead USCIS to reject your form.

• No signature, or a signature that isn't valid.
• No date of birth.
• No date you became a permanent resident, if you are one.
• No current, complete mailing address.
• More than one eligibility box checked, or none.
• Filing too early. This applies if you file more than 90 days before you meet the residence requirement, or if you don't yet meet another requirement.

How do I send my form and documents?

If you file online, you submit the form and pay through your USCIS account. If you file on paper, send it to the address USCIS lists for your situation, since using the wrong address can slow your case.

For your documents:

• Send copies, not originals, unless the instructions ask for an original. USCIS may destroy originals you send without being asked.
• Translate anything in a foreign language. You need a full English translation, with a signed statement from the translator that it is complete and accurate, that they are competent to translate, and with their contact details.
• Send evidence with your form. USCIS may accept evidence at your interview, but it asks for it when you file.
• Keep a copy of everything. You will confirm your answers under penalty of perjury at your biometrics appointment, and USCIS recommends reviewing your copy first.

After you file, USCIS sends a receipt notice. Our guide to what happens after you file covers the next steps.

If you live outside the U.S. and qualify to apply from abroad, you also need two passport-style photos. The instructions list the requirements.

Can someone help me with the form?

Yes, but be careful who you choose. If someone reads the form to you in another language, or fills it out for you, that person must sign the form in Part 12 or Part 13.

Attorneys and accredited representatives can represent you. In the U.S., a notary (notario) is not an attorney and cannot represent you. Our guide to avoiding immigration scams explains what to watch for.

When should I talk to an attorney?

You don't always need a lawyer to complete this form. But get legal advice before you file if any of these apply to you:

• You have ever been arrested, cited, or charged with anything.
• You would answer "yes" to any question in Part 9.
• You have taken long trips abroad, or you aren't sure you meet the time rules.
• You have ever said you were a U.S. citizen, or registered or voted in a U.S. election.
• You have been in removal proceedings.