Form N-400 Processing Time

What Happens Afterward Filing Class N-400, Application for Naturalization

As an applicant for U.S. citizenship, you're probably anxious to know what happens after filing Form Due north-400, Awarding for Naturalization, and how long it takes to become a naturalized citizen.

Although the steps that take place are adequately consequent, the Class N-400 processing time will vary based on the USCIS case load, the USCIS office where you filed, and your ability to properly file an accurately prepared naturalization application package. The following outline describes the bones steps of the Northward-400 time line for well-nigh people.

Form N-400 processing time line, what happens after filing for naturalization

Receipt of Awarding

APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 WEEKS Later FILING

If you lot properly file Form Due north-400, Application for Naturalization, USCIS will initially respond by mailing yous a receipt notice that confirms receipt of your awarding. Formally known as Form I-797C, Notice of Activeness (see case beneath), the receipt notice typically arrives 2 to 3 weeks after filing. If you did non properly file your Course Due north-400, USCIS will send a Find of Action to refuse the application or may transport a Asking for Bear witness that requests boosted items. Either will significantly delay your request. Thus, it is vital to prepare the naturalization application package correctly and submit all required supporting documents.

I-797c receipt notice during N-400 time line

Tip: Relieve this important letter. It contains your 10-digit receipt number. Y'all tin can use this receipt number to check your instance status. If you didn't receive a Notice of Action, you lot tin can make a case inquiry.

Nearly 9% of Course Northward-400 applications are rejected, and thousands more are denied. A poorly prepared application can also delay the approval process and even create pregnant clearing issues. When you fix your N-400 on CitizenPath, we provide simple, pace-by-step instructions and alerts to help you avert plush delays. We even guarantee USCIS will corroborate your application. No credit menu is required to try information technology.

approval guarantee for N-400 citizenship application

Engagement Observe for Biometrics

APPROXIMATELY 3 TO five WEEKS AFTER FILING

Side by side, you volition receive an date notice that assigns your biometrics appointment appointment, fourth dimension and location. (The location will mostly be the USCIS Awarding Support Eye nearest you.) USCIS requires applicants to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting a security clearance and criminal background bank check. Don't be alarmed — All applicants must take background checks.

Tip: If you are 75 years onetime or older at the time of filing, the biometric service fee will be waived. Nevertheless, y'all will be required to attend a biometrics appointment regardless of historic period. If you lot didn't receive your biometrics appointment notice, you tin make a case inquiry.

Biometrics Engagement

APPROXIMATELY five TO eight WEEKS AFTER FILING

The biometrics appointment, also known every bit a biometrics screening, is generally a curt appointment (approximately 30 minutes) so that USCIS tin collect your fingerprints, photograph and signature. Your appointment notice will tell you what you lot need to take to the appointment. Expect to accept some form of government-issued photo identification to enter the building. USCIS can accept ID documents such as:

  • Passport or national photograph identification issued by your country
  • Driver'south license
  • Armed services photo identification
  • Land-issued photograph identification carte du jour

biometrics appointment during naturalization processing time line

This is non an interview. The appointment's purpose is to collect your biometrics data only. Endeavour to attend the appointment as scheduled. Rescheduling the biometrics will bear upon the N-400 processing time. To acquire more near the appointment, read USCIS biometrics appointment.

Tip: If y'all retrieve you might have a criminal record (even a DUI), contact an immigration lawyer before going to a biometrics appointment. Some crimes volition brand you lot ineligible for clearing benefits. A lawyer can asking a groundwork check before USCIS does and deal with it as necessary.

Date Notice for Naturalization Interview

APPROXIMATELY five TO 9 MONTHS AFTER FILING

Afterward completing the biometrics appointment, USCIS will ship another appointment find for your naturalization interview. Make every attempt to nourish the interview time as scheduled for you. Rescheduling an interview may add together several months to the naturalization process. By at present you should be preparing — get to How to Gear up for the Citizenship Interview and Test.

