Becoming a U.S. citizen: the complete guide

Becoming a citizen is one of the biggest steps you can take for yourself and your family. It means you can vote, hold a U.S. passport, and no longer worry about losing your green card. Many people are ready and don't know it. Others need to fix one thing first. This guide helps you find out which one you are, and what to do next.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office. If anything in the red flag check fits you, talk with an immigration attorney or a DOJ accredited representative before you file. Free help is listed below.

On this page

1. Can I become a citizen?
2. What should I check before I apply?
3. When can I apply, and do trips abroad matter?
4. What papers do I need?
5. How much does it cost, and can I pay less?
6. How do I file, online or on paper?
7. What happens after I apply?
8. What is on the English and civics test?
9. What happens at the interview?
10. What if my application is denied?
11. What happens at the oath ceremony?
12. Do my children become citizens too?
13. Can my citizenship be taken away later?
14. What changed in 2025 and 2026?
15. Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?
16. Questions people ask
17. Printables and Sources

Can I become a citizen?

Most green card holders can, once they have waited long enough and meet a few rules. The process is called naturalization. You apply with Form N-400. Here are the general rules USCIS lists. You must:

• Be 18 or older when you file.
• Have had your green card for 5 years. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, have lived with them in marriage for 3 years, and your spouse has been a citizen for those 3 years, you can apply after 3 years instead.
• Have lived in the U.S. without a long break (USCIS calls this continuous residence) for those 5 years (or 3), and keep living here until you take the oath.
• Have been physically inside the U.S. for at least 30 months of the last 5 years. On the 3 year marriage path, it is 18 months.
• Have lived in your state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before you file.
• Show good moral character for the 5 years (or 3) before you file, and up until the oath.
• Pass an English test and a civics test, unless an exception applies to you.
• Support the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

You do not need to speak perfect English. You do not need a certain income. You do not need a lawyer to file, though many people benefit from a free check by a clinic.

Other paths exist. People who serve in the U.S. military, spouses of citizens working abroad for certain employers, and some others have special rules. Military applicants under INA sections 328 or 329 pay no fee. See Becoming a citizen through military service.

Not sure if you qualify? USCIS has an eligibility tool on the N-400 page. A free workshop can also check for you in about an hour. See Where can I get free help?

What should I check before I apply?

Check your history for red flags first. Most people pass this check with no trouble. But applying asks about your whole life, and USCIS runs your fingerprints, does an FBI name check, and reads your old immigration file. If something in your past is a problem, applying can put it in front of an officer. For some people, that can lead to immigration court, not only a denial.

A red flag does not always mean "no." It means "get advice first." Talk to an immigration attorney or a DOJ accredited representative before you file if any of these is true:

Your record

• You were ever arrested, cited, detained or charged, anywhere in the world, even if the case was dropped, sealed or expunged. You must report every one of these on the form.
• You are on probation, parole or a suspended sentence right now.
• You were ever in jail or prison for a total of 180 days or more.
• You have any drug case, two or more DUIs, or any case for theft, fraud or violence.

Your immigration history

• You were ever in immigration court, deported or ordered removed.
• You are not sure your green card was granted correctly, or there may have been a false answer when you got it.

Voting and saying you are a citizen

• You ever said you were a U.S. citizen when you were not, on any form, including a job form or a voter form.
• You ever registered to vote or voted in an election where you were not allowed to. USCIS policy says it may send a person to immigration court for this, even with no criminal conviction, unless a narrow legal exception applies.

Time outside the country

• You took any trip of more than 6 months. See When can I apply?

Other

• You are a man who lived in the U.S. between ages 18 and 25 and never registered with Selective Service.
• You owe back taxes, child support, or a benefits overpayment.
• You were born in, or are a citizen of, one of the 39 countries named in the 2025 travel ban proclamations. See What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Which records stop citizenship? USCIS sorts them into two groups. This is a short summary only. A lawyer has to read the exact law you were convicted under.

