What is the application process?

Since, September 10, 2001, I have helped many Legal Permanent Residents to become US Citizens.

Also, I have attended many Community Based Organization Liaison meetings organized by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and hosted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in San Francisco.

I'm not a lawyer, not a "Notario", nor a taxi driver. I'm a teacher.

I speak English, French and some Spanish.

Biometrics (finger printing and photos are done in Santa Rosa's Application Service Center (ASC).

The interview / test and Oath ceremony are done in San Francisco's USCIS office.

***** My help is FREE! *****

A new

Citizenship class session,

starts on

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

6:30pm to 9:30pm, Room 1 at

Ukiah Adult School.

Please bring your green card to class!

If you feel more comfortable you may wear your face mask when you come to class!

- To find out how soon you can submit your N-400, use the USCIS' Early Filing Calculator. Make sure to type in the full date of when your Legal Permanent Resident Card was issued,, for example: 04/16/2025 NOT 04/17/25

To do all that, click here.

Please, bring your Legal Permanent Resident card (Green card)..

- In class, I will give you a rough draft copy of the citizenship application (USCIS Form N-400).

- In class, I will guide you through the application and then you will fill it out in pencil. If. you are unable to write or read in English please bring someone who can help you to do so.

- I will check it and then I'll have you type in your penciled in information into a computer fillable version of the same form in Room 1. If you are unable to type on the computer, please bring someone who can do so for you.

We'll print it. You'll sign it and date it in black ink.

- I will photocopy your N-400, your green card and either your USCIS Form G-1450 or your USCIS Form G-1650

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Since October 28, 2025

USCIS will no longer accept money orders, cashiers' checks or personal checks.

USCIS will accept bank account to bank account electronic payments through ACH and the use of USCIS Form G-1650 will be required.

For more information regarding the G-1650, click here.

OR

You can pay with a major credit card by completing

USCIS Form G-1450

For mroe information regarding USCIS Form G-1450, click here.

- I will give you a copy of the whole set for your file.

- I will keep a copy too.

- I will send the originals via certified mail.

- I will not charge you a dime! It's FREE!

You can complete the N-400 on your own, if you want to.

- 1. Read the instructions on how to complete your N-400 correctly. To do so, click here.

- 2. To download the computer fillable N-400 into your computer you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

To download that software for:

- Apple Computers, click here.

- PCs, click here.

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- To Download the 01/20/2025 edition computer fillable N-400 (pdf format),

click here.

Since Friday, April 4, 2025, all hard copy applications have to be done on the 14 page, 01/20/2025 version (expiration date 02/28/2027).

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HEADS-UP

A NEW EDITION OF THE N-400 IS NOW IN EFFECT

Make sure that the 01/20/2025 date is on the bottom of the pages of your N-400 before submitting it to USCIS otherwise it will be denied.

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- 3. You need to make sure that a "bar code" is visible at the bottom of each page and that your green card number appears on every page too.

- 4. Once completed, Print it out.

- 5. Sign it and date it in black ink.

- 6. Photocopy the whole application, your green card and your money order or cashier's check. Keep a copy of the whole set for your personal file.

- 7. Submit it through the Post Office.

- a. Send, via certified mail, your original, signed and dated in black ink, N-400, your copy of your green card and a copy of your money order or cashiers check. The address is mentioned in the instructions. The money order or cashier's check needs to be made out to the "US Department of Homeland Security" for the amount of $760 (total).

Write your green card number on your money order or cashiers' check.

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Since October 28, 2025

USCIS will no longer accept personal checks, cashiers' checks, or money orders.

USCIS will accept bank account to bank account payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH) and the use of USCIS Form G-1650

will be required.

For more information regarding USCIS Form G-1650, click here.

OR

You can pay with a major credit card by completing

USCIS Form G-1450

For more information regarding USCIS Form G-1450, click here.

- b. Come and see me. bring either your USCIS Form G-1450 (Payment with a major credit card) or your USCIS G-1650 (Payment via ACH). your completed N-400 and your green card.

- I will check your application.

- I will make photocopies and give you a set.

- I will send it all via certified mail for you,

- I will not charge you a dime! It's FREE!

To apply online!

If you are tech. savvy, this can be done on your smart phone or on your computer.

You MUST have reliable internet access!

- 1. You will need to use your e-mail address and

create an account with USCIS.

To do so, click here.

For instructions on setting up a USCIS account:

here is an official USCIS YouTube video available.

To see the 2:11 minute

YouTube video in question, click here.

Once you have created your online account you will get a USCIS account number will give you a "USCIS Online Account Number" Which you will need to type in the box found in N-400, Page 2, part 2, number 6.

- 2. You will need to use a credit card.

The total application $710 (Online only)

- 3. You will need to use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to complete your N-400 online (see Application option #2,

-4. For online instructions on how to complete your N-400 online, watch a 19:58 minute YouTube video.

To watch that YouTube video, click here.

-5. To access the ability to file your N-400 online, click here.

I do recommend that you fill out your N-400 on paper first that way you have all the information ready to complete your online N-400.

Whether you file online or by mail neither options affect the over all processing time of your N-400.

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- Current processing time for San Francisco's Region N-400's

As of November 20 2025, according to USCIS website all N-400 are processed within 6.5 months. This is from the time USCIS received a N-400 to the time when the applicant becomes a US citizen.

- As of November 20, 2025, 80% of all applications for a Green Card renewal or replacement (USCIS form i-90) are processed in within 8 months.

-To check current processing times for all USCIS applications, click here.

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Correspondence Pattern

During your N-400 application process,

you should receive the following mail:

1. Within 60 days of submitting your

N-400 to USCIS, you should receive your

receipt

Do not lose it!

a. It has your case number!

It starts with these three letters "IOE" and is followed by numbers. That is your N-400 case number!

b. It extends your Green card's expiration date by 24 months (2 years).

I highly recommend that:

- you take a picture of it with your smart phone

- that you keep it in a safe place

2. Within 60 days of submitting your

N-400 to USCIS, you should receive your

biometrics notice

You may or may not have to get your

biometrics taken. If you renewed your Green card recently you probably won't have to get your biometrics taken. However if your Green card is old and you have not had to renew it recently then you may have to have your biometrcs taken in Santa Rosa's Application Service Center (ASC).

DO NOT MISS YOUR BIOMETRICS APPOINTMENT. without it your application can't move forward.

3. Within 60 days of submitting you N-400 to USCIS,

you should receive a letter from USCIS having

an online account created for you.

If you want to, you can follow the instructions on that letter and activate your USCIS provided online account. It's up to you.

4. Within 6 months of submitting your N-400 to USCIS,

you should receive your

interview notice

in San Francisco, about a month before your interview appointment.

Do not miss your interview!

Let me know if you have questions regarding mail from USCIS.

If, for some reason, you miss either your biometrics appointment or your interview, come and see me we'll have to call USCIS and try to re-schedule your missed appointment.

Remember that USCIS will not call or ask you via mail or email for money or anything else.

If they do I need to know.

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