Understanding the naturalization process

Before anyone can even think about applying for citizenship, they must first become a lawful permanent resident—commonly known as a green card holder.

• There are limited and highly regulated ways to obtain a green card. Some people qualify through refugee resettlement or asylum; others through close family ties to U.S. citizens, marriage, employment-based visas, or the diversity visa lottery (which is currently paused). Many people never qualify at all.
• Even after securing a green card, the clock doesn’t start immediately. Most people must live in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen) before they’re eligible to apply for citizenship.

Eligibility for naturalization comes with strict conditions. To qualify, an applicant generally must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have held lawful permanent resident status for the required number of years
• Maintain continuous residence (no more than 6 months spent outside of the U.S. in the last 5 years), meaning long trips abroad can delay or derail eligibility
• Demonstrate “good moral character,” which includes paying taxes, avoiding certain criminal offenses, and complying with immigration law

Only when all of these conditions are met can someone move forward.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers an eligibility tool to determine whether the eligibility criteria are met.

The citizenship application—known as Form N-400—is not a short form. It’s a roughly 20-page document that requires applicants to account for years of their lives in detail.

• Every address, job, and international trip must be listed accurately. Even small errors or inconsistencies can lead to delays, denials, or deeper scrutiny. In some cases, mistakes can trigger investigations or removal proceedings.

Applying also comes with significant costs. As of 2024, the standard fee is over $700, with limited waivers available for low-income applicants. Once submitted, the waiting period typically lasts 9 to 15 months, sometimes longer.

Applicants are required to attend a biometrics appointment, where fingerprints, photographs, and signatures are collected. These are sent to the FBI to check for undisclosed criminal or immigration issues.

The interview is often the most intimidating step. It’s a one-on-one meeting with a USCIS officer conducted entirely in English.

During the interview:

• The officer reviews the application line by line.
• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak English.
• They must pass a civics test on U.S. history and government. During the civics test, 10 questions from a set of 100 are asked; a score of 6 or more is passing. (Applicants who have filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025, will take a new version of the test, with 20 questions asked out of a new set of 128 total questions.)

Only those who meet all requirements move forward.

After the interview, USCIS issues a decision:

• Approved, allowing the applicant to proceed
• Continued, meaning more evidence is required
• Denied, if eligibility requirements are not met

Denials can be appealed, but doing so requires additional time, paperwork, and legal actions.

If USCIS approves the Form N-400 and the applicant passes the English and Civics exam, this means the applicant is eligible to participate in a naturalization ceremony.

Citizenship becomes official only after taking the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.

At that moment:

• The green card is surrendered
• A Certificate of Naturalization is issued
• The individual becomes a U.S. citizen, with the right to vote, obtain a U.S. passport, and sponsor immediate family members

This ceremony marks the end of a long legal process—and the beginning of full civic participation.

Citizenship is the common thread between all Americans. USCIS outlines the rights and responsibilities that all citizens, both American-born and naturalized, should honor.