New York · est. 2013Saturday, September 5, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Formularios · Citizenship

Naturalisation

The application to become a U.S. citizen. A permanent resident applies after five years of residence, or three if married to and living with a U.S. citizen, and must show continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English and civics knowledge, and attachment to the Constitution. It ends with an interview, a test, and the oath.

Tiempo habitual: 7.1 months national median in FY 2026, and 3.0 months for military applications.Tarifas: $710 to $760, or $380 on the reduced fee, or $0 for qualifying military applicants and approved fee waivers. An appeal costs $780 to $830.

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Para quién es. Lawful permanent residents who meet the residence and character requirements, and service members under INA 328 and 329.

Los formularios, en orden

5 formularios
N-400N-648N-426G-1256N-336
  1. 1

    Check the residence and physical presence maths

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    5 years, or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen; 90-day early filing allowed
    Tarifa
    $0

    Absences of six months or more raise a presumption that continuous residence was broken.

  2. 2

    File Form N-400 with any medical disability certification

    N-400N-648N-426

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    As early as 90 days before the residence anniversary
    Tarifa
    $760 paper or $710 online; $380 on paper if household income is between 150 and 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; $0 for qualifying military applicants

    You cannot request a fee waiver or the reduced fee online - those need a paper filing.

  3. 3

    Attend biometrics

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    A few weeks after filing
    Tarifa
    Included
  4. 4

    Attend the interview and take the English and civics tests

    G-1256

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    7.1 months national median in FY 2026, or 3.0 months for military applicants
    Tarifa
    $0

    USCIS restored the 2008 civics test with a longer question bank for applications filed on or after its 2025 announcement.

  5. 5

    Take the oath of allegiance at a ceremony

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    Usually within weeks of approval, sometimes the same day
    Tarifa
    $0

    Citizenship begins at the oath, not at approval.

  6. 6

    If denied, request a hearing and then, if needed, go to federal court

    N-336

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    Within 30 days of the denial
    Tarifa
    $830 paper or $780 online, waivable

    Skipping the N-336 usually forfeits the right to district court review under INA 310(c).

Dónde suele fallar

  • Good moral character review has broadened; old arrests, unpaid taxes, missed child support, and failure to register with Selective Service all matter.
  • Trips of six months or more can break continuous residence and reset the clock.
  • Conditional residents cannot naturalise until the conditions are removed.
  • Applying with an unresolved criminal history can lead to a notice to appear rather than a denial.
  • The reduced fee and fee waiver both require a paper filing.

Qué cambió en 2025 y 2026

  • USCIS restored the 2008 civics test with a longer question bank for applications filed on or after its 2025 announcement.
  • The 2025 and 2026 policy manual updates direct officers to weigh a wider range of conduct in the good moral character assessment.
  • Denaturalisation referrals have increased.
  • Processing rose from 5.6 months in FY 2025 to 7.1 months in FY 2026.

Trámites relacionados

Fuentes: uscis.gov · uscis.gov · uscis.gov · egov.uscis.gov · uscis.gov · uscis.gov