Always use a - The City University of New York...9. Write the official date lawful permanent residence began. Find this date on the green card. 10. Write the participant’s country

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● Always use a black ballpoint pen

● Print legibly. Do not use cursive script. Using ALL CAPS recommended.

● If extra space is needed, attach appropriate riders. Be sure that each rider includesthe date, the “A” number, and the participant’s signature

● If a question is not applicable to the participant, write ‘N/A’. If the answer is none, write ‘none’.

● Write dates in the format: month/day/year using eight digits (mm/dd/yyyy)

● Write the “A” number on the top right hand corner of EVERY page in the spot

where indicated

● Do not write in the margins or make any stray marks on the form

Filling out the N-400: Reminders

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Use the Riders Provided

• Charges, Arrests, Citations

• Employment & School

• Prior Spouses of the Applicant• Children• Taxes• Residences• Prior Spouses of Applicant’s Spouse• Selective Service• Time Outside the United States

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“A” Number

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● On the top of EVERY page of the N-400

● The “A” number is a 7 to 9 digit number on the green card (the number of

digits will depend on when the card was created)

● If the “A” number is less than 9 digits, write enough “0s” before the first

number to make the “A” number a 9 digit number

How to “Read” a Green Card

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“Surname” means Family Name

“Given Name” means First Name

“USCIS Number” means A-number

Date became a Permanent Resident

Older Green Cards

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I-551 StampDate became a Permanent Resident (April 3, 1980)

A-Number

A-Number Date became a Permanent Resident(July 14, 1989)

A-Number


A-Number


Completing the N-400Part 1. Information About Your Eligibility

• Most participants will check:

– “A.” if you qualify because you have been a permanent resident for 5 (4 years and 9 months) or more years

or

– “B.” if you have been married to, and living with the same U.S. citizen for three years (2 years and 9 months) while a permanent resident

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• Remember, write participant’s A-Number

on each page

Eligibility: Continuous Residence During “Statutory Period”

• 5-YEAR RULE: – Must have had your green card for 5

years – Can file 90 days before, or at 4

years and 9 months• 3-YEAR RULE:

– Must have had your green card for 3 years, be married to a U.S. citizen for 3 years and living with the same U.S. citizen for 3 years

– Can file 90 days before, or at 2 years and 9 months

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Part 2. Information About You

• Generally, the name on the participant’s birth certificate

• May be changed through marriage, divorce, or court order

• TIP: Check passports, marriage certificates and/or divorce decrees to identify whether a person’s name has changed.

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Part 2. Information About You – Cont’d

• Maiden names, nicknames, names from previous marriages

• Any other names ever used on official documents (including misspelled names, if any)

• If there are none, write ‘N/A’

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• Even if misspelled!


• The citizenship process can be used to legally change the applicant’s name

• To do this, check the “Yes” and write the new name

• This name can be anything that the participant wants

• If no name change is requested, check “No” and in the box below write “N/A”

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5. Write social security number

6. Ignore this

CASE STUDY

You are assisting Erica Boza, a Ugandan national, on her naturalization application. Her driver’s license, LPR (Green) Card, Social Security Card,

and passport all list her name as Erica Boza. However, her Ugandan birth certificate, issued 10 years after she was born, lists her as Erica Bozo. She

tells you she has never used Bozo, ever, and that it was a mistake. She says she never had a problem getting her official documents to list her

surname as Boza instead of Bozo (for obvious reasons).

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What is Erica’s legal name?

Erica Bozo, because unless she legally changed her surname to Boza after her birth

certificate was issued, it is likely Bozo.

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POLL QUESTION

Erica Boza, as listed on driver’s license, LPR (Green) Card, Social Security Card, and

passport, and because Erica tells you Bozo was a mistake.

ANSWER

Erica Bozo, because unless she legally changed her surname to Boza after her birth certificate was issued, it is likely Bozo.

Luckily for Erica, she can officially change it to Bozaduring the naturalization process.

