If you wish to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, you must fill out and file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You do not want to jeopardize this first step towards setting up a permanent life in this country. This is to say that you must ensure you effectively prove your eligibility to obtain this status. That said, please read on to discover the general criteria needed to qualify for Form N-400 and how one of the seasoned Lancaster County naturalization lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you through this entire application process.

What are the general provisions needed to qualify for Form N-400?

The first piece of information you will be asked for in Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is to identify your reason for filing and the basis of your eligibility. This is because not just anyone is qualified to pursue this pathway toward citizenship. Without further ado, the general provisions are as follows:

  • You are at least 18 years old at the time of filing.
  • You must have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five years.
    • Or, three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.
  • You must have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least five years.
    • Or, three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.
  • You must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of these five years.
    • Or, 18 months out of three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.
  • You must demonstrate good moral character (i.e., you did not commit a disqualifying crime within the past three to five years).

What is the general process after filing this application?

Once you note your basis of eligibility and gather supplemental evidence to prove so, you may submit your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to the USCIS. Importantly, this should not be done without paying the mandatory $760 filing fee, unless you apply to reduce or waive it separately.

After this, the USCIS may send a notice regarding your scheduled biometrics appointment. Here, you may have to go to your local USCIS Application Support Center to get your fingerprints and photo taken. This may be used for the USCIS’s subsequent background checks against you.

Also, at this time, you may be scheduled for a naturalization interview and exam. During your interview, a USCIS officer may ask questions similar to the ones posed in your Form N-400. To avoid any problems, you must ensure that your answers accurately line up with the information you provided in your application.

Then, you may have to submit to English language and civics exams. The former will test your ability to read aloud and write down sentences using the English language. The latter will test your knowledge of the U.S. government and the country’s geography. Hopefully, you can pass all these points and attend a ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. This makes you an official citizen.

We understand that you must be eager to start this process. So, without further delay, please schedule your initial consultation with one of the competent Lancaster County naturalization lawyers from Lupton Law LLC today.