Application to File Declaration of Intention
[N-300, Application to File Declaration of Intention]
IMPORTANT: Information on this site may be outdated. For up-to-date instructions and filing fees check always with the USCIS site:
http://www.uscis.gov/forms
Purpose of Form :
This form is for a permanent resident to apply for a Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen. This form is not required for naturalization, but may be required by some states if you wish to conduct certain business with that state.
Number of Pages :
5
Edition Date :
10/26/05. Prior versions acceptable.
Where to File :
File this application with the USCIS Local Office having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
Filing Fee :
$120.00
Special Instructions :
Note on Filing Fee :
Please consult the “Paying Fees” section of your local office page to learn which forms of payment are accepted. Acceptable forms of payment may vary by office. Checks should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
OMB No. 1615-0078; Expires 06/30/07
N-300, Application to File Declaration of Intention
Instructions
What Is the Purpose of This Form?
This form is for a permanent resident to apply for a Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States. A Declaration of Intention is not required for naturalization, but may be required by some States if you wish to engage in certain occupations or professions, or obtain various licenses.
Who May File?
If you are a lawful permanent resident over the age of 18 years, you may apply for a Declaration of Intention. You must be in the United States when you file this application.
What Initial Evidence Must Be Submitted?
After ensuring that the personal information required on all 3 pages of the application is complete, you must file your application with:
- A copy of your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or other evidence that you are a lawful permanent resident.
- Photos. You must submit two identical, natural color passport-style photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of filing this application. The photos must have a white background, be unmounted printed on thin paper and be glossy and unretouched face, with your head bare (unless you are wearing a headdress as required by a religious order of which you are a member). The photographs should be no larger than 2×2 inches, with the distance from the top of the head to just below the chin about 1 and 1/4 inches. Lightly print your Alien Registration Number (A#) on the back of each photo with a pencil. Using a pen, sign your full name in English on the front of each photograph in such a manner as not to obscure your features.
Where Must You File the Application?
File this application at the local office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
What Is the Fee?
The fee for this application is $120.00. The fee must be submitted in the exact amount.
The fee cannot be refunded. Do not mail cash. All checks and money orders must be drawn on a bank or other institution located in the United States and must be payable in United States currency. The check or money order should be made payable to the Department of Homeland Security, unless:
- If you live in Guam and are filing this application there, make your check or money order payable to the “Treasurer, Guam.”
- If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing this application there, make your check or money order payable to the “Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.”
Checks are accepted subject to collection. An uncollected check will render the application and any document issued invalid. A charge of $30.00 will be imposed if a check in payment of a fee is not honored by the bank on which it is drawn.
How to Check If the Fee Is Correct.
The fee on this form is current as of the edition date appearing in the lower right corner of this page. However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can verify if the fee is correct by following one of the steps below:
- Visit our website at www.uscis.gov and scroll down to “Forms and E-Filing” to check the appropriate fee, or
- Review the Fee Schedule included in your form package, if you called us to request the form, or
- Telephone our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.
How Will the Application Be Processed?
Acceptance. Any application that is not signed or accompanied by the correct fee will be rejected with a notice that the application is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and re submit the application. However, an application is not considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.
Initial Processing. Once the application has been accepted, it will be checked for completeness, including submission of the required initial evidence. If you do not completely fill out the form or file it without the required initial evidence, you will not establish a basis for eligibility and we may deny your application.
Requests for More Information. We may request more information or evidence, or we may request that you appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will return these originals when they are no longer needed.
Decision. You will be notified in writing of the decision on your application. If your application is approved, the Declaration of Intention will be issued.
What Are the Penalties for Fraud or Misrepresentation?
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with this request, we will deny the benefit you are filing for and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
How Can You Get Information and USCIS Forms?
To request USCIS forms, call our toll-free forms line at 1-800-870-3676. You may also get USCIS forms and information about immigration laws and regulations by calling our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visiting the USCIS internet website at www.uscis.gov.
Use InfoPass to Make an Appointment.
As an alternative to waiting in line for assistance at your local USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system, visit our website at www.uscis.gov. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment. InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that appears on the screen. Print the notice and take it with you to your appointment. The notice gives the time and date of your appointment, along with the address of the USCIS office.
Privacy Act Notice.
We ask for the information on this form, and associated evidence to determine if you have established eligibility for the immigration benefit. Our legal right to ask for this information is noted in 8 U.S.C. 1445. We may provide this information to other government agencies. Failure to provide this information and any requested evidence may delay a final decision or result in denial of your request.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
We try to create forms and instructions that are accurate, can be easily understood and that impose the least possible burden on you to provide us with information. Often this is difficult because some immigration laws are very complex.
Accordingly, the reporting burden for this collection of information is computed as follows: (1) 5 minutes to learn about the law and form; (2) 5 minutes to complete the form; and (3) 35 minutes to assemble and file the petition; for an estimated average of 45 minutes petition.
If you have comments regarding the accuracy of this estimate, or suggestions for making this form simpler, you may write to the: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20529; OMB No. 1615-0078. Do not mail your completed application to this address.