Updated November 7, 2026

N-400 document checklist: what to send with your citizenship application and what to bring to the interview

Every Form N-400 applicant must submit two core items when filing inside the United States: a photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and the filing fee of $710 online or $760 by paper, according to the USCIS Form N-400 page and 01/20/25 Form N-400 Instructions. Two passport-style photos are required at filing only if you live outside the United States.

Send legible photocopies of any supporting documents triggered by your answers on the form, and keep your original civil documents and court-certified records to bring to your naturalization interview.

The core documents every N-400 applicant must send

No matter which path you use to apply for citizenship, USCIS requires the same base package to accept your Form N-400.

If you are calculating total immigration costs for your family, you can also check our <a href="/tools/us-visa-fee-calculator">US visa fee calculator</a> for other visa categories.

• Copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card): Send a legible photocopy of both the front and back of your card. If you lost your Green Card, the USCIS M-477 Document Checklist states you should submit a photocopy of the receipt notice for your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
• Filing fee payment or fee relief proof: Pay $710 if filing online or $760 if filing by paper. Filing online gives you a $50 discount, and the reduced fee is $380. If you request the $380 reduced fee (Part 10) or a full fee waiver on Form I-912, you cannot file online and must mail a paper Form N-400.
• Two passport-style photographs (only if living outside the United States): If you reside outside the US (such as active-duty military members, military spouses abroad on orders, or spouses of US citizens in qualified employment abroad), include two identical 2 by 2 inch color photos with your name and A-Number written lightly on the back in pencil or felt pen. If you live inside the US, USCIS takes your photo at your Application Support Center (ASC) biometrics appointment.
• Form G-28 (if represented): If an attorney or accredited representative represents you, include a completed Form G-28.
• Form G-1145 (optional for paper filers): Clip Form G-1145 to the first page of a paper package if you want an email or text message when a USCIS lockbox accepts your form.

What to send with Form N-400 vs. what to bring to the interview

The older USCIS Form M-477 Document Checklist asked applicants to mail original or court-certified copies of arrest and court records with the application. The current Form N-400 Instructions changed that rule.

Under the current instructions, submit legible photocopies of your supporting documents when you file, unless a specific instruction requires an original form (such as Form N-648). If you mail original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after receiving them.

Save your original documents and court-certified copies for interview day. For a complete day-of packing list, read our guide on <a href="/what-to-bring-to-citizenship-interview">what to bring to your citizenship interview</a>.

If any document is in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation. The translator must sign a certification stating that the English translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English, along with their printed name, signature, date, and contact information.

N-400 documents: initial filing vs. naturalization interview

Checklist mapped by Form N-400 part

Every supporting document on the N-400 checklist is triggered by a specific question on the 16-part form. Use this map to check which parts of your application require extra evidence, and see how officers review these sections in our guide to <a href="/n-400-interview-questions">N-400 interview questions part by part</a>.

[PRACTICE_BOX]

Supporting documents triggered by each part of Form N-400

Prior arrests, citations, taxes, child support, and Selective Service (Part 6 & Part 9)

Part 6 and Part 9 check Good Moral Character (GMC). Report all offenses you have ever committed, including driving under the influence, expunged records, pardoned offenses, and offenses before age 18. USCIS will not approve an N-400 while you are on probation, on parole, or under a suspended sentence.

Send photocopies of criminal and court records with your N-400, and bring originals or court-certified copies to your interview. If a required record is not available, provide original or certified confirmation from the court or law enforcement agency that the record is unavailable.

• Arrested or detained anywhere in the world and no charges were filed: Arrest report and an statement from the arresting agency or court confirming no charges were filed.
• Arrested or detained and charges were filed: All arrest reports, charging documents, court dispositions, sentencing reports, and any additional evidence you want USCIS to consider.
• Convicted, placed in an alternative sentence or rehabilitative program (diversion, deferred adjudication, drug treatment, or community service), or given probation/parole: Sentencing record for each incident and evidence that you completed your jail, prison, alternative sentence, rehabilitative program, probation, or parole.
• Arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged, or pardoned: Motion to vacate and court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging, or removing the record, or the pardon application and final decision, or a court statement that no record exists.
• Traffic incidents and fines: You do not need to submit documentation of traffic incidents unless the incident involved alcohol or drugs, led to an arrest, or seriously injured another person. If you were ordered to pay a fine, make restitution, or have wages garnished, provide the order and proof of payment.
• Overdue federal, state, or local taxes or failure to file (Part 9, Items 3-4): Tax transcripts are not required for every case at filing. If you have overdue taxes, provide IRS tax transcripts for the past 5 years (or 3 years if filing based on marriage to a US citizen), a signed payment agreement from the IRS or state/local tax office, and proof of your current repayment status. Per the M-477 checklist, if you ever failed to file a tax return since becoming a permanent resident, send all IRS correspondence regarding the failure to file.
• Dependent children living apart or court-ordered support (Part 6): Any court or government support order and evidence of compliance (cancelled checks, money order receipts, court/agency payment printout, wage garnishments, or a notarized letter from the parent or guardian caring for the children).
• Selective Service registration (Part 9, Items 22a-22c): If you were required to register before age 26, failed to do so, and are currently over age 26 but under age 31, provide a Status Information Letter from the Selective Service (1-847-688-6888 or sss.gov) and a written explanation in Part 14.