• Permanent bars, which time never fixes, include murder and an "aggravated felony" on or after November 29, 1990. That immigration term covers more than it sounds like, including some theft and drug cases.
• Bars during your 5 years (or 3) before you file and until the oath include a controlled substance violation (except a single case of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana), time in jail adding up to 180 days or more, two or more convictions with total sentences of 5 years or more, and lying under oath to get an immigration benefit.

An expungement does not erase a conviction for immigration. A California dismissal after probation helps with jobs, but USCIS still counts the conviction. What can help is a conviction vacated because of a legal defect in the case, for example because no one warned you about the immigration consequences before you pleaded. See Ways to fix an old California conviction.

On probation? Wait until it ends. Finishing probation is something USCIS counts in your favor.

What to do next:

1. No red flags? Go on to When can I apply?
2. Any red flag? Get your records first: How to get a copy of your criminal record in California. Then take them to a free legal clinic. Ask two questions: "Does my record make me deportable?" and "Does it block citizenship right now?"
3. Never let a notario or consultant decide this. They are not allowed to give legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

For the full screen, see Can I become a US citizen? Check these warning signs first and Applying for citizenship with an arrest or record.

When can I apply, and do trips abroad matter?

You can file up to 90 days before you reach your 5 year (or 3 year) mark. USCIS counts from the "Resident Since" date on your green card. You still must meet every other rule on the day you file.

Example: if your green card says Resident Since June 1, 2021, your 5 year mark is June 1, 2026, and the earliest you could file was about March 3, 2026. Use the USCIS early filing tool on the N-400 page to get your exact date.

Trips abroad matter in two ways.

1. Long trips can break your continuous residence. A trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year is presumed to break it. You can overcome this with proof your life stayed here, such as keeping your job, your home, and your family in the U.S. A trip of 1 year or more breaks it. USCIS must deny an application if this happened during your 5 years (or 3), unless you had an approved Form N-470 for certain work abroad. Many short trips can also raise questions if they suggest your real home is somewhere else.
2. Days outside count against physical presence. Add up every day you spent outside the U.S. in the last 5 years. You need at least 30 months (18 on the marriage path) inside.

What to bring if you took a trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year: rent or mortgage statements or pay stubs, bank or credit card statements with regular activity, car registration and insurance, your passport with stamps, and IRS tax transcripts. These come straight from the USCIS checklist.

Common mistakes:

• Counting from the date you entered the U.S. instead of the Resident Since date.
• Forgetting short trips. List every trip, even a weekend in Mexico or Canada.
• Taking a long trip after you file. Your residence must continue until the oath.

See Will long trips abroad hurt my citizenship application?

What papers do I need?

Most people need only a few things. Gather them before you fill out a single line.

Everyone:

• A copy of your green card, front and back.
• The fee, or a fee waiver or reduced fee request.
• Marriage papers, if you are married or were married before: your current marriage certificate, and any divorce decree, annulment or death certificate that ended an earlier marriage.

Only if it fits you:

Rules that trip people up:

• Send copies, not originals, unless USCIS asks for originals.
• Translate everything not in English. Include a full English translation and a signed note from the translator saying it is complete and correct and that they can translate.
• No photos in the envelope when you apply from inside the U.S. USCIS takes your photo at a biometrics appointment and may put it on your certificate, so wear clothes you would like to see there. USCIS says it may still ask some people for passport photos later, with instructions.
• Keep handy (you don't send these): every address and job for the last 5 years, and the dates of every trip abroad.

Character reference letters are optional, but they may help now. See What happens after I apply?

For the full list with details, see What documents you need to apply for citizenship.

How much does it cost, and can I pay less?

The fee is $760 on paper or $710 online. If money is tight, you may pay $380 or nothing. These are the amounts on the USCIS Fee Schedule, updated October 16, 2026 (checked October 21, 2026).

Fee waiver ($0). USCIS still offers fee waivers for the N-400 (USCIS fee waiver page, updated October 14, 2026). You can ask USCIS to waive the fee if you can show one of these:

1. You, or your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled), get a means tested benefit right now. USCIS lists Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), SNAP (CalFresh), SSI, TANF, WIC, Section 8 and some other housing help, among others.
2. Your household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines when you file.
3. You face extreme financial hardship right now, such as unexpected medical bills or an emergency.

