Once you have a green card (LPR status), the path to US citizenship is well-defined. The standard wait is 5 years, reduced to 3 years if married to a US citizen the entire time.

Eligibility for naturalization

You must:

  1. Be 18+ years old
  2. Have green card for 5 years (3 if married to USC and living together)
  3. Have physical presence in US for 30 months of last 5 years (18 months if 3-year rule)
  4. Have continuous residence — for any trip outside the US that lasted more than 6 months but less than 1 year, USCIS asks for evidence that you maintained continuous residence (USCIS, N-400)
  5. Live in the US state/USCIS district where you file for 3+ months
  6. Have good moral character (no major crimes, taxes filed, etc.)
  7. Pass English test (reading, writing, speaking) — with exceptions
  8. Pass civics test — for an N-400 filed on or after October 20, 2025 USCIS gives the 2025 civics test: 20 questions drawn from a list of 128, and you must answer 12 correctly (USCIS, Study for the Test). An N-400 filed before that date takes the 2008 test — up to 10 questions from a list of 100, 6 correct to pass; USCIS says the officer stops asking once you answer 6 correctly or 5 incorrectly.
  9. Be willing to take Oath of Allegiance

English test exceptions

  • Age 50+ with green card 20+ years (50/20 rule) — exempt from English
  • Age 55+ with green card 15+ years (55/15 rule) — exempt from English
  • Age 65+ with green card 20+ years (65/20 rule) — exempt from English; you study a specially designated bank of 20 civics questions, the officer asks 10 and you must answer 6 correctly, in the language of your choice

Form N-400 process

Step 1: File Form N-400

  • File online via my.uscis.gov — strongly recommended for tracking
  • Or file paper at appropriate USCIS Lockbox
  • Fee: $760 on paper or $710 online (includes biometrics)
  • Fee waiver available via Form I-912 (low income)
  • USCIS says that a reduced-fee or fee-waiver request cannot be filed with Form N-400 online: it requires a paper Form N-400 with the appropriate waiver request and required evidence (checked October 23, 2026).

Step 2: Biometrics appointment (4-8 weeks)

  • USCIS sends appointment notice
  • Local Application Support Center
  • Fingerprints, photo, signature

Step 3: Wait for interview (10-15 months current backlog)

  • USCIS sends interview appointment notice
  • Time to study civics + English

Step 4: Interview + tests

  • Interview: USCIS officer reviews application, asks questions about your background
  • English test: read a sentence, write a sentence dictated, speak with officer
  • Civics test: for an N-400 filed on or after October 20, 2025 the officer asks 20 questions from the 128-question 2025 list and you must answer 12 correctly (the test stops at 12 right or 9 wrong). For an N-400 filed before that date the 2008 test still applies: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, 6 correct to pass; USCIS says the officer stops asking once you answer 6 correctly or 5 incorrectly.

Step 5: Decision (same day or 30-120 days)

  • If approved: oath ceremony scheduled
  • If denied: written reasons, can appeal via Form N-336

Step 6: Oath of Allegiance ceremony

  • Could be same day as interview or scheduled later
  • Take Oath of Allegiance
  • Receive Certificate of Naturalization
  • You are a US citizen!

Study materials (FREE from USCIS)

  • Civics Practice Test: uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship
  • The civics question list + answers — 128 questions for the 2025 test (N-400 filed on or after October 20, 2025), or the older 100-question list for earlier filings
  • Civics Test Flashcards (mobile app)
  • English practice questions

Common pitfalls

  • ❌ Returning to home country while application pending without notification (can affect continuous residence)
  • ❌ Not filing taxes during 5-year period (perceived as bad moral character)
  • ❌ Missing the interview without rescheduling
  • ❌ Lying on N-400 (any prior arrests, marriages, departures must be disclosed)
  • ❌ Forgetting to update address via Form AR-11 (within 10 days of move)

Special situations

Spouse abused by USC during marriage

  • VAWA-based naturalization: 3 years required even after divorce

USC parent died after green card filed

  • Naturalize despite parent’s death

Selective Service registration

  • Males 18-25 living in US (any status) MUST register for Selective Service
  • Failure can affect N-400 approval

After citizenship

  • US passport: apply via travel.state.gov ($165 fee)
  • Voter registration: register at vote.gov — automatic in some states
  • Petition for family members: file Form I-130 for parents, siblings, children, spouses
  • Update Social Security: notify SSA of new status

Resources

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

← See all paths to legal status

General procedural information based on official sources. Not personalized legal advice.