Guide
N-400 interview documents checklist
Bring your green card, ID, every passport you used during the period, your trip list and your tax records, plus anything your situation adds. Your USCIS appointment notice is the final word on what to bring.
Before you start
- The notice rules: your USCIS appointment notice lists what you must bring. If it differs from this page, follow the notice.
- Originals plus copies: bring the original of each document and a copy.
- Not exhaustive: this is a typical list. Your own history may call for more.
How to use this checklist
At the interview, the officer goes through your N-400 with you and may ask for proof of what you wrote. Having the right papers ready makes that part calm and quick.
Read your appointment notice first and mark everything it asks for. Then use the sections below to fill in anything that applies to you. Put each group in its own folder or envelope so you can find things fast.
1. Identity
- Green card (Permanent Resident Card).
- State ID or driver's license.
Check that your name and details match across documents. If your name changed, bring the record that shows the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
2. Travel
- All current and expired passports and travel documents you used during the period.
- A list of your trip dates outside the United States.
- Travel itineraries for any trips where you are unsure of the exact dates.
Your trip list should match what you put on the N-400. The officer may ask about longer trips in particular. For how trips affect eligibility, see the physical presence guide and the continuous residence guide.
If you logged your trips in the N400Tracker app, you already have the dates and totals in one place to check against your passports.
3. Taxes
- Tax returns or IRS tax transcripts for the last 5 years.
- On the marriage track, the last 3 years.
Tax records can also support continuous residence, since filing U.S. taxes as a resident is one sign that you kept your life here during time abroad.
4. Marriage track
If you applied after 3 years as a permanent resident based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, bring:
- Marriage certificate.
- Proof your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the 3 years, such as a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate or birth certificate.
- Proof you live together, such as a joint lease or joint tax returns.
5. Special situations
These only apply to some applicants. If one fits you, it is important to bring it.
- Prior marriages: divorce decrees or other records showing any earlier marriage ended, for you or your spouse, if applicable.
- Arrests, citations or court cases: certified court dispositions for any arrest, citation or court record, even if the case was dismissed.
- Selective Service: proof of registration for men who lived in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 26.
- Child support: proof of payments, if you are required to pay child support.
If you are unsure whether something in your past needs documents, talk to a licensed immigration attorney before the interview rather than guessing.
Originals and copies
For each item, bring the original and a copy. The officer may want to look at the original and keep the copy. Keep copies in the same order as your folders so you can hand them over easily.
If a document is not in English, check your appointment notice and the USCIS instructions for what translation is required.
The day before
- Reread your appointment notice: time, address and the list of required items.
- Put your green card, ID and appointment notice where you will not forget them.
- Pack all passports and your trip list together.
- Check that each folder has originals and copies.
- Review your N-400 answers so they are fresh in your mind.
- Do one last civics practice round and check any answers that change with elections. See the civics test guide.
- Plan your route and arrive with time to spare.
The N400Tracker app has a free interview document checklist you can tick off as you pack, along with practice tests for both civics test versions.
Common questions
What documents do I need for my N-400 interview?
Typically your green card, a state ID or driver's license, all current and expired passports used during the period, a list of your trips, and tax returns or IRS tax transcripts. Marriage track applicants add marriage and spouse citizenship proof. Your USCIS appointment notice lists what you must bring and is the final word.
Should I bring originals or copies?
Bring originals plus copies. The officer may want to see the original and keep a copy. Follow any instructions on your USCIS appointment notice.
How many years of tax records should I bring?
Bring tax returns or IRS tax transcripts for the last 5 years, or the last 3 years if you applied through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Do I need court records for a minor citation?
If you have any arrest, citation or court record, bring certified dispositions showing how each one ended. If you are unsure whether something counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney before the interview.
This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. N400Tracker is not affiliated with USCIS. Confirm what to bring with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney. Official source: USCIS Form N-400.
More guides
- When can I apply for citizenship? N-400 eligibility explainedWork out the earliest date you can file Form N-400: the 5-year and 3-year tracks, the 90-day early filing window, physical presence and continuous residence.
- The N-400 90-day early filing rule: how to count itHow the N-400 90-day early filing rule works, how to count the days correctly, why 3 months is not 90 days, and why filing one day early leads to denial.
- Continuous residence for naturalization: trips over 6 monthsHow trips abroad affect continuous residence for the N-400: under 6 months, 6 months to 1 year, 1 year or more, Form N-470, and how to plan a safe return date.
- The physical presence requirement for citizenshipHow the N-400 physical presence rule works: 30 of 60 months (18 of 36 for marriage), how to count days outside the U.S., a worked example and records to keep.
- 2025 civics test vs 2008: which one do you take?Your N-400 filing date decides your civics test. Compare the 2025 and 2008 tests: question bank, questions asked, passing score, stop rule and how to study.