Missing a single document with your N-400 application can trigger a Request for Evidence and add months to your case. Use this complete checklist before you file.
⚠️ Important: Send photocopies only. Never send original documents. USCIS will not return originals. Keep all originals at home.
Form N-400 has 18 parts. These are the ones that cause the most errors:
| Part | Topic | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Basis for eligibility | Selecting wrong basis (5-year vs 3-year rule) |
| Part 3 | Biographic information | Ethnic/racial category mismatch with green card |
| Part 7 | Time outside the US | Missing short trips; wrong dates |
| Part 8 | Continuous residence | Not counting from green card approval date |
| Part 10 | Additional information | Not listing all addresses for last 5 years |
| Part 12 | Good moral character | Not disclosing arrests (even dismissed ones) |
| Part 14 | Oath requirements | Misunderstanding Questions A–I |
| Part 18 | Signature | Forgetting to sign — application rejected automatically |
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At minimum: your green card (both sides), two passport-style photos and payment of $760. Additional documents depend on your situation: marriage/divorce certificates, tax records, travel history and court records for any legal history.
Send photocopies only. USCIS does not return original documents. Exception: USCIS may request originals at your interview — have them ready but don't mail them with the initial application.
N-400 asks whether you have filed taxes every year you were required to. You don't submit tax returns with the form, but USCIS may ask for them at your interview. Obtain IRS tax transcripts in advance at irs.gov.
It depends on the offense. Minor violations may not disqualify you. However, you must disclose every arrest, charge or citation on your N-400 — even dismissed ones. Hiding criminal history is fraud and leads to denial and potential deportation. Consult an immigration attorney if you have any criminal history.
Respond before the deadline stated in the RFE (typically 87 days). Provide exactly what they ask for. A strong, organized response usually resolves the issue without further delays.
Step-by-step N-400 walkthrough and timeline.
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