US Citizenship in 2026: N-400 Requirements, the New Civics Test, Neighborhood Checks, and Timelines

You can apply for US citizenship (Form N-400) 5 years after getting your green card, or 3 years after if you have been married to and living with a US citizen for that entire time. The application may be filed 90 days before that date. In 2026 the basic requirements for US citizenship remain the same, but scrutiny is tighter: a new 128-question civics test is in effect, more factors are weighed in assessing "good moral character," and since August 25, 2026, USCIS may again interview neighbors and employers.

In short:

• Timing: 5 years with a green card (3 years if married to a US citizen); you can file 90 days before the date.
• You must be physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of 5 years (18 out of 3 years). A trip longer than 6 months puts continuous residence in question; longer than a year generally breaks it.
• For N-400s filed on or after October 20, 2025, the 2025 test applies: 128 questions in the bank, up to 20 asked, 12 correct answers needed to pass. The English test has not changed.
• Fee: $760 on paper and $710 online. An increase to $1,330/$1,280 has only been proposed so far.
• Since August 25, 2026 (PA-2026-10), USCIS may again investigate the applicant at their residence and workplace.

When can you apply for US citizenship

The main path is naturalization after 5 years of permanent residence (INA §316). The period is counted from the "Resident Since" date on the green card. The expedited option is 3 years (INA §319(a)). It is available if for all three years you have been married to a US citizen, living together, and your spouse has been a citizen the entire time.

You can file N-400 90 days before reaching the 5- or 3-year mark. USCIS publishes an early filing calculator on its website. Being off by even one day is a common reason for denial, so it is best to check the date there. In addition, before filing you must have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district through which you file.

Continuous residence vs. physical presence: the difference

These are two separate requirements, and you must meet both.

Physical presence is the total number of days you spent in the US. Each trip is counted by departure and entry dates. If over 5 years you spent more than 30 months abroad in total, the requirement is not met, even if each trip was short.

Continuous residence concerns the length of each individual trip:

• less than 6 months — residence is usually not broken;
• 6 months to 1 year — there is a rebuttable presumption of a break. You can preserve your period by proving you kept ties to the US: employment, housing, taxes, family;
• 1 year or more — residence is broken, and the clock starts over. The exception is a pre-approved Form N-470 for certain categories of workers abroad.

Example: a hypothetical applicant got her green card in March 2021. In 2024 she left to care for her mother and returned 8 months later. Technically 5 years have passed, but at the interview she will have to prove her residence was not broken: show her lease, tax returns filed as a resident, employment or a leave of absence, US bank accounts. Without such evidence, it is better to wait or recalculate the period from the date of return.

US citizenship requirements in 2026: good moral character

The applicant must show good moral character (GMC) for the entire statutory period — 5 or 3 years. They must also be attached to the principles of the Constitution. Some offenses permanently bar the path to citizenship; others do so only for a certain period. Separately, the officer evaluates conduct as a whole.

The August 2025 memo

On August 15, 2025, USCIS issued the memo "Restoring a Good Moral Character Evaluation Standard…". Officers now assess the "totality of circumstances," not just check for disqualifying offenses. Community involvement, family caregiving, education, stable employment, and paying taxes weigh in the applicant's favor. Even lawful conduct inconsistent with civic responsibility may weigh against the applicant, for example repeated traffic violations or harassment of others.

Since August 19, 2025, "anti-American" ideology and activity are treated as a negative discretionary factor. The term is not defined by statute. According to Boundless, the rule also applies to naturalization. In February 2026, OMB approved the collection of social media identifiers on the N-400. The exact date this requirement appeared in the current edition of the form has not been confirmed as of October 15, 2026.

Important: paying taxes, child support, having no debts to the government, and a clean driving record now carry more weight than before. It is better to gather positive evidence in advance rather than wait for a request.

