You may already have a taste of what it is like to live in the United States, and with that, you may want to make your life there official. In other words, you may want to upgrade your status to a U.S. citizen. This requires you to complete and submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). That said, please continue reading to learn how to complete this application and how an experienced N-400 application lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can work to ensure you do not miss or incorrectly fill out anything that may disqualify you.
How do I prove my eligibility to apply for Form N-400?
The first of many sections in Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, asks to identify which eligibility criteria you fall under to become a naturalized United States citizen. Or, simply put, your reason for filing. You may be asked to clarify your eligibility with supplemental evidence later on. Nonetheless, you must check off any one of the following boxes:
- You meet the general provisions for naturalization:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have been a permanent resident for a specified time.
- You have had continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S.
- You possess what is considered to be a good moral character.
- You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
- You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen in qualified employment outside the United States.
- You are the spouse, former spouse, or child of a U.S. citizen protected under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
- You served in the military during a period of hostilities.
- You served at least one year of honorable military service at any time.
What other information do I need to complete Form N-400?
The following sections in Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, ask for more information about you. This information may confirm that you meet the general provisions to qualify for naturalization or otherwise rightfully fall under any other categories mentioned above. Without further ado, you must answer the following accurately and with the whole truth:
- General information about you (i.e., date of birth, permanent resident status, etc).
- Biographic information (i.e., ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color, etc).
- Information about your residence (i.e., current residential address, mailing address, etc).
- Information about your marital history and current marriage, if applicable.
- Information about your children under 18 years of age, if applicable.
- Information about your employment and the schools you attended, if applicable.
- Information about your time spent outside the U.S. for trips, if applicable.
- Information about your moral character and criminal history, if applicable.
Of note, the required filing fee for Form N-400 is $760. Importantly, a section in this application asks if you wish to waive this fee. You may be eligible for one depending on your total household income, household size, etc. If so, you may also have to complete and submit Form I-912, Request for Free Waiver, to the USCIS.
We understand that you must be eager to start this process. So, without further delay, please schedule your initial consultation with a skilled U.S. naturalization lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, from Sesini Law Group, S.C., today.