Naturalization applicants are facing continued waits for decisions in fiscal year 2026, while U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has clarified how special citizenship rules apply to certain current and former military service members.
USCIS historical processing data lists a median of 11.5 months for Form N-400 applications filed through the general naturalization category in fiscal year 2026 through July 31, 2026.
The same data lists a seven-month median for military applications for naturalization during the period.
The figures are national medians and are not guarantees for individual cases.
Actual processing can vary based on the applicant’s location, background checks, interview scheduling, requests for additional evidence and other case-specific issues.
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What the latest USCIS data shows
Form N-400 is the application used by most eligible lawful permanent residents who seek to become U.S. citizens through naturalization.
USCIS reported a 11.5-month median processing time for the general N-400 category in fiscal year 2026 data available through July 31.
The agency’s historical table also listed median processing times of 10.5 months in fiscal year 2025, six months in fiscal year 2024 and five months in fiscal year 2023.
Those historical figures show that the median national wait has increased from the shorter processing times recorded earlier in the series.
Military applicants have generally appeared in a separate processing category.
For fiscal year 2026 through July 31, USCIS listed a seven-month median for military N-400 cases.
The military category recorded a 5.6-month median in fiscal year 2025 and a 4.9-month median in fiscal year 2024, according to the agency’s historical data.
Applicants should distinguish between a processing-time estimate and the date their case will be completed.
USCIS defines processing times as the number of months it took to complete applications during a specified period, rather than a promise about a pending applicant’s result.
How the naturalization process works
The naturalization process generally begins when an eligible applicant files Form N-400 with USCIS.
Most applicants must be lawful permanent residents and must satisfy requirements involving continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English-language ability and knowledge of U.S. history and government.
The timing rules can differ depending on the legal basis for eligibility, including applications based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or qualifying military service.
After USCIS accepts the application, the agency may schedule the applicant for biometrics collection involving fingerprints, a photograph and a signature.
USCIS uses the information for identity verification and background checks.
The applicant is then scheduled for a naturalization interview with a USCIS officer.
During the interview, the officer reviews the N-400 application and asks questions about the applicant’s background, residence, travel, family and other eligibility issues.
Unless an exemption or waiver applies, the applicant also takes English and civics tests.
The English test includes reading, writing and speaking components.
The civics test covers basic facts about U.S. history and government.
Applicants who pass the interview and receive approval must take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
A person does not become a U.S. citizen through naturalization until the oath is taken.
After the ceremony, USCIS provides a Certificate of Naturalization as evidence of citizenship.
Updated rules for military naturalization
USCIS issued a policy alert on September 26, 2025, addressing naturalization guidance for noncitizen service members and certain former service members.
The update explains that an uncharacterized discharge no longer satisfies the requirement that a former service member be separated under honorable conditions for naturalization under Sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Those provisions create special naturalization pathways for certain people who serve honorably in the U.S. armed forces.
Under Section 328, a qualifying service member may be eligible after at least one year of honorable service during peacetime or other qualifying service circumstances.
Under Section 329, a person who served honorably during a designated period of hostility may qualify under different statutory requirements.
Military applicants may receive exemptions from some general naturalization requirements, but they still must satisfy the requirements that apply to their particular statutory basis.
USCIS also said the policy update changes the process for former service members who had been receiving naturalization interviews and oath ceremony services at land ports of entry.
The guidance includes technical changes to the USCIS Policy Manual concerning required forms, military documentation and applicants who live outside the United States.
Because discharge classifications and military records can be decisive, service members should review the applicable rules carefully before filing.
Current naturalization filing fees
USCIS currently lists the standard Form N-400 fee as $710 for online filing and $760 for paper filing.
An applicant whose documented household income falls within the agency’s reduced-fee range may qualify to pay $380.
Applicants who qualify for certain fee waivers may pay no filing fee.
Military applicants who meet the requirements of Sections 328 or 329 may also file Form N-400 without a filing fee.
USCIS says reduced-fee and fee-waiver requests must follow separate filing instructions and may require a paper application rather than online filing.
Applicants should confirm the fee listed by USCIS immediately before filing because agency forms and payment instructions can change.
What applicants can do while waiting
Applicants with pending naturalization cases should keep their mailing address current with USCIS.
They should also monitor their USCIS online account and respond promptly to interview notices, requests for evidence and other agency communications.
Travel outside the United States can affect continuous-residence and physical-presence calculations, particularly when an applicant has extended absences.
Applicants should keep records of international travel and bring valid and expired passports or other travel documents to the interview when required.
People who move after filing should update USCIS as soon as possible so that notices are not sent to an old address.
Missing an appointment can delay a case and may create additional procedural problems.
Applicants who receive a denial, a request for evidence or a notice raising eligibility concerns may benefit from qualified immigration legal advice.
Community organizations and citizenship preparation programs may also provide English and civics study resources.
Why processing times matter for applicants
A lengthy naturalization timeline can affect applicants who are waiting for the rights and responsibilities associated with U.S. citizenship.
Citizens can vote in federal elections, obtain a U.S. passport, petition for certain qualifying relatives and receive protection against the immigration consequences that can apply to noncitizens.
Naturalization can also affect an applicant’s ability to sponsor family members or qualify for certain government positions.
However, filing Form N-400 does not automatically provide citizenship, voting eligibility or protection from removal.
Applicants remain subject to the requirements of their existing immigration status until they complete the naturalization process and take the oath.
The USCIS processing data therefore provides useful context, but it does not replace a case-specific review.
Applicants should rely on their official USCIS notices and the agency’s current online case tools for information about an individual application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is naturalization taking in fiscal year 2026?
USCIS historical data available through July 31, 2026, lists a national median of 11.5 months for general Form N-400 applications and seven months for military naturalization applications.
What form is used to apply for naturalization?
Most applicants use Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
When does an applicant become a U.S. citizen through naturalization?
An applicant becomes a U.S. citizen after completing the required process and taking the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
Do military applicants pay the N-400 filing fee?
Applicants who qualify for naturalization under the military provisions of Sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act may file Form N-400 without a filing fee.
What changed for some former service members?
USCIS guidance issued September 26, 2025, states that an uncharacterized discharge no longer meets the requirement that a former service member be separated under honorable conditions for certain military naturalization cases.
Fact-Checked: Facts were checked against USCIS historical processing-time data available through July 31, 2026, the USCIS September 26, 2025 military naturalization policy alert, the USCIS naturalization process overview and the current USCIS fee schedule.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Individual eligibility and processing times may vary.
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