Application to become a U.S. citizen, generally after 5 years as a permanent resident (3 if married to a U.S. citizen).
Key fields to get right
- Confirm continuous residence and physical-presence day counts before filing.
- Disclose every trip outside the U.S. of 24 hours or more.
- Answer the good-moral-character questions honestly — omissions are the real risk.
Common mistakes
- A single trip of 6+ months that breaks continuous residence, filed too early.
- Unpaid taxes, unreported arrests, or missed selective-service registration left undisclosed.
Documents to have ready
- Green card (both sides)
- Travel history for the statutory period
- Tax transcripts
- Records for any citations/arrests, if any
Tip. Count your physical-presence days carefully — applying even a few weeks early on the residence requirement gets the case denied.
Frequently asked
When am I eligible to file the N-400?
Generally after 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen — provided you meet the continuous-residence and physical-presence requirements.
What is the biggest N-400 risk?
Filing before you actually meet the residence requirement, or failing to disclose trips, taxes, or arrests. Omissions on the good-moral-character questions are the real danger.