U.S. citizenship through naturalization

If you’re a permanent resident, you may be able to apply for U.S. citizenship with Form N-400. The general path requires five years as a resident. The usual marriage path lets you apply after three years as a resident if, for the three years before filing, you’ve lived in marital union with a spouse who has been a U.S. citizen that whole time. On that path you must stay married to that U.S. citizen until the oath. There are special rules, including for certain abuse cases and for military service.

Before applying, it’s worth checking whether you’re already a U.S. citizen through your parents. If so, the right step would be documenting your citizenship, not applying for it.

General requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Continuous residence during the required period and until you naturalize. An absence of more than six months but less than a year creates a presumption that it was broken, which you can try to overcome with evidence. An absence of a year or more normally breaks it, unless an exception applies. Frequent trips can also affect the analysis.
• Physical presence: on the usual paths, at least 30 months within the five years before filing, or 18 months within the three years if you’re applying through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
• In general, having lived at least three months in the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over where you live. There’s a special rule for certain early filings.
• Good moral character during the required period and until the oath. USCIS can also review relevant earlier conduct.
• English and civics: you normally must read, write, speak, and understand basic English, and pass a civics test. The exceptions that combine age and years as a resident exempt you from English, not from the civics requirement entirely. A qualifying disability can allow an exception to one or both tests.
• Attachment to the principles of the Constitution.

On the usual five- or three-year paths you can file up to 90 days before you meet the continuous residence requirement. That doesn’t move up the three years of marital union or your spouse’s three years of citizenship. The other requirements must also be met under the applicable rules. We confirm your earliest filing date before sending the application.

How it works

1. Application. You file Form N-400, online or on paper.
2. Fingerprints. USCIS tells you whether you need to attend an appointment for your biometrics.
3. Interview and tests. An officer reviews your application with you and gives you the tests that apply, unless an exception has been approved.
4. Decision. USCIS approves, denies, or asks for more information.
5. Oath. You normally become a citizen when you take the oath of allegiance. Approval of the application alone isn’t enough. There are limited exceptions to the oath requirement.

The civics test. If you filed your N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, the 2025 version applies to you: the officer asks you up to 20 questions from a bank of 128, and you pass with 12 correct answers. If, when you file, you’re 65 or older and have lived in the United States as a resident for at least 20 years, you can study a special list of 20 questions: you’re asked up to 10 and need 6 correct answers. You can take that test in your language with an interpreter. See USCIS’s tests and exceptions.

Cost

USCIS fees, verified as of October 14, 2026:

In some cases you can request a full fee waiver; that is also filed on paper. Check the amounts when you file at USCIS.

Our fee: a flat representation fee. We give it to you at your consultation and in writing before we start. We offer payment plans.

Timing

Times vary by USCIS office and include review of the application, the interview, and the oath ceremony. See USCIS processing times. There is no guaranteed total time.

Documents usually needed

Next step

Book a consultation with Visia to review your history, your trips, and any past issues before you file the N-400.