The two requirements people confuse
Two separate rules must both be met:
- Continuous residence — you kept the US as your home. A single trip of 6+ months is presumed to break it; 1 year or more breaks it automatically.
- Physical presence — a day count: at least 913 days (5-yr) or 548 days (3-yr) actually inside the US.
You can pass one and fail the other. Many short trips can quietly sink your physical-presence count even with no long trip.
How to file Form N-400: steps, fees & timeline (2026)
Once you confirm you're eligible above, here's how the N-400 process actually works in 2026 — from filing to the Oath of Allegiance.
Filing fees (2026)
| Filing method | Total fee |
|---|---|
| Online (myUSCIS) | $710 |
| Paper (by mail) | $760 |
| Age 65+ or low-income (Form I-942 reduced / I-912 waiver) | Reduced or $0 if eligible |
| Military (INA §328 / §329) | $0 |
The biometrics cost is included in this single fee (no separate $85 charge since 2024). Since October 28, 2025, USCIS no longer accepts paper checks or money orders — pay by card or bank transfer. Filing online is $50 cheaper and avoids lost-mail risk.
How long does it take?
USCIS posts N-400 processing times by field office, and they differ from office to office, so check yours on the USCIS processing-times page before you plan travel or a job change. The law fixes one point: after your interview USCIS must decide within 120 days (8 CFR 335.3(a)), and a reexamination, if needed, is scheduled inside that window but no earlier than 60 days after the first interview (8 CFR 335.3(b)). Filing a complete, correct application the first time avoids a rejection that restarts the wait.
Documents to have ready
- Your green card (Permanent Resident Card), front and back.
- A complete travel history (all trips outside the US during the eligibility period).
- Marriage certificate and spouse's proof of US citizenship (3-year/spouse track).
- Tax records and any documents on arrests, citations or legal issues (good moral character).
- Current address and employment history for the required period.
N-400 document checklist (save your progress)
Tick each item as you gather it. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back later. Nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file before my anniversary?
Yes — up to 90 days before your 5-year (or 3-year) date. But you must still meet physical presence and continuous residence.
Do days before my green card count?
No. Only days as a lawful permanent resident count toward the 913/548 requirement.
Should I file online or by paper?
Online costs $50 less ($710 vs $760) and lets you pay, receive notices and track the case in your USCIS account. You must file on paper if you request a reduced fee ($380) or a fee waiver (Form I-912).
I took a 7-month trip — am I disqualified?
Not automatically, but USCIS presumes a 6+ month absence broke continuous residence. You can rebut it with evidence of US ties; an attorney is recommended.
Sources: INA §316 (5-year) and §319(a) (spouse 3-year); USCIS — Form N-400; USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 12 Part D Ch. 4 and Vol. 12 Part G Ch. 3; 8 CFR 335.2; 8 CFR 335.3; 8 U.S.C. 1447(b); USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-29 (photograph reuse); USCIS — Check case processing times; 8 CFR §316.2; 8 CFR part 106 and the 2024 USCIS fee rule (89 FR 6194). Physical presence 913 days (5-yr) / 548 days (3-yr); 90-day early filing; 6-month absence presumption, 1-year automatic break; N-400 fee $710 online / $760 paper. Verification (2026-09-17, measured): the Policy Manual states the five-year rule as “at least 30 months (at least 913 days)” (Vol. 12 Part D Ch. 4) and the spouse rule as “at least 18 months (548 days) out of the 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing” (Vol. 12 Part G Ch. 3). 8 CFR §106.1(g) sets the online filing discount as “the fee for forms filed online with USCIS … will be an amount that is $50 lower than the fee prescribed in § 106.2”, and the 2024 fee rule records “Previously, most applicants had to pay a separate $85 fee for biometrics” together with “a $50 discount for online filing ($710)”. 8 CFR §316.2 itself states the five-year rule in months (30 months) and does not address the three-year spouse pathway (INA §319(a)); §319.1(a)(4) states it as “at least 18 months”. Independent self-assessment, not legal advice; consult a licensed US immigration attorney.