Citizenship requirements: is it my time to apply?

By the Abuelito Citizenship team · Reviewed October 2, 2026 against official USCIS pages

What USCIS generally asks for before you send the N-400. You do the counting; we don't decide. A list to gather what the N-400 asks you. Check off what you already have.

Is it my time to apply?

5 years, or 3 if married to a citizen

The most common path: being a green card holder (lawful permanent resident) for at least 5 years.

If you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen, it can be 3 years as a resident. Your spouse must have been a citizen for those 3 years.

You also must be 18 or older on the day you file the N-400.

Continuous residence: your long trips

Continuous residence means you didn't leave the United States for a long time in a row.

A trip of more than 6 months (more than 180 days) but less than 1 year makes USCIS presume it was broken. You can show proof that your life stayed here: job, home, family, taxes.

A trip of 1 year or more (365 days or more) breaks it. There's an exception for certain jobs abroad, with Form N-470.

If you had a trip like that, talk to an attorney or accredited representative before applying.

Physical presence: how many days you were here

It's a different count: the days you were actually inside the United States.

With 5 years as a resident: at least 30 months (913 days) inside the country in those 5 years. With 3 years, married to a citizen: at least 18 months.

That's why you should keep your trips with departure and return dates. The N-400 asks for them.

3 months where you live

You must have lived at least 3 months in your state (or your USCIS district) before applying.

If you move to another state, count 3 months at the new home before you send the N-400.

Up to 90 days early

You can send the N-400 up to 90 days before you complete your 5 years (or your 3 years, if it's through marriage).

USCIS's example: if you complete the 5 years on June 10, the earliest you can apply is March 12 (90 days before).

If you send it too early, USCIS rejects it. Count calmly from the date on your green card.

The N-400 instructions mention a USCIS calculator, but today that page no longer opens. Confirm it at uscis.gov.

Before you send your N-400

The N-400 asks about your last 5 years

It asks for your addresses, your jobs or schools and your trips outside the country for the last 5 years (3 if you apply through marriage).

Also your marriage history, your children and the yes-or-no questions in Part 9.

Whatever you write, the officer can ask about at the interview. That's why we practice with «My N-400»: it stays only on your phone.

Checklist

• I counted my 5 years (or 3) from my green card date
• I have my trips from the last 5 years with departure and return dates
• I have my addresses from the last 5 years
• I have my jobs or schools from the last 5 years
• I have the details of my marriages and my children
• I requested my tax transcripts from the IRS (irs.gov)
• I read the Part 9 questions in «My N-400» and will answer the truth
• I checked today's fee at uscis.gov/g-1055 (and whether I can ask for a reduced fee)

This is an educational course, not legal advice. We don't decide whether you qualify. Confirm it at uscis.gov or with an attorney or accredited representative.

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