Suppose you have lived in the United States for the last three years as a lawful permanent resident and married a U.S. citizen. In that case, you are eligible to apply (N-400) for U.S. citizenship, which is named the naturalization process. After completing the naturalization process, you will get a Certificate of naturalization. It is significantly beneficial for a person who completed his three years of marriage with a U.S. citizen as a Lawful permanent resident. On the other hand, people without marriage will have to wait five years to apply for the naturalization process. The shorter timeline will be beneficial for pursuing the naturalization process. However, this process needs careful planning with all the necessary documentation.
Certificate of Naturalization Requirements for filing N-400 Application:
The lawful permanent residents will be eligible to file an N-400 application before ninety days of completing their three years as Lawful Permanent residents.
These are some of the following conditions or requirements to file an N-400 application for the naturalization process:
- The spouse is a U.S. citizen when filing the N-400 application.
- Married to a U.S. citizen for at least three years.
- At least eighteen years old to apply.
- A lawful permanent resident and a green card holder for the last three years.
- The applicants have been living in the United States for the last three years with their spouses, and their physical presence in their country is at least eighteen months.
- Living within the state for the last three months from where they are applying for naturalization
- Have continuous residence in the United States before applying.
- Have a good education and ability to pass tests such as English, history, civics, and government test.
- Pay all taxes on time.
- Excellent moral character.
Cost of N-400 Application:
The total cost of the whole process is 725$, which includes 640$ for the N-400 application and 85$ for the biometric services.
Required documents with N-400 Application:
While applying, many applicants often submit insufficient documents that result in inadequate evidence before or after the interview that USCIS will take.
USCIS expects the following documents before the interview;
- Proof of green card holder
- Fee payment application
- Proof of marital status
- Proof of identity
- Fee reduction application (conditional to the need of the applicant)
- Proof of military service (if applicable)
- Fee waiver application (conditional to the need for a fee waiver)
- Proof of medical disability (if applicable)
- Request for representation at the time of naturalization interview (if applicable)
Steps for the Naturalization Process:
These are the following steps that will help you get U.S. citizenship:
- The first step is downloading, filling out, and submitting your N-400 application.
- The applicant must pay the fees and submit all the required documents with his application.
- Attend your Biometrics appointment on time, where USCIS will take your fingerprints, photos, and signatures.
- After completing this process, the applicant will receive a notice for the U.S. citizenship interview date, time, and location.
- After that, you will have to attempt English and Civics tests during the interview.
- During the interview, the USCIS officer will ask questions about your marriage, residency, child, or marital status to judge your eligibility or ensure that you are not just pretending to be married.
- Typically, USCIS will tell you whether your application is successful on the same day.
- If your application is successful, the final step is to take an ‘Oath of Allegiance.’ Usually, the oath was taken on the day of the interview.
- After taking your oath, you will receive the certificate of naturalization, which is the final step; now, you can apply for a U.S. passport and give vote in elections.
How to replace the Certificate of Naturalization?
You can replace your naturalization certificate in the following circumstances;
- Your Certificate of naturalization is lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- The Certificate contains any typographical error.
- You want to change your name on the Certificate due to marriage or any other court issue.
- There is an issue with the birth date on your citizenship certificate.
- You want to change your gender legally according to the court order on the Certificate.
Your name, gender, birth date, marital status, or anything will not be changed on the Certificate without a divorce decree, marriage certificate, or court orders.
How do you apply to replace the Naturalization Certificate?
Form N-565 is used to replace the naturalization certificate, and fees usually depend on your place and situation. Read the instruction carefully before filling out the form, such as;
- To apply online, you must make a USCIS online account, fill out Form N-565, submit evidence, electronically pay the fees, and wait for the response.
- To apply through paper, you have to download Form N-565, fill it out, sign it (in the end), submit evidence, pay the fees, submit it to the USCIS office and wait for the response.
- Once successfully submit the application, you will get a receipt notice, a call for biometric service, a notice for an interview, and a note of the decision at the end.
References:
https://citizenpath.com/citizenship-requirements-3-year-lpr/#:~:text=To%20qualify%2C%20you%20must%20have,citizen%20for%20the%20entire%20time
https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/apply-citizenship-after-marriage-green-card
https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-3
https://youtu.be/H4ZDMSF62YM
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/replace-my-naturalization-certificate-or-certificate-of-citizenship
https://www.immigrationhelp.org/learning-center/supporting-documents-for-citizenship
