US NATURALIZATION APPLICATION (N-400) - COMPREHENSIVE

PREAMBLE - US NATURALIZATION FRAMEWORK

This Naturalization Checklist guides applicants through the USCIS N-400 Application for Naturalization. Legal Framework: INA §316 (Naturalization requirements), INA §101(a)(20) (Permanent resident), INA §327 (Naturalization of spouses), 8 CFR §337 (English/Civics test).

1.1 Applicant Identification: Per INA §316(a) (Applicant info):
• Full Legal Name: [Last name, First name, Middle name]
• Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
• Country of Birth: [____________________]
• Current Citizenship: [____________________]
• USCIS A-Number (Alien Number): [A-##-###-###] (from Green Card) per INA §101(a)(3)
• SSN (Social Security Number): [###-##-####]
• Current Address: [Street, City, State, Zip]

2.1 Permanent Residence Requirement (CRITICAL - 5 OR 3 YEARS): Per INA §316(a) (Permanent residence requirement):
• REGULAR PATH: 5 years continuous PR status per §316(a)
• SPOUSE OF US CITIZEN PATH: 3 years continuous PR status per INA §327(a)
• Date Green Card Issued: [____________________]
• Form I-485 Approval Date: [____________________] (or I-130/I-140 approval) per §316(a)
2.2 Continuous Residence (NO BREAKS >6 MONTHS): Per INA §316(a) (Continuous residence):
• Applicant must have CONTINUOUS residence in US per §316(a)
• Absence >6 months BREAKS continuity (must restart 5-year clock) per §316(a)
• Total time in US since PR: [_____ Years _____ Months]
• Any absences >6 months? ☐ Yes (dates: ____________) ☐ No per §316(a)

3.1 Physical Presence Requirement (STRICT CALCULATION): Per INA §316(a) (Physical presence):
• Requirement: 30 months PHYSICALLY PRESENT in US during last 5 years per §316(a)
• OR: 18 months if married to US citizen (3-year rule) per INA §327(a)
• Calculation: Each day in US = 1 day credit per §316(a)
• Days outside US in last 5 years: [_____] days = [_____ months]
• Total months physically present: [_____ months] (MUST BE ≥30 months per §316(a))
3.2 State/District of Filing (JURISDICTION): Per INA §316(b) (Filing jurisdiction):
• State of Residence: [__________________________]
• USCIS District/Service Center: [__________________________] per §316(b)
• Longest time outside US (single trip): [_____ months] (must be ≤6 months per §316(a))

4.1 English Test (MANDATORY PER INA §312): Per INA §312 (English language requirement) & 8 CFR §337 (English test components):
• Speaking: Demonstrated during interview (USCIS officer determines adequacy) per 8 CFR §337(a)(1)
• Reading: Read 1 of 3 sentences correctly per 8 CFR §337(b)
• Writing: Write 1 of 3 sentences correctly per 8 CFR §337(c)
• Test Date/Result: [____________________] ☐ PASS ☐ FAIL per 8 CFR §337
4.2 English Test Exemptions (AGE + DURATION): Per INA §312(b)(1) (Exemptions):
✓ Age 50+ WITH 20 years PR = EXEMPT per §312(b)(1)(A)
✓ Age 55+ WITH 15 years PR = EXEMPT per §312(b)(1)(B)
• Eligible for exemption? ☐ Yes (submit evidence) ☐ No per §312(b)(1)

5.1 Civics Knowledge Requirement (MANDATORY): Per INA §312(a)(1) (Civics test) & 8 CFR §337(d) (Civics test scoring):
• Format: Oral examination of 10 civics questions from USCIS 100-question pool per 8 CFR §337(d)
• Passing Score: 6 of 10 correct (60%) per 8 CFR §337(d)
• Topics Covered per 8 CFR §337(d):
• US Constitution & Amendments (Bill of Rights per 1st Amendment)
• Three Branches of Government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial per US Constitution Art. I-III)
• US History (Declaration of Independence, Civil War, etc.) per INA §312(a)(1)
• Rights & Responsibilities of Citizens per US Constitution
• Civics Test Date: [____________________] | Score: [____ / 10] ☐ PASS ☐ FAIL per 8 CFR §337(d)
5.2 Civics Test Exemptions (AGE + DURATION): Per INA §312(b)(1) (Civics exemptions):
✓ Age 65+ WITH 20 years PR = Can take SIMPLIFIED civics (25-question pool, 8 correct) per §312(b)(1)(C)
• Eligible? ☐ Yes ☐ No per §312(b)(1)(C)

