New Form N-400 to Apply for Citizenship - August 2001
Posted Aug 31, 2001

INS has revised the N-400 (naturalization application form) and has made it available on the website as a fillable form since August 1, 2001. Please note that the prior version of the form will still be accepted through December 31, 2001. Starting January 1, 2002, it will be necessary to use the new N-400 form when applying for U.S. citizenship.

Upon a careful review and analysis of the new version of the N-400 form, we at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy can share some of our observations with our MurthyBulletin readers.

The most obvious difference between the old and new versions is that the new form is ten (10) pages long, while the prior version was only four pages. The new form is easier to read and understand. The format is clearer and better organized. The style is more conversational. For example, instead of asking whether a person has "practiced polygamy," the new form asks whether the person has "been married to more than one person at the same time." Complex, compound questions are also broken into separate ones. These changes should be a great help, especially to those naturalization applicants for whom English is not the first language.

The form also incorporates some helpful information for naturalization applicants. In the section that asks about arrests and criminal offenses, the applicant is advised to provide the information on his/her record even if the record was sealed or if s/he was told (by someone such as a judge or the defense attorney) they no longer had a record. Many people have answered "no" to the criminal record questions on their naturalization form, after having been advised either by their criminal attorney or the judge to respond that they do not have any criminal record and do not need to mention it anywhere. This answer then resulted in a denial of the N-400 application by the INS based upon fraud or misrepresentation.

The form also includes a new section on disabilities, asking whether the applicant is filing a waiver of the language and/or history examination requirement and whether any special accommodations are needed, such as sign language interpreting or wheelchair accessibility.

In its announcement regarding the new form, INS stated that information previously submitted on separate forms would now all be included on the new form. Presumably, this means that the Biographic Data form, the G-325A, would no longer be needed. It does appear that most of the questions on the G-325A are included in the new form. The new form is available on MurthyDotCom's INS Forms page, from the INS website, or from the toll-free forms line: 1-800-375-5283.

We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy note that, in view of the importance of the N-400 questions for a prospective citizen’s future, it is appropriate and long overdue for the INS to provide the additional guidance in the new naturalization form. This information is particularly important when one considers that many people apply for U.S. citizenship on their own and without the advice or assistance of an immigration attorney.