谁能申请

• 18 岁以上
• 绿卡满 5 年；或与公民结婚同住满 3 年
• 过去 5 年内在美国住满 30 个月（3 年途径为 18 个月）
• 出境 1 年以上会中断连续居住；6–12 个月可能被认为中断
• 递交前在本州住满 3 个月
• 英文考试豁免：50 岁以上且绿卡满 20 年，或 55 岁以上且满 15 年，可以免考英文；65 岁以上且满 20 年，公民考试题目更少，可用母语

怎么申请（一步一步来）

1. 第1步先算日子：拿绿卡满 5 年（与公民结婚同住满 3 年）。绿卡上的 “Resident Since” 日期就是起算日，可以提前 90 天递交。过去 5 年出国超过 6 个月的，先问免费律师。
2. 第2步找免费帮手：打 311 说 “ActionNYC”，或打纽约州新美国人热线 1-800-566-7636，说 “Chinese, please”。他们可以免费帮你看资格、填 N-400（入籍申请表）。
3. 第3步准备文件：绿卡正反面复印件、过去 5 年每次出入境的日期、婚姻证明（3 年途径）、报税记录；曾被逮捕或上过法庭的，要准备法庭文件。
4. 第4步网上递交最便宜：在 USCIS（移民局）网站建立网上账户（online account），网上填写并递交 N-400。现在费用：网上 $710、纸本 $760；收入在贫困线 150–400% 可申请减费 $380（以 USCIS 官网为准）。
5. 第5步付款：2025 年 10 月 28 日起移民局不收支票和汇票，要用信用卡、借记卡或银行转账。
6. 第6步收到收据通知（receipt notice）：上面有 13 位的收据号码（receipt number）。拍照保存，以后查进度用。
7. 第7步指纹预约（biometrics，移民局采集指纹和照片）：会寄来预约通知（I-797C）。按上面的日期、时间、地点去，带预约通知和绿卡（或护照）。去不了，一定要在预约时间之前打 USCIS 客服 1-800-375-5283 改期，并说明正当理由。
8. 第8步入籍面谈（interview）：会寄来面谈通知。带上面谈通知、绿卡、护照和申请时交过的文件原件。官员会让你宣誓说真话，逐项问 N-400 的内容，并考英文（说、读一句、写一句）和公民考试（2025 年 10 月 20 日或之后递交的：从 128 题中问 20 题，答对 12 题及格）。符合年龄和绿卡年限豁免的，可以免考英文。
9. 第9步宣誓典礼（oath ceremony）：获批后，有时当天就能宣誓，否则会寄通知。当天要交回绿卡、填 N-445 问卷、宣誓，拿到入籍证书（Certificate of Naturalization）。离开前检查证书上的名字和日期，有错当场说。

需要准备的材料

• 绿卡正反面
• 过去 5 年的出入境记录
• 婚姻证明（3 年途径）
• 报税记录，如有逮捕或法庭记录要准备文件

申请之后会怎样

• 查进度：在 egov.uscis.gov/casestatus 输入 13 位收据号码；或登录你的 USCIS 网上账户看通知；或打 1-800-375-5283。等待时间可在 USCIS 处理时间网页（processing times）查，超过时间还没消息，可以网上提出查询。
• 面谈当天的结果：官员会给你一张结果通知（N-652）。可能是批准、延期（例如要补文件，会发 N-14 补件通知，一般 30 天内要回复），或拒绝。
• 考试没过：会给你第二次机会，一般在 60 到 90 天内重考没过的部分。
• 移民局一般要在第一次面谈后 120 天内作出决定。
• 被拒绝怎么办：可以在收到拒绝通知后 30 天内（邮寄的话 33 天）交 N-336 表要求复审听证，费用 $700；不能网上交。超过期限会被拒收。一定先找免费律师帮你看。

电话与网址

• USCIS 客服电话 1-800-375-5283www.uscis.gov/n-400
• 免费入籍协助：ActionNYC电话 311

Who can apply

• Age 18+
• Green card 5 years, or 3 years married to and living with a citizen
• Physically present 30 months of the last 5 years (18 of 3)
• A trip of 1 year+ breaks continuous residence; 6–12 months may
• 3 months in your state before filing
• English exemptions: 50+ with 20 years as a green card holder, or 55+ with 15 years; 65+ with 20 years gets a shorter civics test in their own language

How to apply, step by step

1. Step 1Count your time: 5 years with a green card (3 if married to and living with a citizen). The "Resident Since" date on your green card is the start date; you can file up to 90 days early. If you were abroad more than 6 months at a time in the last 5 years, ask a free lawyer first.
2. Step 2Get free help: call 311 and say "ActionNYC", or call the NYS New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 and say "Chinese, please". They can check your eligibility and help fill out the N-400 (citizenship application) for free.
3. Step 3Gather documents: copies of both sides of your green card, the dates of every trip in the last 5 years, marriage proof (3-year route), tax records, and court papers if you were ever arrested or went to court.
4. Step 4Filing online is cheapest: create a USCIS online account and file N-400 online. Current fee: $710 online, $760 paper; $380 reduced fee for income 150–400% of poverty (confirm on uscis.gov).
5. Step 5Payment: since Oct 28, 2025 USCIS doesn't accept checks or money orders; pay by credit or debit card or bank transfer.
6. Step 6Receipt notice: it has a 13-character receipt number. Take a photo; you'll use it to check your status.
7. Step 7Biometrics appointment (USCIS takes your fingerprints and photo): you'll get a notice (I-797C). Go on the date, time and place shown and bring the notice and your green card (or passport). If you can't go, call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 before the appointment time to reschedule, with a good reason.
8. Step 8Interview: you'll get an interview notice. Bring the notice, your green card, passport and originals of documents you submitted. The officer puts you under oath, goes through your N-400, and gives the English test (speaking, reading one sentence, writing one sentence) and the civics test (filed on or after Oct 20, 2025: 20 questions from 128, 12 correct to pass). If you qualify for an age-and-years exemption, you can skip the English test.
9. Step 9Oath ceremony: once approved, you may take the oath the same day, or get a notice by mail. At the ceremony you hand back your green card, complete the N-445 questionnaire, take the oath and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Check the name and dates before you leave and report errors on the spot.

Documents to prepare

• Green card (both sides)
• Travel history for 5 years
• Marriage proof (3-year route)
• Tax records; court records if you were ever arrested

After you apply

• Check status: enter your 13-character receipt number at egov.uscis.gov/casestatus, log in to your USCIS online account, or call 1-800-375-5283. See typical wait times on the USCIS processing times page; if your case is past that time, you can submit an online inquiry.
• Result at the interview: the officer gives you a results notice (N-652). It may be approved, continued (for example, you need to send more documents; you'll get an N-14 request and usually have 30 days to respond), or denied.
• If you fail a test: you get a second chance, usually within 60 to 90 days, to retake the part you failed.
• USCIS generally must decide within 120 days of your first interview.
• If denied: you can file Form N-336 within 30 days of receiving the denial (33 if it was mailed) to ask for a hearing. The fee is $700 and it can't be filed online. Late filings are rejected. See a free lawyer first.

Phone & websites

• USCIS Contact CenterPhone 1-800-375-5283www.uscis.gov/n-400
• Free help: ActionNYCPhone 311