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7. Mark Gender

8. Write date of birth in the format: mm/dd/yyyy

9. Write the official date lawful permanent residence began. Find this date on the green card.

10. Write the participant’s country of birth (even if it no longer exists)

11. Write the country of the passport that the participant presents to you (not the nationality e.g. “Dominican Republic”, not “Dominican”).


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• Eligibility Requirements: Must be able to speak, read, and write basic English and demonstrate knowledge of U.S. government and history

• UNLESS, he/she qualifies for a medical exemption

Exemptions from English: Part 2- Question 13 A, B, C

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Part 3 : Medical Disability Exemption• An applicant may seek a waiver

from the English and/or Civics requirement as well as Oath requirement because of disability or impairment

• Requires USCIS Form N-648.

• Given to qualifying participants at screening with instructions to be completed by their doctor. Follow-up appointment at a center.

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Part 3. Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities and/or Impairments

• No separate form required

• Check the appropriate box to describe

the accommodation that is needed to

USCIS

• Examples of an ACCOMODATION (vs.

an EXEMPTION warranting an

N-648):

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Part 5. Information About Your Residence• USCIS asks for both CURRENT home address and

mailing address

• Mailing address is where USCIS will send notices for fingerprinting (biometrics) and for the naturalization interview

– If mailing address is the same as home address, write ‘SAME AS ABOVE’

• USCIS asks for both home addresses and mailing address

• Home address is the participant’s current physical address, regardless of whether mail is received there.

• Do not put a post office (P.O.) box number here

• Ok to leave zip code plus four blank

• Note: There is one box for county and a different box for country

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POP QUIZ !

• What are the counties of each of the five boroughs?

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Answers• Manhattan is written as “New York”

for “city” and is located in “New York” county

• Brooklyn is “Kings” County

• The name of cities (generally neighborhoods) within Queens are written in the space for “city” and “Queens” is the county (Ex. Astoria is the “city” and “Queens” is the county)

• Bronx is “Bronx” County

• Staten Island is “Richmond” County

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Part 6. Information About Your Parents

• Remember, parents’ current legal name may have been changed through marriage or divorce

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• To determine whether applicant may already be a citizen

• If one or both of the participant’s parents became U.S. citizens before the participant turned 18, the participant may already be a U.S. citizen

Part 7. Biographic Information

• Compare the participant’s answers with your observations, but be sensitive

• Information requested is used together with fingerprints to search for criminal records and perform security checks

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Part 8. Information About Your Employment and Schools You Attended

• Make sure to list all places of employment

(business names) or study starting with

current job/school and going backwards,

for the last five (or three) years. Also

include military service, if applicable

• Be sure there are no gaps between dates

• If worked for themselves write

‘self-employed’

• If not employed over the last five years,

write “retired,” or “unemployed,” or “stay

at home mom,” or whatever explanation

best applies

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Part 9. Time Outside the United States

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• Information on trips outside the United States is

very important.

• Helps determine 3 of the eligibility

requirements:

– Continuous Residence: If outside the United

States for more than 1 year (365

consecutive days) during 5 year period,

breaks continuous residence

– Abandonment: If outside the United States

more than 6 months but less than 1 year,

may have to prove did not intend to

abandon

– Physical Presence: Cannot have spent more

than 912 days outside the U.S. in the last 5

years (or 547 days in the last 3 years)

Part 9. Cont’d • Must list ALL trips outside U.S. during

EITHER the 5 year or 3 year period

• Tip: To make your work easier complete 3 first, then 2 and 1

• Watch out for participants with trips that total:

• 912 days outside the U.S. during the last 5-year period; or

• 547 days outside the U.S. during the last 3-year period

• LIST ALL TRIPS IN REVERSE ORDER STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT AND GO BACKWARDS.