Ask with Form I-912 (or a letter with the same information) in the same envelope as your paper N-400. For benefit proof, send a recent letter from the agency showing the person's name, the agency, the benefit, and that it is active now.

In San Mateo County, the county can send you a letter proving you get public benefits, to include with your waiver request. It takes 1 to 2 weeks. Call (650) 363-4194 (checked October 18, 2026).

Reduced fee ($380). For households with income above 150 percent and at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055 says "not more than 400 percent"; the USCIS reduced fee page says "less than 400%". If your income is right at the line, have a clinic check before you file). Use a paper N-400, answer "Yes" in Part 10, Item 1, fill out the rest of Part 10, and send $380 with proof of income. If your income is at or below 150 percent, USCIS says to ask for a fee waiver instead.

Which one fits you? Count the people in your household (you, a spouse who lives with you, unmarried children under 21 who live with you, parents who live with you, and dependents on your tax return) and add up their yearly income. USCIS uses 150 percent of the current poverty guidelines at the time of your request (USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part B, Chapter 4). Its own income chart is archived and still shows 2024 numbers, so we worked out this table from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for California and the other 47 contiguous states (checked October 21, 2026). Have a clinic check your numbers before you file.

Example (made up to show the steps): Rosa lives with her husband and their two children, ages 9 and 16. That is 4 people. Together they earn $58,000 a year. That is above $49,500, so no income based waiver, but under $132,000, so she qualifies for the $380 reduced fee. She files on paper, answers "Yes" in Part 10, and sends proof of the household's income. The N-400 instructions for Part 10 list what to send. USCIS rejects a reduced fee request that comes without income proof.

Paying the full fee. Online, pay in your USCIS account. By mail, pay with a card on Form G-1450 or from a U.S. bank account on Form G-1650. Write the exact amount.

Can someone help me pay?

• Mission Asset Fund lends the $710 online fee at 0% interest to people in California. Payments are reported to the credit bureaus, which can help your credit (checked October 19, 2026). See Is there a program that pays naturalization fees?
• Coastside Hope in Half Moon Bay offers income based scholarships for USCIS fees for people who live or work on the Coastside: 650-726-9071, extension 229.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Asking for both a fee waiver and a reduced fee. Pick one.
• Filing online when you want a waiver or reduced fee. You must use paper.
• Sending the wrong amount. USCIS rejects the whole packet if the fee is wrong.
• Paying anyone who promises a "cheaper" or "faster" USCIS fee. Fees go only to USCIS.

USCIS keeps the fee even if it denies your case, so get your eligibility checked before you pay. For details and an income table, see How much citizenship costs and how to get a fee waiver or reduced fee.

How do I file, online or on paper?

File online if you pay the full fee. File on paper if you want a fee waiver or reduced fee. Both use the same Form N-400, edition 01/20/25.

To file online:

1. Create a USCIS online account at my.uscis.gov.
2. Fill out the N-400 there, upload your papers, and pay $710.
3. Your account lets you check your case, get notices, and answer requests for more evidence.

To file on paper:

1. Download the form and instructions from the N-400 page. Make sure every page shows the same edition date at the bottom.
2. Answer every question. If you don't understand one, ask a clinic before you guess.
3. Sign it. USCIS rejects any unsigned form.
4. Add your fee payment (G-1450 or G-1650), or Form I-912 for a waiver, or Part 10 and proof for a reduced fee.
5. If you want a text or email when USCIS accepts your packet, clip Form G-1145 to the first page.
6. Make a full copy of everything for yourself.
7. Mail it. From California, by USPS: USCIS, Attn: N-400, P.O. Box 21251, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1251. By FedEx, UPS or DHL: USCIS, Attn: N-400 (Box 21251), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806. Check the address page the day you mail.

If you mail your form, USCIS will send you a notice with instructions for making an online account so you can track your case.

Want help filling it out? A free workshop can check every answer with you. See How to fill out the citizenship application, Form N-400.

