Earlier this year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a new Application for Naturalization to replace the current N-400 form. The most striking change is the more than doubling of the number of pages of the form from ten to twenty-one pages.

In addition to the added pages, the proposed application also asks many more specific questions including a few vague ones such as “Were you ever involved in any way with…badly hurting, or trying to hurt, a person on purpose.” Unless the answer is an unqualified “no” you are required to submit a written explanation, on an additional sheet, and provide evidence to support your answer.


USCIS has not yet announced when the final version of the form will become effective. But, if you are currently a Lawful Permanent Resident and eligible to file for US citizenship, it would be prudent to begin the process as soon as possible. Why put off until tomorrow what you can more easily accomplish today?

For information about getting started, call the Irish International Immigrant Center at 617-542-7654, Ext. 15.