Neighborhood investigations for citizenship: what changed on August 25, 2026

INA §335(a) has long allowed USCIS to conduct a neighborhood investigation: interviewing neighbors, employers, and coworkers about the past 5 years. Since 1991, this investigation has generally not been carried out.

On August 25, 2026, Policy Alert PA-2026-10 incorporated this requirement into the Policy Manual, and the blanket waiver of the investigation ceased to apply. It was preceded by memo PM-602-0189 of August 22, 2025. Waivers are now decided case by case: they are reviewed by the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) together with field offices. The change applies to applications pending on that date or filed afterward.

What this means in practice:

• an officer or FDNS staff member may visit the address listed on the N-400 or contact your employer;
• the addresses and workplaces on the form must match reality and the information in your tax returns;
• the applicant may optionally attach character reference letters, preferably from US citizens who are not their relatives.

For more on how interviews are conducted in 2026 and what checks are performed, see USCIS interviews in 2026: what changed.

The 2025 US citizenship test: 128 questions instead of 100

USCIS announced the new civics test (civics test 2025) on September 17, 2025, and the Federal Register notice was published on September 18. The test applies to N-400s filed on or after October 20, 2025. If your application was filed earlier, you take the 2008 test. You can check your filing date on your receipt notice.

The test is oral: the officer asks a question and you answer in your own words. Answers to some questions depend on current events, such as who your state's governor or your representative in Congress is right now. Check these before the interview.

The English test

As of October 15, 2026, the English test has not changed. It has three parts: speaking (assessed throughout the interview and your answers about the form), reading one of three sentences, and writing one of three sentences from dictation.

If you fail English or civics, you get a second attempt in 60–90 days. You retake only the part you failed. After a second failure, the application is denied.

Who is exempt from the test

Age and time with a green card are counted as of the N-400 filing date. Form N-648 is completed and signed by a licensed physician. It must show the link between the diagnosis and the inability to learn the material. A general medical note is not sufficient.

How much it costs to file N-400 in 2026

There is no separate biometrics fee: it is included in the filing fee.

On June 23, 2026, DHS published a proposed rule (FR 2026-12542). It raises the N-400 fee to $1,330 on paper and $1,280 online, and the N-336 fee to $1,475 and $1,425. The reduced fee and the fee waiver would be eliminated. The comment period closed on August 24, 2026. As of October 15, 2026, the rule has not been finalized, and the current amounts apply. If you are already eligible to file, the increase is a strong reason not to delay. For an overview of all fees, see USCIS fees 2026.

How naturalization works: from filing to the oath

1. Filing. Online through a myUSCIS account or by mail. Filing online makes it easier to upload documents and track your case. You attach a copy of your green card, marriage documents (for the 3-year path), court records if any, and translations. Translations of foreign-language documents must be certified — see Document translation for USCIS.
2. Receipt notice (I-797C). It shows your case number and filing date. The filing date determines which test you will take.
3. Biometrics. Fingerprints and a photo at an ASC. Sometimes USCIS reuses previously collected biometrics.
4. Background checks. FBI database checks, security checks, and now a possible investigation at your residence and workplace.
5. Interview. Under oath, the officer goes through your entire N-400 with you, then administers the English and civics tests.
6. Form N-652. It is issued at the interview. It records the result: granted, continued (for example, documents or a retest are needed), or denied.
7. Oath of Allegiance. You become a citizen only after taking the oath, not upon approval. At the ceremony you turn in your green card, and after the oath you receive your Certificate of Naturalization.

USCIS must make a decision within 120 days after the interview. If it does not, the law (INA §336(b)) allows you to go to federal district court. Discuss such a step with an immigration attorney. If denied, you can file N-336 within 30 days. We explain what the case statuses in your online account mean in USCIS case statuses.

Processing times in New York

Third-party services that mirror USCIS data showed varying figures for the New York City field office in September–October 2026: from 8 to 10–12.5 months from filing to decision. We did not obtain separate data for the offices in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. Processing times change every month, so check them on the official page egov.uscis.gov/processing-times before filing. Go by your office and Form N-400.

