Change path
Becoming a US citizen
Naturalization for green card holders.
N-400 decision most likely:
in 8–16 months
if you start today
USCIS decides the N-400
Most likely 8–16 months after you file
You file the N-400, give your fingerprints, and take the English and civics test at an interview. USCIS usually decides there. See N-400 processing times by office.
How we worked this out
Based on USCIS’s median time of 9.5 months for N-400 (Civilian) cases (Apr–Jun 2026 data), and on how far real waits landed from the median in past quarters: about half landed in the most likely range and 8 in 10 in the wider one.
Oath ceremony
You become a citizen at the oath ceremony, often on the day of the interview or within weeks.
Newest numbers: USCIS: Apr–Jun 2026. Your case can take longer: a request for evidence or a background check can add months.