US Citizenship Application: N-400 Steps, Test and Fees

You've had your green card for years, you've built a life here, and now you want the vote and the passport to match. For most permanent residents, the US citizenship application starts with Form N-400. The form is long, but the rules behind it are knowable.

Here's how the N-400 process works as of September 2026, including a tougher civics test and the return of neighborhood investigations.

Are you eligible for US citizenship?

Most applicants qualify through one of two routes.

You also need good moral character, basic English, knowledge of US history and government, and attachment to the principles of the Constitution. Under the 5-year rule, USCIS lists a minimum age of 18.

Continuous residence vs physical presence

These sound alike but measure different things. Physical presence counts the days you were actually in the US. Continuous residence asks whether long trips broke your US residence.

A trip of more than six months but less than a year is presumed to break continuous residence. You can rebut that with evidence such as keeping your US job, home or family here. A trip of a year or more breaks it automatically, unless an approved Form N-470 protects it for certain work abroad.

The 90-day early filing window

USCIS lets you file up to 90 calendar days before you complete your 5-year or 3-year period. Count carefully, because filing before the window opens is an easy mistake to avoid.

Say you're a lab technician from Manila who became a permanent resident on November 1, 2021. Your 5-year mark is November 1, 2026, so your early window opened on August 3, 2026. But you spent eight months in the Philippines caring for a parent in 2024. That trip is presumed to break continuous residence, so you'd gather proof that you kept your US job and apartment, or wait until you're safely past the rule, ideally after talking to an attorney.

Good moral character: what USCIS looks at now

You must show good moral character for the statutory period. An August 15, 2025 USCIS policy memo told officers to make a holistic assessment. That means weighing positive factors like education, work, family responsibilities and community ties, not just checking for the absence of crimes.

On August 25, 2026, USCIS reintroduced neighborhood investigations. USCIS can waive them case by case or for whole classes of cases. The same guidance says you may voluntarily submit character reference letters, preferably from US citizens who aren't family members, and USCIS weighs them when deciding whether to waive an investigation.

This policy is brand new and effective immediately for pending and new cases, so expect the details to evolve.

What's on the civics and English tests?

Which civics test you take depends on when you filed.

The English test has three parts. Your speaking is judged during the interview. You must read aloud one of three sentences correctly and write one of three sentences correctly.

If you're 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years or more, you get a test of 10 questions from a specially selected bank of 20. USCIS says you can also take it in your preferred language.

If you fail either part, USCIS retests you on that part between 60 and 90 days after your first interview.

How much does the N-400 cost?

These fees come from the USCIS fee schedule dated 09/09/26 and are current as of September 2026. Confirm them on the N-400 page before you pay.

Add the costs around the form: attorney fees if your case is complex, court records, translations, time off work for appointments, and your first passport. Legal fees vary widely, so get written quotes from licensed attorneys or accredited representatives.

The N-400 process, step by step

1. Check your dates. Confirm your residence start date, list every trip abroad and count your physical presence days.
2. Gather documents. Include your green card, marriage evidence for the 3-year rule, and court or tax records if relevant.
3. File Form N-400. File online through a USCIS account, or on paper if you're requesting a reduced fee or a fee waiver.
4. Complete background checks. USCIS runs security checks, which usually include a fingerprint (biometrics) appointment, and may conduct a neighborhood investigation.
5. Attend your interview. An officer reviews your application under oath and gives you the English and civics tests.
6. Get a decision. If you're denied, you can request a hearing on Form N-336.
7. Take the oath. USCIS sends a ceremony notice, or you may be sworn in the same day. You hand back your green card and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.

You aren't a US citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance. Check your certificate for errors before you leave the ceremony, and don't skip a scheduled ceremony without a good reason, since that can lead to denial.

Dual citizenship and getting your US passport

US law doesn't force you to choose. USAGov notes that US citizens may naturalize in another country without risking their US citizenship, that dual citizens owe allegiance to both countries, and that whether you can keep your other nationality depends on that country's policies.

Check your home country's rules before your oath, since some countries don't allow dual citizenship. And once you're American, you must use a US passport to enter and leave the United States.

That makes your first passport application an early priority, especially if you have trips planned. The State Department website lists the current forms, fees and processing times. USCIS says to wait at least 10 days after the ceremony before updating your Social Security record.

Common reasons N-400 applications are denied

• Breaking continuous residence with long trips, or not meeting the physical presence minimum.
• Good moral character problems, including arrests or conduct you didn't disclose.
• Failing the English or civics test twice.
• Filing too early, before the 90-day window opens.
• Inconsistent answers between your N-400, earlier immigration forms and your interview.
• Using unlicensed "immigration consultants." Our guide to job and visa scams targeting migrants explains how to spot them.

Your next steps

Pull together your travel history and count your days before you do anything else. If you got your green card through marriage, our marriage green card guide explains the conditional card you may need to clear first.

Next, download the official 2025 civics questions and practice out loud. Decide whether you qualify for the $380 reduced fee, since that means filing on paper.

If anything in your history is complicated, book a consultation with a licensed immigration attorney before you file. To see how citizenship fits with other routes for your relatives, read our overview of every US green card path.