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What Documents Are Required For U.S. Citizenship?2024-03-14T09:45:19-04:00
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What Documents Are Required For U.S. Citizenship?

Any person who is applying for U.S. citizenship will be required to include documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The documents required of each applicant will depend on their particular situation. For example, lawful permanent residents (also known as “Green card holders”) who are applying for citizenship through their marriage to a U.S. citizen, will have to include a copy of their marriage certificate. Applicants will be required to submit different documents, at different stages of their naturalization process. In this guide there will be two tables. The first table will outline which documents you are required to submit along with your N-400, Application for Naturalization. The second table will outline which documents you will be required to bring to your naturalization interview.

In this guide we will cover these questions:

Should my documents be translated into English?

Yes, according to USCIS, if you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit an English translation.To guarantee that your naturalization application is processed quickly, it helps to have a certified translation.

Some documents that commonly need to be translated for immigration purposes include:

You can order a certified translation of these documents from our online store:

Order Your Certified Translation

Which documents should I submit with my application for naturalization?

The following table is a list of documents you should submit with N-400, Application for Naturalization.

Type of Document Examples of valid documents Who is required to submit this document?
Proof of your status as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). Photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), It is also called Form I-551. All Applicants.
Application fee payment. You can pay using only one of these methods:

  • Personal check (with your A-number written on the back).
  • Money order (with your A-number written on the back).
  • Credit Card using Form G-1450.
 All Applicants must pay for their application unless they are exempt, or requesting a fee waiver.
Proof of your current marital status. Include a copy of each of these documents, if the situation applies to you.

  • Marriage Certificate.
  • Divorce Decree.
  • Annulment Certificate.
  • Death Decree (if your spouse is deceased)
  • Single Status Certificate
 Any applicant who is married now, or who has ever been married in the past.
Proof of identity. Two U.S. passport-style photos, 2×2 inches in size. (with your A-number written lightly in pencil on the back). Applicants living outside the U.S. or applying from outside the U.S.
Certification of military service. A completed, original (not copy) N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. Applicants applying for citizenship based on military service.
Fee reduction application. Form I-942, officially called “Request for Reduced Fee.” Applicants requesting a reduced application fee for the citizenship application (N-400).
Fee waiver application. Form I-912, officially called “Request for Fee Waiver.” Applicants requesting a waiver of the application fee and biometric services fee associated with the N-400.
Proof of medical disability. Form N-648, officially called “Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.” Applicants seeking an exemption from the citizenship test due to a medical condition
Request to have an attorney or accredited representative present at your naturalization interview. Form G-28: officially called “Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative” Applicants who want an attorney or accredited representative to accompany them to their naturalization interview.

Which documents should I bring to my naturalization interview?

The following table is a list of documents you should bring along with you to your naturalization interview.

Type of Document Examples of valid documents Who is required to submit this document?
Appointment Letter/Notice stating the date, time, and location of your interview. Form I-797C, officially called “Notice of Action.” All applicants.
Proof of Permanent Resident Status (Green Card Holder Status). Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). All applicants.
State-issued identification.
  • State ID
  • Driver’s License
 All applicants.
Travel Records.
  • Passport (Both current and expired passports to show travel history)
  • USCIS-issued travel documents. (A common example is Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record)
 All applicants.
Proof of your current marital status, (and proof of termination of previous marriages if applicable.) Include a copy of each of these documents, if the situation applies to you.

  • Marriage Certificate.
  • Divorce Decree.
  • Annulment Certificate.
  • Death Decree (if your spouse is deceased)
  • Single Status Certificate
 Any applicant who is married now, or who has ever been married in the past.
Proof of termination of your spouse’s previous marriages, if applicable. Include a copy of each of these documents for your spouse, if these situations apply to them.

  • Divorce Decree.
  • Annulment Certificate.
  • Death Decree (if your spouse is deceased)
  • Single Status Certificate
 Any applicant who is now married.
Proof of official name changes, if applicable.
  • Marriage Certificate.
  • Court-ordered name change.
  • Divorce Decree.
  • Annulment Certificate.
  • Death Decree. (if your spouse is deceased)
  • Adoption papers.
 Any applicant whose name has changed for any reason.
Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last 3 years prior to you filing your Form N-400.
  • Birth Certificate (for spouses born as U.S. citizens & never lost citizenship since birth)
  • Certificate of Naturalization, Form N-550.
  • Certificate of Citizenship.
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA or Form FS-240).
 Applicants filing for citizenship based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Proof of your authentic marriage for the past 3 years, prior to filing Form N-400. You can bring as many of the following documents as you want, to provide ample proof.

  • Joint bank or credit card statements with spouse.
  • Joint leases or mortgage.
  • Birth certificates of any children with your spouse.
  • Shared insurance policies (such as car, home, or life insurance).
  • Joint income tax return for the past 3 filing years.
 Applicants filing for citizenship based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Proof of parental rights over your children. Bring these for each individual child.

