- Note: If you got your green card by marrying a US citizen and you are still married and living together, you may apply after only 3 years.
- Note: You must subtract all trips outside of the US from this period. If you have had any single trip that lasted more than 6 months, you may be ineligible to naturalize until you again meet the continuous residency requirements after your longer than 6 month trip(s)
- Note: For "good moral character," USCIS considers any criminal background and also your honesty throughout the naturalization process. If you lie during your interview with USCIS, USCIS can deny your application for lacking good moral character.
There is a general requirement to pass an English test and civics test to prove you are able to read, write, and speak English, and you understand US history and government. There are some exceptions to the English requirement based on age. You do not need to take the English test and you may take the civics test in your preferred language if:
- You have been living in the US as a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) for more than 20 years and are 50 years or older,
- You have been living in the US as an LPR for more than 15 years and are 55 years or older, or
- You have been living in the US as an LPR for more than 20 years and are 65 years or older.
If you have a disability and cannot show the required English and civics knowledge, you can apply for an exception. You will need a doctor to help you complete the form.
USCIS guide
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has prepared A Guide to Naturalization.
The guide explains who can apply for US citizenship and how to complete the application, including:
- What form to use to apply for naturalization,
- Where to send the form,
- How much to pay,
- How to pay,
- How to get fingerprinted,
- How to check the status of your application, and
- How to appeal the denial of your application.
Request legal help and advice
It is important to request legal help when applying for US citizenship. The application process can be very complicated. Getting advice from an expert can increase your chances of becoming a citizen. There are several organizations in Illinois that may be able to help you. Many of these programs are free. Others are available at a low cost.
If you are unable to get legal help in Illinois, you can still get free help online. Citizenship Works is a non profit organization that provides free online services to help you apply for US citizenship. To use this service, visit their website: Citizenship Works.
Timeline for the process
The time it takes to become a citizen varies. Generally, it takes about 6-12 months for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process an application for naturalization. However, if you are seeking a fee waiver (as explained below), this could delay the process by 3 to 6 months. Do not be concerned by the delay. USCIS receives hundreds of thousands of applications, and they process all of them individually. This time could be used to study for the civics portion of the exam or to take an English and writing class and practice for the English portion of the exam. This is the reason for the large timeline.
To check the average processing times or the status of your case see My Case Status.
[no-lexicon] Can I waive any of the fees required for naturalization forms and applications?
There is a fee for filing an application for naturalization, and there is also a biometric fee. However, US Citizenship and Immigration Services provides a process for qualifying individuals to request a fee waiver for this application based on financial hardship.
To learn more about when fees can be waived and how to apply for fee waivers, go to USCIS and Request for Fee Waiver.
Applicants who are 75 or older do not need to pay a biometric fee, and certain military applicants do not need to pay a filing fee or biometric fee.
