The citizenship application, in plain terms
Form N-400 is the Application for Naturalization. A lawful permanent resident — a green-card holder — files it to ask USCIS for US citizenship. It is the longest form most applicants will ever complete for USCIS: it collects your immigration history, addresses, family details, trips outside the country, and a long bank of yes/no background questions.
Timing matters. USCIS lets you file up to 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous-residence requirement, if you are applying as a permanent resident of at least 5 years, or at least 3 years while married to a US citizen. Other paths exist, such as military service — the eligibility rules on uscis.gov decide who qualifies, not this page.
One detail many applicants miss: once USCIS properly receives your N-400, the receipt notice automatically extends your green card for 2 years past its printed expiry date. You carry the notice together with the card as proof of your status while the application is pending.
N-400 facts checked against uscis.gov
| Form | N-400, Application for Naturalization |
|---|---|
| Current edition | 01/20/25 — printed at the bottom of every page of the form and its instructions |
| Filing fee | $760 on paper, $710 online; $380 with an approved reduced-fee request; $0 with an approved fee waiver (Form I-912) |
| How to file | Online through a USCIS account, or on paper by mail to the direct filing address USCIS lists for the N-400 |
| Earliest filing | 90 calendar days before you complete the 5-year (or 3-year marriage-based) continuous-residence requirement |
| After filing | Biometrics at an application support center unless USCIS waives it, then the interview and tests |
| Official source | uscis.gov/n-400 — form download, instructions, and current fees |
Checked against the official USCIS N-400 page in August 2026. Fees and rules change — confirm them on uscis.gov before you file.
Start with the right PDF edition
USCIS accepts the current edition, dated 01/20/25. The date sits at the bottom of each page. USCIS warns that it may reject your form if pages are missing or come from different editions — a real risk when an old copy from your downloads folder gets mixed with new pages.
So download a fresh copy from uscis.gov/n-400, then upload that exact PDF here. Filling it on screen keeps every page in one file, in one edition, with the page footers intact — and typed answers stay legible on a form this long.
Working through the N-400 on screen
- Upload the PDF at the filler. You see one page at a time and can jump to any page of the form, so the length stays manageable.
- Pick your filing basis in Part 1. The first part asks which eligibility rule you are applying under — the 5-year path, the 3-year marriage path, military service, and so on. One check mark here shapes how officers read the rest of your answers, so match it to the official instructions.
- Type the history sections. Click any line and type — names, A-Number, addresses, employers, marriages, children, and time spent outside the US. The filler reads the form's own font and sizes your text to fit each box. The exact part-by-part layout is in the USCIS instructions PDF.
- Use check marks for the question banks. Much of the N-400 is yes/no boxes about your background and moral character. The check and X tools drop clean marks inside small boxes — no pen scratches, no ambiguous answers.
- Handle Part 10 with care. Part 10 is the reduced-fee request. USCIS's filing tips say: paying the full fee, select "No" in Part 10, Item 1, and continue to Part 11. Requesting the $380 reduced fee, select "Yes", complete the rest of Part 10, and attach your supporting documents.
- Sign before you print. USCIS states it rejects any unsigned form. Draw your signature once and place it where the form asks for it.
- Download, print, and mail. Download the finished PDF, print it, attach your documents and payment, and send it to the direct filing address USCIS lists for the N-400. Need more than one sitting first? Save it as a project and come back.
Paper route or online route — the rules differ
USCIS gives you two ways to file. Online filing runs through a USCIS account: you pay the $710 fee there, track your case, and respond to requests for evidence in the account. Paper filing costs $760 and goes by mail; USCIS asks you to use the correct direct filing address, and warns that the wrong address can slow your case. If you attach Form G-1145, USCIS emails or texts you when its lockbox accepts the form.
The routes are not interchangeable for everyone. A reduced-fee request or a fee-waiver request cannot be filed online — USCIS requires a paper N-400 with the waiver evidence attached. Fee-waiver filers send Form I-912 (or a written request) and no payment.
Whichever route you take, the USCIS checklist asks every applicant for a copy of both sides of their green card, plus documents that fit their situation — a current marriage certificate and proof that prior marriages ended, court records for any arrests, or evidence of residence for long trips abroad. Any document in a foreign language needs a certified English translation.
N-400 answers: PDF, fee, and filing
Where do I get the N-400 form PDF?
Only from uscis.gov/n-400 — that guarantees the current 01/20/25 edition with correct page footers. Upload that PDF here to fill it on screen instead of by hand.
How much does it cost to file Form N-400?
Per USCIS's filing tips: $760 on paper, $710 online, $380 with an approved reduced-fee request, and no fee with an approved fee waiver. Confirm the current amount on the USCIS fee schedule before you pay.
Can I file the N-400 online instead of by mail?
Yes, through a USCIS online account — unless you request a reduced fee or a fee waiver. Those requests must go on a paper N-400 with the supporting evidence.
Is this the official USCIS filing system?
No. AnyPDFfiller prepares the PDF — you still file it yourself, either by mailing the printed form or by using USCIS online filing. We are not connected to USCIS.
Do I have to finish it in one sitting?
No. Save your work as a project and return as often as you need — useful on a form that asks for years of addresses, jobs, and travel dates you may have to look up.
What happens to my green card while the N-400 is pending?
Your N-400 receipt notice automatically extends the card for 2 years past its expiry date. Carry both together. If the card itself is lost, USCIS says you generally still file Form I-90.
Forms that often travel with the N-400
- Form G-28 — if an attorney or accredited representative handles your case, USCIS requires this notice of appearance with your N-400.
- Form I-90 — replaces a lost or expiring green card. USCIS notes you generally still file it even while your naturalization application is pending.
- Form I-485 — the adjustment-of-status application many N-400 filers used years earlier to get the green card in the first place.
AnyPDFfiller is an independent PDF tool — not a government site, not affiliated with USCIS, and not a source of legal advice. Whether you qualify to naturalize is decided by USCIS under its own rules, so rely on the official N-400 instructions or a licensed immigration attorney for your situation.
