Becoming a U.S. citizen in New Jersey: N-400 eligibility and steps

Basic eligibility for naturalization

Naturalization is the process that turns a lawful permanent resident into a U.S. citizen. Under the general rule in the USCIS Policy Manual, you must:

You carry the burden of proving each of these requirements by a preponderance of the evidence, which means showing it is more likely true than not. In practice that means documents, not just your word.

• Be at least 18 when you file
• Have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years, with continuous residence during that time
• Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months of those 5 years
• Have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file
• Show good moral character for the 5 years before filing and up to your oath
• Pass English and U.S. history and government (civics) tests, and show attachment to the principles of the Constitution

The three-year path for spouses of U.S. citizens

If you're married to a U.S. citizen, you may qualify after three years instead of five. Under INA 319(a), you need 3 years of continuous residence as a permanent resident, at least 18 months (548 days) of physical presence in those 3 years, and 3 years of living in marital union with your citizen spouse right before filing. Your spouse must have been a citizen for that time and must stay a citizen until you take the oath.

Living in marital union means actually living together. Separation, even without a divorce, can affect eligibility on this path.

Trips abroad and continuous residence

Long trips are one of the most common problems. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, an absence of more than 6 months but less than 1 year is presumed to break continuous residence, though you can try to rebut that with evidence like keeping your U.S. job, home and family ties. An absence of 1 year or more automatically breaks it unless you had an approved Form N-470 for certain qualifying work abroad.

You can file up to 90 days before you meet the continuous residence requirement. Count carefully: filing too early is a common reason for denial.

Filing fee and what it covers

As of our last review, the N-400 filing fee is $760 if you file on paper and $710 if you file online. A reduced fee of $380 is available by mail for applicants whose household income falls within USCIS limits, and some applicants qualify for a fee waiver.

In June 2026, DHS proposed raising the fee to $1,330 on paper and $1,280 online and ending reduced fees and fee waivers for naturalization. That proposal was not final when we last reviewed this page. Check the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) right before you file, because the fee that applies depends on when you file.

The interview and the new civics test

After filing, you'll get a biometrics appointment and then an interview notice. New Jersey has USCIS field offices in Newark (the Peter Rodino Federal Building at 970 Broad Street), Cranbury (the New Jersey Central field office) and Mount Laurel. Which one you're assigned depends on your address, and USCIS can move cases between offices to balance workloads, so go by your notice.

At the interview, an officer reviews your application under oath and gives the English and civics tests. If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, the 2025 civics test applies: the officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you need 12 correct to pass. Applicants who are 65 or older and have had a green card for 20 years or more study a shorter list of 20 questions, are asked up to 10, and need 6 correct. If you pass and are approved, you take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony, and that's when you become a citizen.

Getting ready: documents and practice

Most of the work happens before you file. The N-400 asks about your addresses, jobs, trips abroad, marriages, children, taxes and any contact with police for the relevant period, and the officer will compare your answers to government records. Small inconsistencies are usually fixable at the interview, but they're easier to avoid in the first place.

Useful things to gather include your green card, passport and travel records, tax transcripts, marriage and divorce documents, and certified court records for any arrest, citation or charge, even if it was dismissed. If you're on the three-year marriage path, bring proof that you and your spouse live together, like a joint lease, bank statements or bills.

For the tests, USCIS publishes the civics questions and study materials, and many New Jersey libraries and nonprofits run citizenship classes. The English test checks reading, writing and speaking, and the speaking part happens naturally during the interview.

Plan for the timeline too. After filing, you'll get a receipt notice, then a biometrics appointment, then an interview notice, and wait times vary by field office. Keep your mailing address current with USCIS, keep copies of everything you submit, and don't travel abroad for long stretches while the case is pending without thinking through how it affects your continuous residence and physical presence.

Red flags worth reviewing before you file

Filing an N-400 invites USCIS to look at your whole immigration history. Certain issues can lead not just to denial but to removal proceedings. These include arrests or convictions (even old or dismissed ones), unpaid taxes or child support, claiming to be a U.S. citizen, voting in an election you weren't eligible for, failing to register for Selective Service when required, and problems with how you got your green card. If any of these apply, it's worth a consultation before you file.