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Part 9 - Tips For “Reading” Passports• Distinguish entries from departures:

Entries to another country are commonly marked as: “Entry, Arrival, Arrived, Embarked, Entrada, Visit Pass” or an arrow pointing toward airplane in top corner of stamp

Departures from another country are commonly marked as: “Departed, Exit, Salida” or an arrow pointing away from airplane in top corner of stamp

• U.S. only stamps “arrivals” back into the country – Does NOT stamp departures

• List the countries

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CASE STUDY

You are assisting Mei Lin with her naturalization application, who forgot to bring her passports. She tells you that the only trips she has taken in the

past five years is to Taiwan to visit her parents every year around Christmas. She says she always leaves on December 23rd and she is pretty sure she came back to the U.S. on the first Saturday after New Years Day

each year.

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Should you rely on Mei Lin’s memory to determine her Time Outside the U.S.?

No; as a precaution, we should encourage Mei Lin to return to our offices with her

passports or, at least, her travel itineraries to accurately calculate her time outside the

U.S.

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POLL QUESTION

Yes; this seems like reliable information. Also, the participant’s memory can be used

to calculate their time outside the U.S.

ANSWER

Yes; this seems like reliable information. Also, the participant’s memory can be used to calculate their time outside the U.S.

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Part 9. Cont’dOther Resources for Dates

• NOT ONLY PASSPORTS -Other resources to determine Time Outside the United States:

– Travel Itineraries; Expedia or other Travel Websites

– Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) I-94 Website for Arrival/Departure Record

– The participant’s memory

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Part 10. Information about Your Marital History

• Remember, under the 3 year rule, the participant must be currently married to and living with a U.S. Citizen spouse (and be able to document it)

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• If the participant married the same spouse more than one time, count each time as a separate marriage

Part 10. Marital History/Current Spouse –Cont’d

• If the participant has never been married, SKIP

• If the participant has been married but is not currently married, SKIP

• If the participant is now married, provide information about the current spouse.

• Include this information even if they are separated (but, not divorced), or if the spouse lives outside of the United States

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Part 10. Marital History/Current Spouse –Cont’d

• If the spouse is a U.S. citizen, SKIP

• If the spouse is not a U.S. citizen, complete this section

• Question B, if the spouse does not have an “A” number, write ‘N/A’

• Question C, if the spouse is a permanent resident, check the box that says “Permanent Resident.”

• If the spouse is not an LPR, check the box that says “Other” and list the spouse’s status

• If the spouse does not have immigration status in the United States, write “Citizen of Trinidad” or “Citizen of Mexico” in this space

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Part 10. 8 & 9. Current Spouse’s Prior Spouses & Previous Spouses of the Applicant

• Information about all prior spouses of the participant and their spouse are required

• If never married before, SKIP

• If married before or is a widow/widower, provide the information about former spouse(s)

• Instruct the participant to make a best effort to contact the prior spouse(s), if necessary, to obtain this information. If prior spouse(s) cannot be contacted, include as much information as possible

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CASE STUDY

Alex married Lisa and they divorced 2 years later.Alex then married Daisy, but they divorced a year later.

Alex & Lisa then remarried, but recently entered into a legal separation.Alex is now engaged to Daisy again.

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How many times has Alex been married and is he still married?

Alex has married TWICE

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How many times has Alex been married?

POLL QUESTION

Alex has married THREE times

ANSWER

Alex has married THREE times. Each marriage – including remarrying a prior spouse – counts separately.

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How many times has Alex been married?

No; he and Lisa are legally separated

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Is Alex currently married?

POLL QUESTION

Yes

ANSWER

Yes. Generally, marriages are not dissolved unless a couple gets divorced, the marriage is annulled, or a spouse dies.

A married couple that is separated, even for a long period of time, is still considered “married”.

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Is Alex currently married?

Part 11. Children • In question A.5. write ‘with me’ if the

son/daughter is currently living with the participant

• If minor children are not living with them, write the address including state and country where currently living

• If adult children not living with them, and they do not have/know the address, write in “Unknown”

• Note whatever is missing (use YELLOW sticky notes).