Have a lawyer or accredited representative? They file Form G-28 with your N-400, or at your interview.

Moved after you filed? Tell USCIS within 10 days. See How to tell USCIS your new address.

What happens after I apply?

You get a receipt, then a fingerprint appointment, then an interview. Here is the order and what to watch for.

1. Receipt notice. USCIS sends a receipt with your case number. Keep it safe. If your green card is expiring, this receipt extends your green card for 2 years from the "Card Expires" date. Carry the receipt with your green card as proof. If you lose your green card, you generally still must file Form I-90. See My green card is expiring but I applied for citizenship.

2. Biometrics. You get a notice for an appointment at an Application Support Center for fingerprints, photo and signature. Go on time. USCIS uses this for background checks.

3. A possible neighborhood investigation. This is new. Since August 25, 2026, the USCIS Policy Manual says that, unless USCIS waives it, an investigation applies to every applicant and usually happens before the interview. An investigator may talk with your neighbors, landlord, people at local businesses, and your supervisors or coworkers. The investigator must say they are from USCIS and explain why they are asking. If USCIS plans to deny you because of what it learns, it must tell you and give you a chance to respond.

How reference letters can help. USCIS says sending at least two character reference letters with your N-400 can help it decide whether to waive the investigation. The letters should come from U.S. citizens who know you personally, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers or business contacts. USCIS does not consider letters from your family or relatives. Each letter should include:

• The writer's full name, address, phone, email, and proof of their citizenship or status
• How they know you, and for how long
• Real examples of your honesty and how you take part in your community
• A clear statement about your moral character and your attitude toward the United States and the Constitution

The letters are optional. Not having them does not, alone, mean you lack good moral character. But USCIS says not sending them may play a part in its decision to do an investigation. See How to write a character reference letter for a citizenship case.

4. Interview notice. USCIS mails you a date, time and place at a USCIS field office. If you cannot go, follow the notice to reschedule. Missing it without telling USCIS can hurt your case.

How long does it take? It varies by office. Check your office on the USCIS processing times page and your case in your online account or on Case Status Online. USCIS updates that tool around the 15th of each month, so check it again right before you plan around a date.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Traveling for a long time while your case is pending.
• Ignoring a request for evidence. Answer by the deadline on the notice.
• Paying anyone who calls or emails saying they can speed up your case. USCIS does not ask for fees by phone or email.

What is on the English and civics test?

There are two parts: English and civics. You get two chances to pass each. Most people take the test during their interview.

English test

• Speaking: the officer listens to you during the interview.
• Reading: you must read aloud one of three sentences correctly.
• Writing: you must write one of three sentences correctly.

Civics test (spoken, questions about U.S. history and government)

On the 2025 test, the officer stops once you get 12 right, or once you get 9 wrong.

Exceptions:

• Age 50 or older with 20 years as a green card holder, or 55 or older with 15 years (counted when you file): you skip the English test. You still take civics, and you may take it in your own language with an interpreter you bring. The interpreter must be fluent in English and your language.
• Age 65 or older with 20 years as a green card holder: you get special consideration on civics. Officers use specially designated test forms.
• A disability that keeps you from learning English or civics: file Form N-648 with your N-400. A licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist must fill it out. It costs nothing to file. See Can I skip the English or civics test because of a disability?
• Need an accommodation for an appointment, like a wheelchair or sign language? Ask at uscis.gov/accommodations as soon as you get your notice.

If you don't pass: you get a second try on the part you failed, between 60 and 90 days after your first interview.

How to study:

1. Use the free USCIS study materials. Make sure you study the right list for the date you filed.
2. Practice answering out loud. The test is spoken.
3. Practice the reading and writing vocabulary lists.
4. Join a free citizenship class. Many libraries, churches and nonprofits run them.

See How to study for the citizenship civics and English test.

What happens at the interview?

An officer puts you under oath, goes over your application with you, and gives you the test. You leave with a written result.

