Naturalization 101: Forms & Supporting Documents

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A list of the important forms needed for the naturalization process

As you continue on your journey to naturalization, there are certain documents that you will need to send to the USCIS to continue in the process. You can use this USCIS checklist to make sure you have all the documents you need for your specific application.

The N-400 Form:

The N-400 form is the official application for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. It is issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is used by lawful permanent residents to apply for citizenship. The form collects personal information, immigration history, and supporting documentation to assess eligibility and process the naturalization application. Before filling out the N-400 form, make sure you have the information below ready to input. You will need:

Your A-number
Your eligibility status (5 years in the US or 3 years living with an American spouse). To submit an application, you must have been a lawful permanent resident in the US for a timeframe of 3+ years, or 5 years if you don’t have a spouse who is a US citizen.
You will also need to include your travel history of trips into and out of the US for the N-400
Information about any disabilities you might need to have accommodated

Permanent Resident Card:

The Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a green card, is an official identification document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to foreign nationals who have been granted permanent residency in the United States. The card serves as proof of the individual's legal permanent resident status, allowing them to live and work in the country. You will need to send a photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card, or a photocopy of the receipt for your Form I-90 if you lost the Permanent Resident Card itself.

N-400 Fees

You will also need to send in a check or money order to cover the processing and biometric services fees that are required for the naturalization process. Currently, that fee is $595 for the process, and $85 for the biometric service, for a total of $680. You must send the $680.00 fee with your application. You should pay the fee with a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Do not use the initials DHS or USDHS. This fee cannot be paid through cash.

Residents of Guam should make the fee payable to the “Treasurer, Guam,” and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands should make the fee payable to the “Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.”

The M-480 Form:

The M-480 form, or the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet, does not need to be sent to the USCIS. However, it is a helpful guide that you can use which will help you with determining your eligibility to continue onwards with this process, and can save you a lot of effort and time.