Trips over 6 months, name changes, and military service (Part 1, Part 2, Part 5, Part 8 & Part 9)

These three situations trigger specific evidence requirements across Part 1, Part 2, Part 5, Part 8, and Part 9:

• Trips over 6 months (Part 8): For any trip outside the US lasting more than 6 months but less than 1 year, provide continuous residence evidence such as IRS tax transcripts for the last 5 years (or 3 years if married to a US citizen), rent or mortgage statements, pay statements, bank or credit card statements showing regular transactions, car registration and insurance proof, and passport entry and exit stamps. Having a Reentry Permit or Refugee Travel Document does not preserve continuous residence for naturalization. Absences of 1 year or more in qualified employment generally require an approved Form N-470.
• Name changes (Part 2): If your current legal name in Part 2, Item 1 differs from your birth certificate or Green Card, provide the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that legally changed your name. If you legally change your name while your N-400 is pending, promptly provide the documents to USCIS and bring them to the interview. To ask a court to change your name at your naturalization ceremony, complete Part 2, Item 3 and sign the petition at your interview. USCIS cannot process judicial name change requests (Part 2, Item 3) for military members or their spouses naturalizing outside the United States.
• Military service and military spouses (Part 1, Part 5 & Part 9): Current members of the US armed forces applying based on military service (Part 1, Items 1.E-1.F and Part 9, Items 23-29) must submit Form N-426 and a photocopy of military orders. Separated veterans must submit copies of DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or discharge orders for all periods of service, and must never submit an original DD Form 214. Service members stationed abroad may submit 2 completed FD-258 fingerprint cards and 2 passport-style photos taken by military police or DHS/consular officials. Lawful permanent resident spouses of military members residing abroad on orders (Part 5, Item 2) must submit documentation showing they are authorized to accompany the member on orders, proof of the member's military service, and 2 passport-style photographs.

What NOT to send with your N-400 package

Sending the wrong items can get your form rejected at the lockbox or cause you to lose personal records. Keep these items out of your mailing envelope:

• Do not send the USCIS informational document checklist itself.
• Do not send unrequested original civil documents or an original DD Form 214: Send photocopies with your application and bring originals to the interview. USCIS warns that unrequested originals may be destroyed.
• Do not send passport photos if you reside inside the United States: Domestic applicants have their photo taken at the ASC biometrics appointment unless USCIS specifically requests physical photos later.
• Do not send documentation for minor traffic tickets: Unless a traffic incident involved alcohol or drugs, led to an arrest, or seriously injured another person, or resulted in a fine, restitution, or wage garnishment order requiring payment proof.
• Do not send a Selective Service letter or statement if you are 31 or older.
• Do not send a fee payment if you are filing Form I-912 for a fee waiver: Do not complete Part 10 and do not include any payment. USCIS also rejects applications that pay more than required.
• Do not use white correction tape or fluid on paper forms, and do not mail change-of-address requests to the USCIS Lockbox: Report address changes within 10 days at uscis.gov/addresschange.

What the officer will check in your documents at the interview

At your naturalization examination, the USCIS officer places you under oath, reviews your A-File and your Form N-400 responses, and asks questions to verify your eligibility and your ability to speak and understand English. You can see the full day's flow in our <a href="/citizenship-interview">citizenship interview step-by-step guide</a>.

Be ready for the officer to ask these questions about your documents:

• "May I see your Green Card, state ID, and all of your passports?" Checks your identity, lawful admission, and whether passport stamps match Part 8. Have your physical Green Card, state ID, and every valid and expired passport at the top of your folder.
• "Have you taken any trips outside the United States since you filed your Form N-400?" Checks continuous residence and physical presence (30 months in the US over 5 years, or 18 months over 3 years for spouses of US citizens) up to naturalization. Bring a list of post-filing trips and your passports.
• "Can I see your original marriage certificate and the divorce decrees for any prior marriages?" Checks that your current marriage is valid and all prior marriages (for you, and for your spouse under the 3-year rule) ended lawfully. Have originals and certified decrees ready.
• "What documents did you bring to show you and your spouse still live together?" Checks that 3-year marriage applicants remain in marital union up to the Oath. Bring updated joint bank statements, leases, mortgages, insurance policies, children's birth certificates, and recent IRS tax transcripts.
• "Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained, and do you have the certified court disposition?" Checks Good Moral Character and that any probation, parole, or suspended sentence has ended. Hand over the original or court-certified disposition and completion proof (uncertified copies are not acceptable).
• "Do you owe any federal, state, or local taxes?" Checks that you filed required returns and resolved any overdue taxes. Bring IRS tax transcripts for the past 5 years (or 3 years if married to a US citizen) plus any signed payment agreement and proof of current payments.

Visaful is an AI mock interview app for US visa interviews: an AI officer asks your visa's questions out loud and shows what to fix.

This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or any government agency.