Before you go:

1. Read your interview notice. Bring everything it lists.
2. Bring your green card and your passports and travel papers.
3. Bring originals or court certified copies of any record you sent as a copy.
4. Read your whole N-400 again. Know what you wrote.
5. If you have news since you filed, like a new address, a trip, a marriage, a new child, or any arrest or ticket, be ready to tell the officer.

At the interview:

• You swear to tell the truth.
• The officer asks about your application and background, and checks your answers.
• You take the English and civics tests, unless you have an exception.
• A lawyer or accredited representative may come with you. If yours does not show up and you don't want to go ahead without them, the officer must reschedule.
• An interpreter is allowed only if you qualify to take the test in your own language. You bring and pay for the interpreter. They must translate word for word, sign an oath, and show government ID. Someone with no interest in your case is best.

Answer honestly. If you don't understand a question, say so and ask the officer to repeat it. If you don't know or don't remember, say that. Never guess.

After the interview, the officer will either:

• Approve your application,
• Continue your case, for example if more papers are needed or you need to retake a test, or
• Deny it.

You get a notice of results at the end of the interview, whatever the outcome. USCIS has 120 days from your first interview to decide. If it does not decide in time, you may ask a federal district court to review your case. Talk to a lawyer about that step.

Interviews are serious, but they are not designed to trick you. People pass every day with honest answers and good preparation. See What happens at your citizenship interview and oath ceremony and Asking for help at your citizenship interview and oath.

What if my application is denied?

You can ask for a hearing with Form N-336, but you must act fast. File it within 30 calendar days of getting the denial, or 33 days if USCIS mailed it to you. USCIS generally rejects late requests and keeps the fee.

N-336 fee (checked October 19, 2026): $830 on paper or $780 online. It is $0 if your N-400 was filed under the military sections. A fee waiver may be possible.

Count from the date on the notice. USCIS counts weekends and holidays in the 30 or 33 days. From October 23, 2026, if the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, a paper filing counts as on time if USCIS receives it by the end of the next business day (USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-15). Do not plan on that extra day. Mail early.

What to do:

1. Read the denial letter closely. It says why.
2. Take it to a free legal clinic right away, before the 30 days run out.
3. Decide with them: ask for a hearing, or fix the problem and apply again later.
4. If the denial mentions a criminal record, false claim to citizenship or voting, get advice before you do anything else, because these can also affect your green card.

Some reasons for denial can also lead to immigration court. That is why the red flag check matters before you file.

See My citizenship application was denied. What can I do?

What happens at the oath ceremony?

You become a citizen when you take the Oath of Allegiance at a public ceremony. Not before. Approval is not citizenship. Until the oath, keep living like a green card holder: no voting, and no saying you are a citizen.

Before the ceremony:

• USCIS sends you Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony, with your date, time and place. It includes questions about the time since your interview.
• Answer those questions honestly, including any trips, arrests, citations or marriages since your interview. An officer reviews your answers at the ceremony.
• Some offices hold the interview, decision and oath on the same day.

At the ceremony:

1. An officer reviews your Form N-445 and checks that you are still eligible.
2. You turn in your green card and any USCIS travel papers.
3. You take the Oath of Allegiance with the group.
4. You receive your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550). Check it for mistakes before you leave.

Can I change the oath? The law allows certain changes to the oath, for example for religious or conscience reasons. Ask before your ceremony. See What happens at your citizenship interview and oath ceremony

Registering to vote. Since August 31, 2026, USCIS again allows nonprofit, nonpartisan groups to help new citizens register to vote right after an administrative ceremony, when election offices are not there to do it.

After the oath:

• Keep your certificate in a safe place and make a copy.
• Apply for a U.S. passport, and register to vote. See You are a citizen now: how to get a passport and register to vote.
• If your certificate is lost or has an error, use Form N-565. The fee is $555 on paper or $505 online, and $0 if the error was USCIS's fault (checked October 19, 2026).

We hope you bring your family. This is a day to celebrate.

Do my children become citizens too?