The interview notice volition arrive by mail as some other Form I-797, Notice of Activity. The naturalization interview will be scheduled at a USCIS facility nigh you lot, and it probably will concluding less than 30 minutes.

Tip: Yous must notify USCIS if you lot modify your address after filing your Form N-400 within 10 days of your relocation past filing Course AR-11, Alien's Change of Address. You also must call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 to alter the address with your pending North-400 application.

Naturalization Interview

APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 11 MONTHS AFTER FILING

At the interview, a USCIS officer will typically get through the unabridged North-400 application to confirm that the answers previously provided are still correct. In fact, your ability to sympathise these questions and answers is part of your English comprehension test. Additionally, they volition ask you to read and write a sentence in English language, will administer the history/civics examination, and volition review the results from your background bank check. If there are any problems that are out of the ordinary, like a previous arrest or if taxes are owed to the government, so further questions and examination are ordinarily done.

  • If you are informed at the interview that you've received a preliminary approval for naturalization, then the side by side step volition be to wait for the notice with the identify and time of the oath anniversary. An applicant does not officially become a U.s.a. denizen until after he or she is sworn in at the Oath Anniversary.
  • In some cases, the USCIS officer will not be able to make a conclusion on the application for naturalization on the 24-hour interval of your interview. In these cases, the USCIS officeholder will continue your instance. This may include a request for you to provide additional evidence or require a second interview. Read virtually the almost common reasons N-400 applications are continued or denied.

naturalization interview during N-400 processing time line

Afterwards your interview, USCIS will give you Form N-652, Naturalization Interview Results. It provides you with information about the results of your interview. They will either grant, go along, or deny your naturalization application after your interview.

  • Granted — USCIS may approve your Form Due north-400 if the evidence on record establishes your eligibility for naturalization.
  • Continued – USCIS may continue your Form North-400 if you failed a test or did non give USCIS the correct documents. This will add time to your case as you lot right the problem.
  • Denied — USCIS will deny your Form N-400 if the evidence on record establishes you are not eligible for naturalization.

Tip: There are numerous costless resources to assist you ready for the U.S. citizenship test and interview.

Notice of Oath Ceremony

APPROXIMATELY 1 TO four WEEKS AFTER INTERVIEW

If your interview was successful, you will soon receive a find to take the Oath of Allegiance (N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony). The notice will include a request to answer some boosted questions that will be submitted at the bodily oath anniversary. See a sample >>

Tip: If y'all cannot attend your scheduled naturalization ceremony, return the notice, Form Due north-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Anniversary, to your local USCIS office, along with a letter requesting a new date and explanation why yous cannot attend the scheduled naturalization ceremony. Declining to appear more than once for your naturalization ceremony may lead to a denial of your application.

Adjuration of Allegiance Ceremony

APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 12 MONTHS AFTER FILING

You are not a U.S. citizen until yous take the Oath of Fidelity at a naturalization ceremony. The adjuration is administered by USCIS at an administrative ceremony or by a gauge in a judicial anniversary. A court has exclusive authority to bear the ceremonies in certain USCIS districts. After taking the Oath of Fidelity, you will turn in your green card and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Congratulations!

Tip: Review your Document of Naturalization and notify USCIS of whatsoever corrections to your certificate earlier leaving the anniversary site.

Form N-400 Processing Fourth dimension Summary

HOW LONG DOES Information technology Take TO Get A U.S. Denizen?

Subsequently filing Form Due north-400, Application for Naturalization, and related forms, your Due north-400 processing time tin can accept anywhere from 8 to 12 months. This is an approximation. It may exist shorter for some and longer for others. In some cases, USCIS will make a request for additional information or even schedule an additional interview. Don't forget — you can check your example status online with your receipt number. The USCIS website besides lists normal processing times. If you believe that your case is exterior the normal processing times, yous tin make a instance inquiry.