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Filing Guide
N-400 Filing Checklist: Everything to Include in Your Application
A missing document can delay your naturalization case by months. This checklist covers every required and conditional item USCIS expects in your N-400 application package so you can file with confidence the first time.
Required Documents for Every Applicant
Regardless of your circumstances, every N-400 application must include the following items. These are non-negotiable — USCIS will reject an incomplete filing.
Completed, signed Form N-400
All 18 parts must be filled out. Sign and date Part 17 in black ink. If you used a preparer, Part 18 must also be completed and signed.
Photocopy of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
Copy both the front and back of your current Green Card (Form I-551). If your card has expired, include a copy anyway — USCIS still needs it as proof of status.
USCIS filing fee payment
The filing fee for paper-filed N-400 is $760 for all applicants. Fee waivers are available using Form I-912 for applicants with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. See the payment methods section below for details.
Two passport-style photographs (if filing from outside the U.S.)
If you reside overseas, include two identical 2"x2" color photos with a white background. Write your A-Number lightly in pencil on the back. Applicants residing in the United States do not need to submit photos — biometrics are captured at the ASC appointment.
Form G-1145 (optional but recommended)
This free form requests an email and text notification when USCIS accepts your application. Place it on top of your filing package.
Conditional Documents Based on Your Situation
Depending on your answers on the N-400, you may need to include additional supporting documents. USCIS uses these to verify eligibility, so include everything that applies.
Naturalization through marriage to a U.S. citizen (3-year rule)
- Marriage certificate
- Proof your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or U.S. passport)
- Documents showing you have lived in marital union for at least 3 years (joint tax returns, shared lease or mortgage, joint bank statements)
- If previously married: divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate for each prior marriage (yours and your spouse's)
Name change documentation
If you legally changed your name since receiving your Green Card, include the court order or marriage certificate that documents the change. If you are requesting a name change as part of naturalization, no additional documentation is needed at the time of filing — the oath ceremony will handle it.
Selective Service registration
Male applicants who lived in the U.S. between ages 18 and 26 must provide proof of Selective Service registration. If you did not register and are now over 31, include a Status Information Letter from the Selective Service System along with a written explanation of why you did not register.
Arrest, citation, or criminal records
If you have ever been arrested, cited, charged, or convicted of any offense — including traffic violations resulting in arrest or a criminal charge — include certified court dispositions for every incident, even if charges were dismissed or records sealed. DUI/DWI arrests always require documentation. Failure to disclose can result in denial for lack of good moral character.
Tax compliance documentation
If you owe overdue federal, state, or local taxes, include an IRS-certified tax transcript or a copy of your filed return plus proof of a payment arrangement. USCIS may request IRS tax transcripts at the interview, so having them ready avoids delays. If you filed taxes as a non-resident or did not file because your income was below the threshold, bring documentation supporting that.
Military service (Form N-426)
Current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces must include a completed Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service), certified by your branch of service. Active-duty service members filing under INA 328 or 329 may also qualify for fee exemptions.
Disability accommodations
If you are requesting a disability exception to the English or civics test requirement, include Form N-648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions), completed and signed by a licensed medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed clinical psychologist.
Payment Methods for the USCIS Filing Fee
USCIS accepts three payment methods. You must include the appropriate payment authorization form with your application. Choose one:
Form G-1450 — Credit or debit card
USCIS will charge your card after receiving the application. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are accepted.
Form G-1650 — ACH bank transfer
Provide your bank routing number and account number. USCIS debits the funds electronically after receipt.
Form G-1651 — Personal check, cashier's check, or money order
Make payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Do not abbreviate. Do not send cash. If you are requesting a fee waiver, include Form I-912 instead of a payment form.
How to Organize Your Filing Package
USCIS processes thousands of applications daily. A well-organized package helps prevent processing errors and delays. Stack your documents in this order from top to bottom:
- 1Form G-1145 (e-notification request) — place on very top
- 2Payment form (G-1450, G-1650, or G-1651) or check/money order
- 3Completed, signed Form N-400
- 4Photocopy of Green Card (front and back)
- 5Passport-style photos (if filing from outside the U.S.)
- 6Supporting documents organized by category (marriage, military, criminal records, etc.)
- 7Cover letter listing every document enclosed (recommended)
Use paper clips — not staples — to group related documents. Do not bind your application or place it in a binder. USCIS staff need to separate pages for scanning.
Mailing Your N-400 Application
Where you mail your application depends on where you live and how you pay. USCIS uses lockbox facilities (not field offices) for initial receipt. The correct address is printed on the USCIS N-400 filing instructions page.
USPS mail
If you are using standard U.S. Postal Service mail, use the USCIS lockbox P.O. Box address listed for your state. USPS deliveries cannot go to a street address lockbox.
Courier (FedEx, UPS, DHL)
Private courier services cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes. Use the street address listed for courier delivery on the USCIS website. This is a different address than the USPS lockbox.
Important: Always use a trackable delivery method. Keep your tracking number until you receive your I-797C receipt notice from USCIS (typically 2-3 weeks). If you use USPS, consider Certified Mail with Return Receipt or Priority Mail with tracking.
What NOT to Include
Including unnecessary or incorrect items can slow processing or cause confusion. Leave these out of your mailing envelope:
- Original documents — send photocopies only (bring originals to your interview)
- Your actual Green Card — send only a photocopy of front and back
- Cash — USCIS does not accept cash payments by mail
- Blank forms or extra copies of the N-400
- Documents in foreign languages without certified English translations
- Plastic sleeves, binders, or folders — loose pages with paper clips only
- Evidence you were not asked to provide (excessive documentation can slow review)
Let FormSnake Build Your Checklist Automatically
Figuring out which conditional documents apply to you can be confusing. When you prepare your N-400 through FormSnake, we analyze your answers and generate a personalized filing checklist as part of your application package. The checklist tells you exactly which supporting documents to gather based on your specific situation — marriage status, military service, criminal history, and more.
Your complete package also includes the filled N-400 form, a cover letter for USCIS, filing instructions with the correct lockbox address for your state, and the right payment form — all as a single print-ready PDF. Learn more about what the package includes on our N-400 landing page, or follow the step-by-step filing guide for a walkthrough of the entire naturalization process.
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