How Does an Immigrant With a Permanent Green Card Get a US Passport?
Millions of people have obtained US citizenship through naturalization. Once you have obtained US permanent residence, you will have to wait for several years before applying for citizenship. This period varies according to the basis of your permanent residence. Once you have obtained US citizenship, it will take a few more weeks to obtain a US passport.
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Things You'll Need
- USCIS Form N-400
- Copy of your foreign passport
- Passport photos
- US passport application
- Proof of residence
- Police certificates
Instructions
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Wait the required amount of time. For most people, the applicable waiting period is five years. Those married to US citizens will need to wait three years. More than half of this time should be spent physically present in the US.
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Download Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, from the USCIS website. Complete it and sign it.
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Assemble the accompanying documents required by Form N-400, such as a police certificate for every place you have lived since obtaining permanent residence and copies of your passport, permanent residence card, and marriage certificate (if applicable).
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Mail Form N-400 together with the accompanying documents, two passport-sized photographs, and an application fee of $675 to the address indicated on Form N-400 (depending on where you live). The USCIS will respond by sending you an Appointment Letter setting a time for your naturalization interview.
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Study the English language and US history and government in preparation for your Naturalization Test while waiting for your interview date. Study materials are available in the Education and Resources section of the USCIS website, as well as elsewhere on the Internet.
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Attend your naturalization interview, speak with a USCIS officer, and take the Naturalization Test. You may be asked to bring certain documents with you to the interview (such as your permanent residence card). If you pass the Naturalization Test, you will be given a date to attend the Naturalization Ceremony.
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Take the Oath of Allegiance at the Naturalization Ceremony. At this point you will be a US citizen, and will be issued a Certificate of Naturlization to prove it.
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Download a US passport application, Form DS-11, from the US State Department website (see References section). Fill it out but do not sign it.
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Assemble a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization, Form DS-11, two passport-style photos, and an application fee of $100, and show up in person at the address listed on the State Department website (this address varies according to your residence). You will have to sign Form DS-11 in the presence of an officer. Your passport will be mailed to you several weeks later.
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Tips & Warnings
In order to attend your naturalization interview, you must have lived in the same US consular district for three months prior to your interview. You may want to assemble documentation such as a lease or utility bills to establish your residence.
Although the US generally allows dual citizenship, most other countries don't. If you visit your original country using your US passport, you may be stripped of your citizenship in that country.
