Most persons seeking to be naturalized as a United States citizen must meet the following requirements:

a) Be a lawful permanent resident of the United States;
b) Be at least 18 years of age at the time of filing the application for naturalization;
c) Maintain a physical presence in the United States for at least half of the required residence time preceding the date of filing the application. The residence time is five years, unless naturalization is based on marriage to a US citizen in which case it is only three years. A person is permitted to file their application for naturalization three months prior to meeting the physical presence requirement;
d) Not have abandoned their physical presence in the United States;
e) Reside within the state or within the USCIS district where the application will be filed for at least three months immediately preceding the filing of the application;
f) Be a person of good moral character during the three or five year statutory period;
g) Be attached to the principals of the Constitution of the United States;
h) Be able to speak, read, and write the English language (unless exempt there from); and
i) Pass an oral test on the history and government of the United States.

Please read the instructions, attached to the naturalization application form N-400, carefully to determine who can file the application and what documents will be needed to meet the naturalization requirements.

The completed application, together with filing fee, photographs, copy of the alien card, and photo ID should be mailed to the immigration service center in the United States that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. A complete list of service centers is included on our web site and in the instructions to the form.

Note: Whenever you mail any forms or documents to the immigration service, you should always do so by certified mail-return receipt requested, or by some form of express mail for which you can obtain proof of receipt. This is very important in the event immigration loses your application. In that event you can submit your proof of receipt, with evidence of payment, and you can continue the processing of the case by presenting a duplicate of everything that was previously filed.

The immigration service center will send you an appointment to be fingerprinted at an application support center. Then, when the fingerprint clearance has been received, together with your original resident alien file, you will be scheduled for an interview on your application at the citizenship office closest to your place of residence in the United States.

At that time, your application will be reviewed and you will be questioned on your knowledge of the government and history of the United States, as well as your ability to speak, read, and write the English language. After you pass this exam, you will be scheduled for a final swearing in appointment where you will be granted US citizenship.