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1.

Read A Guide to Naturalization (available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, and Vietnamese). It's very long!

2.

Complete the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet included in the Guide. (If you are not eligible for Naturalization, don't waste your time and money.)

3.

Submit an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400), including 2 photographs, necessary documents, a $260 filing fee AND a $50 fingerprinting fee to the appropriate Service Center (see Guide).

4.

When you receive an appointment letter from USCIS (formerly INS), go to the fingerprinting location and get your fingerprints taken. The FBI will do a criminal background check. In the meantime, the USCIS will locate your immigration file and may ask you to send additional documents before they schedule your interview.

5.

Wait a long time for the USCIS to schedule your interview. USCIS will send you an interview notice in the mail that will tell you the date, time, and place of your interview. They will not send you a second notice. If you change your address, you need to send Form AR-11 in order to give notification of your change of address. At the interview, you will answer questions about history and government (unless you passed the written test) and questions from your application. During your interview, the USCIS officer will also test your ability to read, write, and speak English. You can learn more about this in the Guide