How to Make an Appointment for Citizenship

Citizenship in the U.S. gives you obligations to the country but also rights and privileges.

Citizenship officially displays the state of being a citizen of the United States and all of the obligations and benefits that it entails. Every year, thousands of people apply for citizenship in the U.S. This can happen either at birth or after birth. If you are not naturally born in the United States, citizenship must be applied for, also called derived citizenship. Making an appointment for citizenship reduces wait times and makes the process much smoother.

Instructions

1. Apply for naturalization by using Form N-400 (see Resources for a link) if you are a permanent resident in the country.

2. Take two passport-style photos.

3. Gather all of the necessary documents requested in the naturalization form: a photocopy of your permanent residency card, the color photographs with your name and alien registration number written lightly on the back in pencil and a check for the application fee and the services fee for fingerprinting.

4. Mail all of the documents, and signed G-28 form by attorney or representative if you have someone acting on your behalf, to your closest USCIS Service Center. Call after a week to ensure that they received them.

5. Receive an appointment time from the USCIS to have fingerprints taken. Go into your nearest office, and do so.

6. Receive an appointment time from the USCIS to meet with an immigration officer. Meet the officer at the scheduled time.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the English and civics test after having the meeting with the immigration officer.

• This process can only begin once an individual is recognized as a permanent resident of the U.S.

References

• USCIS: USCIS Service and Office Locator
• USCIS: Citizenship
• USCIS: Apply for Citizenship

Resources

• USCIS: Citizenship and Naturalization N-400