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Filling Out USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization

Anyone applying for U.S. citizenship through a process called naturalization is required to complete Form N-400 Application for Naturalization, created by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The form requires essential biographical information and asks questions to ensure applicants meet citizenship eligibility prerequisites. 

To obtain Form N-400, individuals can call USCIS or visit their website. However, the application must be completed and submitted error-free; therefore, applicants may want to use a filing service company like FileRight.com. Their automated software streamlines the application process and improves accuracy.

Tips for Completing Your USCIS Form N-400 

USCIS agents will likely judge your petition based on how carefully and legibly your immigration paperwork is prepared. An application riddled with errors, typos, and incorrect information will likely be rejected. Therefore, it’s vital to type your responses or print legibly in black ink and: 

Use Additional Pages if You Need Them 

Your response in several locations on your naturalization application may be longer than the space on the form; consequently, you should attach a separate sheet of paper to your application and write “please see attachment” in the relevant area on your Form N-400.

At the top of each attached page, print or type out:

• Your name
• Your A-Number (Alien Registration Number, if any) 
• “Attachment to Form N-400”

Under this information, notate the page number, the part number, and the item number to which your response is referencing.

Be Honest in Your Responses

False statements or lies are taken seriously by the USCIS. However, some naturalization applicants feel they must hide the truth; otherwise, the government may deny their citizenship.

Yet, responding dishonestly on your Form N-400 can get you into more trouble than the issue you are trying to cover up. For example, above the place where you are required to sign your name, it states that “under penalty of perjury,” the information you’ve supplied is “complete, true, and correct.

Perjury, if charged, is a serious crime that will likely cause you to be barred from citizenship. In addition, lying can undermine your ability to demonstrate good moral character, a fundamental requirement for citizenship applicants.

Furthermore, even if your lie or false statement isn’t discovered immediately, it could result in your citizenship status being overturned whenever it’s found out, which could be years later.

Do Not Leave Answers Blank

If a question on your application for naturalization does not apply to your specific circumstances, rather than leaving the space blank, write “N/A” which means not applicable. 

Also, if your answer requires a numeric response, and your answer is none or zero (for example, “how many times have you departed the U.S.?”), print or type “none.”

If you are unsure how to answer a question appropriately, talk to an immigration lawyer.

 

Do Not Cross Out Mistakes

Avoid crossing out, highlighting, printing, or typing beyond the location designated for responses. If you need to make considerable changes to your application for naturalization, you should obtain a new form instead of using correction fluid or tape to blank out mistakes. 

USCIS document scanners may read through the correction fluid or tape, resulting in incorrect data being input into their computer system. This could cause the UCIS to delay processing your N-400 petition, or worse, it could be rejected entirely.

 

Ensure You Are Consistent with Previous Immigration Petitions

Go through your paperwork or computer files that you’ve already submitted to USCIS authorities. Look over the information and make sure it corresponds with what you are entering on your Form N-400. 

However, you should correct minor mistakes or typographical errors that may have been on previous applications. Be prepared to explain any errors and supply documentation supporting the accurate information or situation.

 

Avoid Stapling Your Form N-400

There are no hard and fast rules regarding assembling your application pages; however, stapling or puncturing the barcode might hinder the USCIS’s ability to process your Form N-400 correctly. Use fasteners or heavy clips instead.

 

Make Sure Your Form Is Completed, Signed, and Filed Properly

When you’ve completed your Form N-400, read it over and sign it. Note that USCIS will reject your application if you’ve typewritten or stamped your name instead of a signature.

When filing your form, ensure every page is included, even if some pages are blank. USCIS allows you to submit a photocopy of your application as long as its signatures are original and handwritten.

Consider an Immigration Paperwork Filing Company

Rather than risking mistakes by completing your Form N-400 application on your own, you may want to utilize a company like FileRight.com that uses immigration software to check for:

• Dates that conflict.
• Locations or names are spelled inconsistently throughout your petition.
• Mistakes or typos that may slow processing.
• Missing information.
• Qualification prerequisites. If you don’t meet the necessary criteria for naturalization, you will be alerted to this fact before you spend extra time and money.

Additionally, they assemble your application package for you and include a pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope so that you only need to sign your forms and drop them in the mail. Contact FileRight.com for more information.