Beginning May 5, 2014, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the revised version of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Legal permanent residents (green card holders) seeking to obtain U.S. citizenship need to file the current version of Form N-400 dated 9/13/2013, after the above mentioned date.
Edition date of Form N-400 can be found at the bottom of the form. The new version of Form N-400 was issued by USCIS on February 4, 2014. The agency announced that the applicants can file the old version of the form until May 4, 2014. Old forms will not be accepted after May 4, 2014 and all the old forms filed after that date will be returned to the applicants.
The revised form comes with clearer instructions and it has a user-friendly look. The 2D barcode technology used in the form will improve data accuracy and efficiency. Few additional questions have been added to the form but the naturalization eligibility requirements and the form filing fee will remain the same.
Specific instructions that come with the revised form will help applicants to easily complete their applications. The new form includes specific information for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and information on the naturalization test exemptions. New questions related to good moral character and national security have also been included in the form.
Green card holders seeking to naturalize, can fill out the new N-400 application online. After completing the form online they can print the form and file it with USCIS after affixing their signature.
Applicants can also print blank forms and complete them by hand, using black ink, if they do not want or if they are unable to fill out the forms online. They must not forget to sign their forms and submit the exact form filing fee. Likewise, they must not fail to submit the supporting documents without which USCIS may not be able to decide on their applications.