Often, yes, automatically. Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (INA 320), a child born outside the U.S. becomes a citizen automatically on the day all of these are true, on or after February 27, 2001:

• At least one parent is a U.S. citizen, by birth or naturalization (including an adoptive parent).
• The child is under 18.
• The child is a green card holder.
• The child lives in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent.

The order does not matter, as long as all four are true at the same time before the child turns 18.

Example: you become a citizen when your daughter is 15. She has a green card and lives with you, and you have legal custody. She becomes a citizen that same day. No new application is needed for her to be a citizen.

Proving it. A child who became a citizen this way does not have to have a paper proving it. But you will want one. Two ways:

• A U.S. passport. A valid U.S. passport serves as evidence of citizenship.
• A Certificate of Citizenship with Form N-600. The fee is $1,385 on paper or $1,335 online (checked October 19, 2026). A fee waiver may be possible. You must use paper if you ask for one.

If your child is 18 or older, or did not have a green card before turning 18, the automatic rule does not apply. Your child may need to apply for citizenship on their own when eligible. Ask a clinic, because the rules for older cases and for children living abroad are different.

Custody matters. If you are divorced or separated, "legal custody" has a specific meaning. Bring your custody papers to a clinic before you file anything for your child.

See Did my child become a citizen when I did? and Is my child born outside the US a citizen?

Can my citizenship be taken away later?

Only in rare cases, and only through a federal court. The government can ask a court to take away citizenship if it was gotten illegally, or by hiding or lying about important facts. USCIS cannot do it on its own. A crime committed after you became a citizen is generally not enough, if you were eligible when you naturalized. On September 14, 2026, USCIS issued new Policy Manual guidance on when it refers cases for this. Its priority list includes undisclosed crimes, fraud, false identities, false claims to citizenship, voting before naturalization, and marriage fraud. USCIS also says it checks whether a citizen lawfully got citizenship whenever that citizen files a petition, such as a petition for a relative.

The best protection is simple: tell the full truth on your N-400 and at your interview. See Can my US citizenship be taken away?

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

The basic rules in the law did not change: 5 years (or 3 through marriage), continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English and civics, and support for the Constitution. What changed is how closely USCIS checks them, and the test. Here is what we confirmed on USCIS and Federal Register pages on October 19, 2026.

• August 15, 2025: a stricter look at good moral character. A USCIS policy memo tells officers to look at the whole person. The USCIS Policy Manual lists factors in your favor, such as family ties, school, steady lawful work, paying taxes and meeting money duties, community involvement, following probation, and how long you have lived here.
• August 29, 2025: voting and false claims. USCIS updated its policy on false claims to U.S. citizenship and unlawful voting. It may issue a Notice to Appear in immigration court for these, with no conviction needed, unless a narrow exception applies.
• October 20, 2025: a new civics test. If you filed on or after this date, you take the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from 128, and 12 right to pass.
• December 2025 and January 2026: holds on cases from 39 countries. Two USCIS memos (PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194) put pending applications from people from the travel ban countries on hold.
• June 23, 2026: a proposed fee increase. DHS proposed $1,330 on paper and $1,280 online, and ending the reduced fee and fee waivers. Not final as of October 21, 2026.
• August 24, 2026: the holds were blocked. A federal court in Northern California (Red Eagle Law v. Edlow) blocked both hold memos and ordered USCIS to decide these cases in the normal way. USCIS says it disagrees but will follow the order while the case goes on (USCIS alert, unchanged when we checked October 21, 2026). If you are from one of these countries, get advice about timing.
• August 25, 2026: neighborhood investigations. USCIS added them to its Policy Manual. See What happens after I apply?
• August 31, 2026: voter registration at ceremonies is back. Nonprofit, nonpartisan groups may again help new citizens register right after administrative ceremonies.
• September 14, 2026: new guidance on taking away citizenship. USCIS issued Policy Manual guidance on referring cases for revocation of naturalization (Policy Alert PA-2026-13). See Can my citizenship be taken away later?
• October 23, 2026: weekend deadline rule. For paper filings, a deadline counted in days that ends on a weekend or federal holiday moves to the next business day (Policy Alert PA-2026-15).
• October 16, 2026: new fee schedule edition. It added new fees for some other forms. The N-400 fee did not change.