Dual citizenship: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine

The US does not require you to actually renounce your prior citizenship. The oath contains a renunciation clause, but the US does not enforce it. Whether you keep your first citizenship is determined by the law of your country.

Important: citizenship rules change, and the consequences (property, inheritance, pension, entry into the country) differ for everyone. Confirm the position with your country's consulate before the oath. For Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, also find out in advance how you will enter on a US passport.

Risks that lead to citizenship denials

The N-400 is a re-examination of your entire immigration history, not just the last 5 years. If there were violations when you got your green card, the case may end not in citizenship but in a Notice to Appear (NTA) in immigration court. According to USCIS, about 196,600 such notices were issued from January 20 through the end of 2025.

• Old arrests and police contacts. Disclose everything, including closed, dismissed, and expunged cases, as well as incidents outside the US. Certified court dispositions are required. A concealed arrest is more dangerous than a disclosed one.
• Taxes. Unfiled returns, IRS debts without a payment plan, filing as a nonresident after getting a green card. USCIS may treat the latter as abandonment of permanent residence.
• Selective Service. Men who lived in the US between the ages of 18 and 26 were required to register. If you did not and you are not yet 31 (29 for the 3-year path), you will need a Status Information Letter and a written explanation. Under 26, simply register.
• False claim to US citizenship. Checking "citizen" on an employer's I-9 or on a loan application, registering to vote, voting. This can permanently bar the path to citizenship and become a ground for removal.
• Long trips — see the section on continuous residence above.
• Inconsistencies on the form. Addresses, employment, marriages, and trips must match prior forms (I-485, I-130, I-751) and tax records.

If you got your green card through marriage, it is useful to review your file. Examples of real approvals are in Marriage-based green cards: our approvals.

What to do now

1. Calculate your early filing date using the USCIS calculator. If you qualify for both paths (5 years and 3 years), calculate both.
2. Make a table of all trips for the entire period with departure and entry dates. Check it against your I-94 record and passport stamps.
3. Check your taxes: whether returns were filed for each year, whether there are debts, and whether you filed as a nonresident.
4. Gather certified documents for any arrests, fines, and court cases, including abroad.
5. Men — check your Selective Service registration.
6. Prepare positive evidence: employment letters, community involvement, and optionally reference letters from US citizens who are not your relatives.
7. File while the $760/$710 fees are in effect. Keep your receipt notice.
8. Prepare for the version of the test that applies to you (2025 or 2008), and check the answers about current officeholders.
9. Before the oath, confirm the dual citizenship rules with your country's consulate.

How M&M can help

• N-400 and document package preparation. We calculate timelines and cross-check trips, addresses, and prior forms so your application has no inconsistencies.
• Certified translation and an in-house notary. We translate court, marriage, and tax documents and notarize them on site — 1944 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn.
• Complex cases — with partner attorneys. If there are arrests, long trips, tax issues, or a decision delayed beyond 120 days, the case is evaluated by a licensed immigration attorney.

Start with a free assessment or contact us.

Sources

• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 — Citizenship and Naturalization
• USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-10 — Investigations for Naturalization Eligibility (08/25/2026), PDF
• Federal Register 2026-12542 — Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments (06/23/2026)
• USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part B, Ch. 4 — interview results, N-652
• USCIS — Processing Times
• AILA — USCIS Policy Alert on Investigations and Examinations for Naturalization Eligibility
• ILRC — Naturalization Alert: GMC and Neighborhood Visits
• Immigration Policy Tracking Project — Updated Naturalization Civics Test
• IMI Daily — Which Countries Make You Report a Second Citizenship (10/02/2026)
• Visit Ukraine — Multiple citizenship in Ukraine: what has changed

This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. M&M Document Preparation is not a law firm. Information is current as of October 15, 2026.