6.1 Good Moral Character Requirement (CRITICAL): Per INA §316(b) (Good moral character) & INA §101(f) (Definition):
• Applicant must demonstrate "good moral character" during last 5 years per §316(b)
• Disqualifying Conduct per INA §101(f) (Crimes involving moral turpitude):
✗ Crime of moral turpitude per §101(f)(1)
✗ Drug trafficking per §101(f)(1)
✗ DUIs (generally acceptable with evidence of rehabilitation) per §101(f)
✗ Multiple traffic violations (may indicate lack of GMC) per §101(f)
• Criminal Background Check: ☐ No felonies ☐ No drug offenses ☐ No immigration fraud per INA §101(f)
6.2 Supporting Evidence (GOOD MORAL CHARACTER): Per INA §316(b):
• Letters of recommendation from employers/community members per §316(b)
• Evidence of charitable work, community involvement per §316(b)
• Proof of tax filing (IRS returns last 5 years) per §316(b)
• FBI background check (USCIS will order) per §316(b)

7.1 Oath of Allegiance (BINDING COMMITMENT): Per INA §337(i) (Oath):
• Applicant must take oath: "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty... I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion..." per INA §337(i)
• Ceremony Date: [____________________] per §337(i)
• Oath Administered By: ☐ USCIS Officer ☐ Federal Judge per §337(i)
7.2 Certificate of Naturalization (OFFICIAL DOCUMENT): Per INA §337(j) (Certificate):
• Issued after oath at naturalization ceremony per §337(j)
• Certificate Number: [____________________] per §337(j)
• Acquisition of US Citizenship: EFFECTIVE upon oath per §337(j)

8.1 N-400 Filing Fees (USCIS CHARGES): Per USCIS current fee schedule:
• Filing Fee: USD [approximately $640] per USCIS fee schedule per INA §316
• Biometrics Fee: USD [approximately $85] per USCIS per §316
• Total: USD [approximately $725] per §316
8.2 Fee Waiver / Reduction (FORM I-912): Per INA §345(c) (Fee waivers):
• Income <130% federal poverty line = FEE WAIVER per INA §345(c)
• Income 130-185% federal poverty line = FEE REDUCTION (50%) per INA §345(c)
• Submit Form I-912 (Application for Fee Waiver/Reduction) per §345(c)
• Eligible for waiver? ☐ Yes (submit I-912) ☐ No per §345(c)

9.1 Timeline (TYPICAL - 8-12 MONTHS): Per INA §316(a):
• File N-400: [____________________] per §316(a)
• Biometrics Appointment: [____________________] (fingerprinting) per §316(a)
• Interview/Test Date: [____________________] (English + Civics + Interview) per §316(a)
• Decision: ☐ Approved ☐ Denied ☐ Pending per §316(a)
• Oath Ceremony: [____________________] per INA §337(i)
9.2 Appeal Rights (IF DENIED): Per INA §346(a) (Judicial review):
• If N-400 denied: Applicant may appeal to federal court within 60 days per INA §346(a)
• May retake English/Civics tests per INA §316

10.1 US Citizen Rights (EFFECTIVE UPON OATH): Per INA §337(i) (Citizenship acquisition):
✓ US Passport per 22 USC §211 (Passport issuance)
✓ Right to vote per US Constitution Amendment 15
✓ Hold federal/state office per US Constitution Art. II §1
✓ Petition for family members per 8 USC §1255 (Immigrant visa petition)
10.2 Citizenship Responsibilities (ONGOING OBLIGATIONS): Per INA §337(i) (Oath obligations):
✓ Obey US laws per INA §337(i)
✓ Pay taxes per IRC §1 (Income tax)
✓ Serve on jury if called per 28 USC §1861 (Jury service)
✓ Bear arms (if needed) per US Constitution Amendment 2