US citizenship eligibility date calculator
Find the first day you can file Form N-400 and check the physical presence requirement, based on your green card date and time abroad.
How it works
- USCIS lets you file up to 90 days before you complete the continuous residence period, so the earliest date is your resident-since date plus 5 (or 3) years minus 90 days.
- Physical presence: you must have been inside the US for at least half the period (30 months on the 5-year path, 18 months on the 3-year path).
- A single trip longer than 6 months may break continuous residence, and one longer than a year generally does unless you had the proper approval.
- You also need 3 months of residence in the state or USCIS district where you file.
Next: read the N-400 guide and practise the civics test.
An estimate based on published USCIS rules, not an official decision. For long trips or legal issues, consult a licensed attorney. Source:
uscis.gov.
A worked example
Sara became a permanent resident on March 15, 2022, on the general 5-year path. Her residence period completes on March 15, 2027, and she may file up to 90 days earlier, from December 15, 2026. If she spent 200 days outside the US in total, she was present for about 1,626 days, well over the 30-month requirement (about 913 days), so she meets physical presence. If one trip lasted seven months in a row, though, she may be asked to show she did not break continuous residence.
What to prepare before your date
- Travel history: every exit and return date for the whole period. You can request your record from the official I-94 website and check it against your passport stamps.
- Fees: $760 on paper or $710 online. Applicants with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines pay $380, and you can request a waiver with Form I-912; reduced-fee and waiver requests must be filed on paper. Check the G-1055 fee schedule before paying.
- The tests: English (reading, writing, speaking) and the civics test drawn from 128 questions. Practise with our citizenship test simulator.
- Good moral character: USCIS reviews the 5 (or 3) years before you apply, including taxes, criminal record, child support and Selective Service registration for men.
Common questions
Should I file on the very first day shown?
You can, but filing even one day early leads to denial without a fee refund. File a few days after it for safety, and double-check with the early filing calculator on the USCIS website.
Does the clock start at my interview or my green card date?
It starts on the "Resident Since" date printed on the card, when permanent residence was granted, not the day the card arrived.
Does conditional residence count?
Yes. Time as a conditional (2-year) resident counts, provided you filed to remove the conditions or had them removed.