  • Birth certificate.
  • Court order certifying you are the parent.
  • Adoption papers.
 Applicants listing their children or dependents on N-400.
Proof that you have fulfilled financial support obligations, if applicable. Bring these for each dependent that does not live with you.

  • Any court or government order requiring you to provide financial support.
  • Canceled checks or money order receipts.
  • Any court or agency printout of child support payments
  • Evidence that your wages have been garnished.
  • Notarized letter from the parent or guardian who cares for your child.
 Applicants listing their children or dependents on N-400.
Proof of payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax payments or overdue tax payments.
  • Federal income tax returns for the 5 previous tax years. Or, the 3 previous years if you’re applying based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

If you owe outstanding federal, state, or local taxes.

  • A signed agreement from the IRS, state, or local tax office proving that you filed a tax return and arranged to pay the taxes you owe.
  • Documentation from the IRS, state, or local tax office showing the current status of your repayment program.
 All applicants. NOTE: If you are applying for citizenship based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, or if you have left the U.S. within the last 6 months, these tax documents are especially important.
Proof that you have maintained permanent residence in the United States. As this documentation is more subjective in nature, it helps to bring as much evidence as possible.

  • Copy of your passport showing departure and arrival stamps (to show dates of entry)
  • Copies of your income tax returns for the 5 previous tax years. Or, the 3 previous years if you’re applying based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.
  • Receipts showing payment for housing such as rent or mortgage.
  • Bank statements, credit card history, and loan payments.
  • Automobile registration and automobile insurance.
  • Any other documents you believe might prove your continuous presence in the U.S.
 Any applicant who has taken international trips lasting longer than 6 months (181 days), but less than 1 year (364 days).
Proof that you registered with the selective service. If you registered with the selective service bring your Registration Acknowledgement Card. Male applicants between ages 26 and 31 (if you did register for selective service).
Documentation of why you did not register with selective service. If you did not register with the selective service you’ll need the following documents:

  • Status Information Letter issued by the selective service.
  • A personal, notarized affidavit explaining that you did not knowingly or willfully fail to register.
  • Notarized affidavit from other people who know your situation, supporting your claim that you did not knowingly or willfully fail to register.
 Mall applications between ages 26 and 31 who never registered for selective service.
Records of any encounters with law enforcement. If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason, and no charges were filed, you should bring:

  • An original or court-certified arrest report.
  • An official, certified statement from the arresting agency or applicable court confirming that no charges were filed.

If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason, and charges were filed, you should bring:

  • Certified photocopies of all arrest reports, charging documents, court dispositions, sentencing reports, and any other relevant documents.
  • If you were placed on probation, you must provide evidence to show that you completed your probationary sentence.
  • Any additional evidence in your favor concerning the circumstances of your arrests or convictions that you would like USCIS to consider.

If you have ever been convicted or placed in an alternative sentencing program (such as diversion) or rehabilitative program (such as a drug treatment or community service program), you should bring:

  • An original or court-certified sentencing record for each incident.
  • Evidence that you completed your sentence, such as a probation record, parole record, or evidence that you completed an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program.

If you have ever had any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged, or otherwise removed from your record, you should bring:

  • An original or court-certified court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging or otherwise removing the arrest or conviction from your record.
  • An original statement from the court that no record exists of your arrest or conviction.

If you’ve ever been in a traffic incident that involved alcohol or drugs, led to an arrest, or seriously injured another person, you should bring:

  • Any of the above-listed documents that may be relevant.
  • Original police report.
  • Original arrest record.
 Any applicant that has been:

  • Arrested.
  • Charged.
  • Convicted.
  • Received alternative sentencing.
  • Had your record expunged.
  • Been placed in rehabilitation.

If you look closely at the USCIS document checklist you’ll see that it says “if you have ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason…”

This statement is intentionally non-specific because USCIS wants you to include legal documents no matter which country issued them. If you underwent legal proceedings of any kind, in any country, USCIS wants a record of the event. It’s important to note that USCIS wants these documents even if “no charges were filed” or you’ve had “any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged or otherwise removed from your record…”

Because of this requirement by the USCIS you may need to gather documents in foreign languages. If you need to include any legal documents in a foreign language, USCIS requires that they be translated into English.

To make sure these documents are translated correctly and accepted by the USCIS officer, it helps to have a certified translation.

Some examples of legal documents that might need to be translated into English include:

  • Arrest records
  • Police reports
  • Court orders
  • Dismissal orders
  • Conviction records
  • Acquittal orders
  • Sentencing records

You can order a certified translation of these documents from our online store:

Order Your Certified Translation

The content provided by U.S. Language Services is for general information and educational purposes only, not a substitute for professional legal or financial advice. Despite our efforts to ensure accurate and timely content, we do not guarantee the completeness, correctness, or suitability of the information on our site or any linked content.

