To apply for US citizenship, you must submit Form N-400 along with proof of identity, green card copies, photos, and fees, plus supporting documents based on your history. Additional paperwork may be required for travel, marriage, military service, or legal matters.
Depending on various circumstances, you can expect to submit between 5 and 15 documents with your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization packet, which adjudicators from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will review before contacting you for a personal interview. The documents fall under three categories: core required, supporting evidence, and special circumstances. Naturalization is at the highest level of USCIS benefits available to immigrants, and it’s worth pursuing with the assistance of an immigration law firm.
What Are the Core Required Documents?
All applicants must prove their eligibility by completing and signing Form N-400 and submitting front and back copies of their green cards. Evidence of the $760 filing fee payment must be submitted. You must also include a copy of a state-issued driver’s license or identification card.
What Are Supporting Evidence Documents?
Supporting evidence depends on your travel history, taxes, and personal background disclosed in the answers you provided on the N-400 application. If you’ve taken at least one trip outside the US in the last five years, you must include travel records and copies of the passport used, including the pages corresponding to each trip. Most applicants are required to send copies of their Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcripts for the last five years or three years if you entered the US on a K-1 marriage visa. Include documents proving your marital history, including a death certificate if you’ve lost a spouse.
What Are Special Circumstances Documents?
Certain situations—such as marriage, military service, or legal history—require additional documentation. If you married a US citizen who has filed USCIS petitions on your behalf, include a copy of your spouse’s birth certificate and proof of citizenship if naturalized. Military members on active or reserve status must submit Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. If you changed your name, include copies of the corresponding court records. Include police and court records if you indicated an arrest or conviction on Form N-400. Male applicants who lived in the US between the ages of 18 and 26 must submit copies of their Selective Service Registration cards. For the best advice about other paths to citizenship, such as San Diego employment-based visas and employer-sponsored petitions, immigrants should consult experienced immigration attorneys.
Should I Submit Copies or Originals?
Most documents should be submitted as copies, but some forms and legal records must be originals. With a few exceptions, the Form N-400 instructions ask for copies. The N-426 form to request military records must be an original. The same applies to court documents and statements from law enforcement agencies. USCIS will return the originals via regular mail to the address on the N-400.
If you need information on any aspect of immigration, contact KS Visa Law today. From family immigration law to naturalization, we can address all your immigration-related needs. Call to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with a top San Diego immigration lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pass citizenship tests?
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Most applicants must pass a two-part naturalization test. While the English language reading, speaking, and writing part hasn’t changed, the civics part of the test became more rigorous in late 2025.
Do most permanent residents become citizens?
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Yes, but the percentage is getting smaller each year. As of late 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated up to 65 percent of green card holders pursue naturalization.
What’s the cost of US citizenship?
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If you split the process between Adjustment of Status and naturalization, the summary of filing fees, medical exams, and biometrics is almost $3,400. Some fees can be waived for applicants facing specific circumstances.
How long does the naturalization process last?
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In early 2026, USCIS administrators reported waiting times between six and nine months for most N-400 applications. You usually get a biometrics appointment after a month, and the interview is scheduled approximately six months later.