For more, read New citizenship rules in 2025 and 2026: what USCIS now looks at.

Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?

These are free or low cost public offices and nonprofits. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service. Details checked October 18, 2026.

East Palo Alto and San Mateo County

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): 650-326-6440. Walk in help Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1861 Bay Road. Serves low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City: free citizenship workshop on the second Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and free classes. Register at (650) 780-7530. Consultations by appointment at (650) 587-1558. First consultation free.
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org. Can help with a benefits letter for your fee waiver.
• Coastside Hope, Half Moon Bay: 650-726-9071, extension 229. Free citizenship classes in English and Spanish, and fee scholarships for Coastside residents and workers.

Santa Clara County

• Office of Immigrant Relations keeps a list of citizenship providers.
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: (408) 468-0100. $50 consultation; serves low to moderate income residents.
• SIREN, San Jose: (408) 453-3003. Phone consultations by appointment. No walk ins.
• Asian Law Alliance, San Jose: (408) 287-9710. Free or low cost services in several languages.

Anywhere in California

• The state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

More groups and workshops: Free or low cost immigration legal help in the Bay Area. Only attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives may give you immigration legal advice. See How to find a lawyer you can trust.

Running a workshop at your church or center? See How to host a citizenship document gathering workshop.

Questions people ask

Can I apply if I got my green card through DACA or another path? Yes. What matters is how long you have had your green card, not how you got it. The usual rules apply. See Can DACA lead to a green card or citizenship?

Will using Medi-Cal or CalFresh hurt my citizenship case? Getting a benefit you qualified for is one way to show you need a fee waiver. Trouble comes from getting benefits with false information, or owing an overpayment. If you got an overpayment letter, get advice first. See Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case?

Can I travel while my application is pending? Your residence must continue until the oath, and you must come to every appointment. A trip of more than 6 months is presumed to break your residence. Talk to a clinic before any long trip. See Will long trips abroad hurt my citizenship application?

My green card expires soon. Do I need to renew it? Your N-400 receipt notice extends your green card for 2 years from the "Card Expires" date. Carry both. If your card is lost, you generally still must file Form I-90. If you have a 2 year conditional card, you remove conditions with Form I-751, not Form I-90. See My green card is expiring but I applied for citizenship.

Do I need a lawyer? No law says you must have one. But if anything in the red flag check fits you, talk to an attorney or accredited representative first. A free workshop is a good check for everyone else.

Will USCIS talk to my neighbors? It may. Since August 25, 2026, USCIS policy says a neighborhood investigation applies to every applicant unless waived. Two reference letters from U.S. citizens who know you, not family, can help USCIS decide to skip it. See Will USCIS contact my neighbors?

What if I fail the test twice? You get two tries at each part. If you don't pass the second time, your application can be denied. You can apply again later with a new fee. A free citizenship class can help you get ready.

Do I have to give up my other citizenship? The oath includes giving up allegiance to other countries. Whether your other country still sees you as its citizen depends on that country's law. See Can I keep my other citizenship if I become a US citizen?

Can I vote as soon as I am approved? No. Wait until after you take the oath. Voting before you are a citizen can lead to immigration court.

I registered to vote by mistake at the DMV. What do I do? Do not file yet. Talk to an immigration attorney first. USCIS treats false claims to citizenship and unlawful voting very seriously, though narrow exceptions exist.

Is there a program that pays the fee? USCIS itself can waive or lower the fee. In California, Mission Asset Fund lends the $710 online fee at 0% interest. See Is there a program that pays naturalization fees?

What does the N-400 cost if I am in the military? $0 if you apply under INA 328 or 329. See Becoming a citizen through military service.

My parent naturalized when I was a teenager. Am I already a citizen? You may be, if you had a green card and lived with that parent, in their legal custody, before you turned 18. See Did my child become a citizen when I did?

Ready to file checklist

Interview day checklist

You have already come a long way to reach this point. Take it one step at a time, with honest answers and good help beside you. We are cheering for you.