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Part 12. Additional Information

• Remember the eligibility criteria:

• To be naturalized, you must be a person of good moral character and you must be committed to the principles of the United States

• Part 12 is designed to help USCIS determine whether you meet these criteria

• Answer these questions carefully. If any part of a question applies to the participant, s/he must answer ‘Yes’

• Raise your red question mark to get help if you have any questions

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Part 12. Questions 1 – 3

• These questions are designed to determine whether the participant has ever made a false claim to U.S. citizenship or improperly registered for or voted in an election

• Only U.S. citizens can register to vote and vote in national and local elections in the United States

• Making a false claim to U.S. citizenship by voting in such an election, or even by filling out a voter registration card, can make a non-citizen deportable

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Part 12. Questions 4 and 5

• Must be renounced before becoming a U.S. citizen

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• Refers to the last 5 years to determine whether capable of understanding the oath of allegiance

• In 2000, law went into effect allowing USCIS to waive the oath requirement for applicants who are mentally impaired/handicapped or physically disabled.

• Answering ‘Yes’ to this question is not a bar to naturalizing

Part 12. Question 6

• Owing taxes is not an absolute bar to becoming a U.S. citizen; may be a

factor taken into consideration by the USCIS officer

• If taxes owed, at the interview USCIS will want: (1) signed agreement

from the IRS showing participant has filed a tax return and arranged to

pay taxes owed, and (2) documentation from IRS or appropriate tax

agency showing the current status of the repayment program

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Practice Point: Tax Documentation

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• Must bring copies of tax returns filed during the last 5 (or 3) years to the interview

• If there is no obligation to pay taxes check that the screener completed a rider with the explanation

• All documents -- taxes, income, public benefits, the fee waiver and the N-400 Form must be consistent with each other


• If yes to 7. A., Screeners will use the Tax rider to help the participant explain that their income was less than the amount for which filing is required or they were not working

• If required to file a federal tax return but failed to do so during the 5 (or 3 yr) period -- naturalization application will be denied

• If participant answers ‘Yes’ to 7B or 8, speak with the supervisor

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Practice Point: Filing Under the 3 Year Rule

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● If filing under the 3-year rule, applicant must be filing their tax returns as ‘married’, and not as ‘single’ or ‘head of household’

● Participants who have filed incorrectly will have to amend or re-file taxes prior to their naturalization interview

Part 12. Question 9

• If the participant does not have any of the affiliations mentioned in question 9, the answer is ‘No’

• If that is not the case, answer ‘Yes’ and in Question 9b list the names of the that the participant is a member of or associated with, including religious, social, and athletic clubs

• Designed to help USCIS determine whether ineligible for naturalization because of certain political activities, such as membership in pro-communist organizations

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Will need to provide a written explanation of military or police participation. Use the generic rider in the Resource Bins.


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Practice Point: Arrested/Detained? Subway Ticket? Cert. of Disposition/MTA Letter?

• Screening Supervisors will complete “Arrests” chart in Part 12

• Crimes can make a non-citizen ineligible for naturalization, or removable (deportable)

• The participant must have ALL dispositions, even if the arrest did not result in charges or if charges were expunged, dismissed or dropped

• Participants with arrests who do not have certified dispositions on site should be referred to Centers

• Be sure to raise the question mark sign if you have any questions!

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• If an applicant was arrested and never charged with a crime, or if your record was entirely expunged, participant must still answer ‘Yes’ to the relevant questions on the application

• You can review the answers to these questions with participants to be sure they understand the questions and answers

• Completed by Screening Supervisors

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Part 12. Question 30

• Answering ‘Yes’ to any item in Questions 22 through 30 may mean that the participant cannot prove good moral character. USCIS may deny his/her naturalization application.

• Note: If the act occurred prior to the 5 (or 3) year period, the applicant may still be able to show good moral character. Your Station Supervisor will make that determination.

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Practice Point: Any Children Under 18 Not Living with the Applicant? Child Support?

