Naturalization 101: The Process

A step-by-step overview to help you understand the naturalization process

The process of naturalization is a significant journey, with several clear steps that constitute the process. These steps can be complicated and difficult, but that’s where this guide comes in. In this article, we will go over the steps of the naturalization process in detail, so that you can easily go through every step without issue, and become a naturalized American citizen.

General Eligibility Requirements

• The first thing to check in this process is your green card. In order to file naturalization paperwork, you need to have held a green card for at least 5 years (there are only a few limited exceptions to this general requirement)
• You must be at least 18 years old
• Provide evidence that you have resided in the US continuously for the 5 years before you file your paperwork
• Prove that you’ve been physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of those 5 years
• Show evidence that you have lived in the area where you’re applying for naturalization for at least 3 months
• Prove that you are of good moral character, and have been a person of good moral character for the past 5 years before applying. This typically means that you can’t have an arrest record or anything else of that nature
• Demonstrate an attachment to the ideals and principles of the US Constitution, which would involve supporting and understanding concepts like individual rights, democracy, equality, and freedom. This can be conveyed through the naturalization interview, and the Oath of Allegiance.
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English
• Have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles, and form of government of the US
• Take the Oath of Allegiance to the US (which can also help prove the attachment to the ideals of the Constitution)

After verifying that you meet all of the requirements to apply for citizenship, you’re onto the next step.

The N-400 Form and Supporting Documents

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
• The documents listed out here, along with a check to cover the application and biometric service fees

Attending the Interview

Before you attend the mandatory interview in this process, it’s a good idea to prepare some responses to commonly asked questions in the interview. Below, you’ll see a few commonly asked interview questions and topics that will be covered, which will help you prepare for the interview itself.

1. Describe yourself, including your name, age, profession, and marital status
2. How many years have you had your green card?
3. Why do you want to be a US citizen?
4. What duties are exclusive to US citizens?
5. What is the purpose of each branch of the federal government?
6. Where do you live right now?

Preparing for the citizenship test: Useful resources

One of the final, and most important, stages of the naturalization process is the English and citizenship test. For the English test, you must read one out of three sentences aloud to demonstrate an understanding of English. You also must write one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate your understanding. The following links will give you the official content list for both the reading and writing sections of the English test.

reading_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)

writing_vocab.pdf (uscis.gov)

For the citizenship test, you will need to correctly answer 6 out of 10 randomly selected questions from the 100 question list provided by the USCIS. The test is oral, and covers the civic history of the US. To prepare for the test, you can use the link above, which has both questions and answers, or resources like an online citizenship test. As a final resource, you can use the videos linked below, which were produced by USCIS.

The Naturalization Interview and Test | USCIS

Naturalization Interview and Test: Episode 2 – The Naturalization Interview (youtube.com)

Naturalization Interview and Test: Episode 3 – The Civics Test

Naturalization Interview and Test: Episode 4 – The Reading and Writing Test