What is the application process?

Since, September 10, 2001, I have helped many Legal Permanent Residents to become US Citizens.

Also, I have attended many Community Based Organization Liaison meetings organized by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and hosted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in San Francisco.

I'm not a lawyer, not a "Notario", nor a taxi driver. I'm a teacher.

I speak English, French and some Spanish.

Biometrics (finger printing and photos are done in Santa Rosa's Application Service Center (ASC).

The interview / test and Oath ceremony are done in San Francisco's USCIS office.

***** My help is FREE! *****

Sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, classes have been cancelled until further notice.

I'm in Room 1 at Ukiah Adult School (1056 N. Bush St. in Ukiah), Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am to 3:30pm (except when school is closed. To see the Ukiah Unified School District's 2020- 2021 Academic Calendar, click here.)

Please, bring your Legal Permanent Resident card (Green card) and your face mask.

- I will give you a rough draft copy of the citizenship application (USCIS Form N-400).

- I will guide you through the application and then you will fill it out in pencil at home. Once it's completed, come back and see me.

- I will check it and then I'll have you type in your penciled in information into a computer fillable version of the same form in Room 1.

We'll print it. You'll sign it and date it in black ink.

- I will photocopy your N-400, your green card and your money order or cashier's check (made out to: "US Department of Homeland Security") for the amount of $725.

- I will give you a copy of the whole set for your file.

- I will keep a copy too.

- I will send the originals via certified mail.

- I will not charge you a dime! It's FREE!

You can complete the N-400 on your own, if you want to.

- 1. Read the instructions on how to complete your N-400 correctly. To do so, click here.

- 2. To download the computer fillable N-400 into your computer you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

To download that software for:

- Apple Computers, click here.

- PCs, click here.

=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=

To Download the computer fillable N-400

(pdf format), click here.

=======================================

- 3. You need to make sure that a "bar code" is visible at the bottom of each page and that your green card number appears on every page too.

- 4. Once completed, Print it out.

- 5. Sign it and date it in black ink.

- 6. Photocopy the whole application, your green card and your money order or cashier's check. Keep a copy of the whole set for your personal file.

- 7. Submit it through the Post Office.

- a. Send, via certified mail, your original, signed and dated in black ink, N-400, your copy of your green card and a copy of your money order or cashiers check. The address is mentioned in the instructions. The money order or cashier's check needs to be made out to the "US Department of Homeland Security" for the amount of $725. Write your green card number on your money order or cashiers' check.

- b. Come and see me. bring your money order or cashiers' check, your completed N-400 and your green card.

- I will check your application.

- I will make photocopies and give you a set.

- I will send it all via certified mail for you,

- I will not charge you a dime! It's FREE!

To apply online!

- 1. You will need to create an account with USCIS.To do so, click here.

This will give you a "USCIS Online Account Number" Which you will need to type in the box found in N-400, Page 2, part 2, number 6.

- 2. You will need to use a credit card.

- 3. You will need to use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to complete your N-400 online (see Application option #2, - 2.)

I'm not familiar with this process but I do know that whether you file online or by mail neither options affect the over all processing time of your N-400.

***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***

- Current processing time for San Francisco's Region N-400's

As of May 20, 2021, the over all processing time of N-400s for San Francisco's USCIS office is between 16 and 18 months. This is from the time USCIS received a N-400 to the time when the applicant becomes a US citizen.

- The current processing time, as of May 20, 2021, for a Green Card renewal or replacement (USCIS form i-90) is between 7 and 12 months.

-To check current processing times for all USCIS applications, click here.

***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***=***