• Question 30. H.

• Participant must be prepared to answer questions as to whether s/he is required to support his/her children, especially if they are not living with the participant

• Must demonstrate to USCIS that has provided support to children (both inside and outside the United States)

• Willful failure to pay child support may show lack of good moral character

• Applicants with children who do not reside with them should bring proof to their naturalization interview that shows regular payments to the child’s guardian

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• Certain false statements or documents made/submitted to any U.S. government official can make applicants deportable

• This may result in proceedings to take away permanent resident status

• Other false statements may prevent establishing good moral character

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Part 12. Questions 33 - 36

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Part 12. Questions 37 - 43

• If the participant has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, USCIS will check Armed Services records as part of their investigation into the participant’s background and character

• Some special rules apply to military personnel applying for naturalization - Ask a supervisor!

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Part 12. Selective Service RegistrationQuestion 44

• Males living in the United States who are between the ages of 18 and 26 must register with

the Selective Service System

• Includes undocumented individuals, permanent residents and citizens

• Requirement does not apply to men here on lawful non-immigrant status (Ex. F-1 student

status or H-1B temporary worker status)

• USCIS’s view that failing to register reflects negatively on an applicant’s GMC and

adherence to the U.S. Constitution

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How to Check Selective Service Registration with the Participant at the Event

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• If an applicant registered with the Selective Service, but does not know his registration number:

• Call machine operated toll-free number at (888) 655-1825 or check their website at www.sss.gov

• Have date of birth and Social Security number on hand

• To reach a Selective Service representative, call (847) 688-6888

CASE STUDY

Eduardo married and obtained his green card through his USC spouse in 2014 when he was 25. He did not register for Selective Service despite living in the U.S. with his spouse since he got married. Now four years

later, he is applying for naturalization and says he did not know about the Selective Service registration requirement.

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Must Eduardo obtain a Status Information Letter from Selective Service and swear that his failing to register for Selective Service

was not willful?

No, because he is no longer required to show that his failure to register was

knowing and willful.

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was not willful?

POLL QUESTION

Yes; males 26 to 31 years of age that “knowingly and willfully failed to register” or simply refused to register for Selective Service when required may

be denied naturalization without this.

ANSWER

No, because he is no longer required to show that his failure to register was knowing and willful.

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was not willful?


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• Questions 45 to 50 ask about willingness to swear allegiance to the United States, and question the applicant regarding her understanding of the oath of allegiance

• If the answer is ‘No’ to any of Questions, a written explanation of why the answer is ‘No’ and any additional information or documentation that helps to explain the answer must be attached

Part 12. Question 45 -47

• To naturalize, the applicant must believe in the U.S. form of government and its Constitution

• If a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment prevents understanding the meaning of the oath, can apply for waiver of the oath requirement

• The law allows no exemption from the requirement that an applicant believe in the U.S. form of government

• If the participant objects to any part of the oath, answer ‘No’ and advise the participant to attach a written explanation as well as any additional documentation

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Part 12. Question 48 - 50

• The questions appear in the Oath of Allegiance

• The answer must be ‘Yes’ to at least one of the above questions.

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Part 13. Applicant’s Statement, Certification, and Signature

• Remind the participant, by signing this document they are indicating the information on this application and the documents submitted are true and correct to the best of their knowledge

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Part 14. Interpreter’s Signature

• This section will have pre-printed Citizenship Now! Central Office address.• If the participant answered ‘yes’ to Part 2, Question 11 or 12 because he/she is

eligible for the waiver of the English literacy requirements and used an interpreter to help complete the application, then participant and the interpreter (you, the volunteer) must complete sign and date the application.

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Part 15. Preparer’s Information and Signature

• This section will have pre-printed Citizenship Now! Central Office phone & email• Preparer’s Statement & Signature will be pre-printed

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Documents

Always use a - The City University of New York...9. Write the official date lawful permanent residence began. Find this date on the green card. 10. Write the participant’s country