U.S. Language Services is not a law firm; its content should not be taken as legal advice. For specific legal concerns, please consult a licensed attorney. Similarly, financial information on our site is for informational purposes only, not financial advice. Consult a certified financial advisor or tax professional for advice tailored to your situation.

By accessing U.S. Language Services, you acknowledge that it does not provide legal or financial advice. You agree not to rely on its content as such. U.S. Language Services and its contributors bear no liability for any inaccuracies, losses, or damages resulting from the use of information on our site.

Aaron Randolph

Author: Aaron Randolph | LinkedIn

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All our certified to English translations are accepted by the USCIS. Our translations follow the guidelines established by the USCIS and are also accepted by educational institutions.

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We offer expedited service for Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and German.

With expedited service, your order is given priority and you can expect the turnaround time to be reduced by 50%.

Expedited service includes a 50% surcharge.

If you require expedited service for a document in another language, please inquire regarding availability. If we are able to accommodate your request, our staff will provide you with instructions on how to proceed.

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Certified Translation

What is a certified translation?2020-04-10T10:52:38-04:00

A certified translation is a word-for-word translation required for official use by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), universities, colleges, state or federal institutions and courts.

All our certified translations are issued in accordance with the regulations established by the USCIS, the institution that most frequently requires this type of document. A certified translation includes a certificate issued on our corporate letterhead signed by the translator and a U.S. Language Services representative in PDF format.

How much does it cost?2023-05-01T07:17:26-04:00

The price for a certified translation is $39.00 per page. No hidden fees.

Each page may contain up to 250 words or fewer including numbers. Pages may be letter size (8.5″ x 11″), A4 or smaller and one sided.

For languages that use logograms, such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese, each character is considered a word.

How are the pages counted?2022-06-28T09:54:53-04:00

When you order a certified translation, the most significant variable is how the pages of the document are calculated. We take into consideration both the number of physical pages in your original document and the total word count.

Each page may contain up to 250 words. Pages may be letter size (8.5″ x 11″), A4 or smaller and one sided.

For example: A project with 2 physical pages that each contain 500 words (1,000 words total), is calculated as 4 pages (1,000 words ÷ 250 = 4 pages).

What happens if I don’t count the number of pages correctly?2020-04-10T10:48:37-04:00

Don’t worry. Our team reviews each order individually. If the number of pages is greater, we’ll contact you with instructions on how to proceed. If you ordered pages in excess, we’ll issue you a refund using the same payment method.

How long will it take?2023-04-29T12:36:46-04:00

For most common languages, including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and Chinese you can expect to receive:

  • A 1-3 page translation in 2 business days
  • A 4-10 page translation in 4 business days
  • An 11-20 page translation in 6 business days
  • A 20+ page translation in 6+ business days

For orders in other language pairs, our team will review your document and provide you with the delivery date once you place your order.

Note: Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

Do you offer expedited service?2024-05-01T19:21:18-04:00

We offer expedited service for Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and German.

With expedited service, your order is given priority and you can expect the turnaround time to be reduced by 50%.

Expedited service includes a 50% surcharge.

If you require expedited service for a document in another language, please inquire regarding availability. If we are able to accommodate your request, our staff will provide you with instructions on how to proceed.

Note: Standard terms apply for expedited service. Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

Do you offer notarized translations?2021-11-10T14:29:32-05:00

No, we do not offer notarized translation services.

Standard Translation

How much does it cost?2023-04-29T09:57:10-04:00

The price for a standard translation is $0.12 per word. No hidden fees.

For languages that use logograms, such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese, each character is considered a word.

Is there a minimum?2023-04-29T10:08:08-04:00

Yes. The minimum per document is $24 or 200 words.

What is a standard translation?2020-11-11T11:14:07-05:00

A standard translation is a high-quality, professional translation of documents or text-based files delivered in an editable Word file. If you require a different format (pages, rtf, txt) just let us know when placing your order using the comments field. This service is perfect for:

  • Press releases, employee manuals
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What languages do you translate?2022-03-21T11:43:14-04:00

U.S. Language Services provides translation services in 35 languages. We translate both from English and into English:

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How long will it take?2023-04-29T12:36:19-04:00

For most common languages, including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and Chinese you can expect to receive:

  • A 500 word translation in 2 business days
  • A 1,000 word translation in 3 business days
  • A 2,000 word translation in 4 business days
  • A 5,000 word translation in 6 business days

For orders in other language pairs, our team will review your documents and provide you with the delivery date once you place your order.

Note: Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed by our team on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

How do you ensure quality?2023-04-29T11:49:21-04:00

Each project is assigned to a translator with experience in that field to guarantee that the proper terminology is used. In addition, all translations undergo a careful revision process before they are delivered to the client.

We encourage you to take a look at any of the more than 300 reviews we have received from satisfied clients.

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