How to apply for US citizenship and US passport
To apply for US citizenship, you must file Form N-400 with USCIS. After which you get the American passport. Before submitting an application for citizenship to USCIS, you need to find out if you are eligible to apply for citizenship by meeting the main citizenship eligibility requirements and criteria. Once you have US citizenship status, you can enjoy the full benefits of being a US citizen.
Step 1: Check your eligibility to apply for US citizenship and American passport
For most people, the requirement is that you have held a green card for at least 5 years. However, if you are married to a US citizen, you must have been a green card holder for at least 3 years and meet other requirements.
Step 2: Prepare Form N-400
If you find yourself eligible for US citizenship, the next step is to prepare Form N-400. Form N-400 is the application for naturalization. Form N-400 is 20 pages long and contains 18 pages of instructions from USCIS. The N-400 is long and complex. Errors in Form N-400 may result in denial, refusal, and lost filing fees. This may result in a repeat process and payment of the registration fee.
To apply for citizenship, you need to file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. You must also include supporting evidence to USCIS. Because the N-400 form is long and complex, you need to make sure you prepare your N-400 carefully.
Step 3: Prepare supporting documents
When you file Form N-400, you also need to submit some supporting documents. It is important to prepare these documents carefully to avoid redoing the process. The immigration process in the United States takes a really long time. If you fail to provide the required documents, this may result in extended processing times or sometimes outright rejection of your application. Be sure to include all necessary supporting documents if you are filling out the form yourself.
The most common supporting documents required are:
A copy of your green card.
Two passport size photos.
More documents will be required depending on your immigration status. Since you need to provide a copy of your green card, it is best to renew your green card before applying for citizenship if it is expired. Although this is not legal, it is best to renew your green card before applying for US citizenship, as a green card holder is required by law to hold a valid green card as proof of permanent residence.
Step 4: Submit the citizenship application along with the registration fee
Once you have prepared Form N-400 and have the required supporting documents, you need to submit your citizenship application to USCIS and pay the registration fee. Currently, the citizenship application fee is $725. This includes the Form N-400 processing cost of $640 and the bio-metrics fee of $85. If you pay the filing fee with a credit card, you need to include Form G-1450 along with Form N-400 and supporting documents.
There are a few more points to keep in mind as this is an expensive process:
If your application is denied by USCIS, your filing fee may not be refunded.
You may qualify for a fee waiver. If you qualify, you need to fill out Form I-912, Application for Fee Waiver.
You need to sort the final application that includes Form N-400, supporting documents, and any other forms based on your immigration status.
How to apply for US citizenship and US passport
March 14, 2023