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Form N-400 · naturalization

N-400 processing time

The average n-400 processing time was 12.7 mo in August 2026, counted from receipt to decision across all cases USCIS completed that month. That is +6.3 months compared with August 2025; over the last 12 months the monthly average had a median of 8.3 mo.

VisaBulletin.org editorial teamUpdated 5 sources

N-400 processing time by month

Form N-400 is the application for U.S. citizenship by naturalization.[4] The processing time runs from USCIS receiving the application to its decision, which usually comes at or after the interview and test. USCIS defines the figure as "the number of months it took for an application, petition, or request to be processed from receipt to completion," averaged over all cases completed in the month, and notes it "may differ from processing times reported on other USCIS.gov webpages."[1]

N-400 (naturalization): monthly USCIS figures, last 12 reports
MonthReceivedApprovedDeniedPendingPending >6 moAvg. time
Aug 202654,49215,3494,213813,453513,46212.7 mo
Jul 202655,57916,5144,160778,489485,00311.4 mo
Jun 202653,39218,4393,852744,412458,48510.7 mo
May 202649,53417,0383,757712,572441,36210.1 mo
Apr 202647,63022,5605,009683,960419,2019.5 mo
Mar 202649,63026,8685,424663,951282,2278.6 mo
Feb 202644,50823,6264,462647,193234,7287.9 mo
Jan 202646,38532,8624,970630,860198,2357.8 mo
Dec 202542,56942,5125,168622,664168,8816.8 mo
Nov 202541,47848,6916,173627,819146,8526.7 mo
Oct 2025169,15958,6926,852641,468130,8106.7 mo
Sep 202587,90371,1817,198537,769118,3136.7 mo

Since November 2022 the monthly average ranged from 5.6 mo (May 2024) to 12.7 mo (August 2026).[3]

Trend since Nov 2022

N-400 (naturalization): average months to completion
03.87.511.315Nov '222023202420252026
  • N-400 (naturalization)

N-400 decisions and backlog

In August 2026, USCIS approved 15,349 and denied 4,213 naturalization applications, with 813,453 pending at month end.[1] A year earlier the average was 6.4 mo.[2]

After the N-400 is approved

Approval is followed by the oath ceremony, which some offices hold the same day and others schedule weeks later. Citizenship also changes family cases: a permanent resident's spouse or child under 21 in the F2A category becomes an immediate relative with no Visa Bulletin wait once the sponsor naturalizes. See other forms on the USCIS processing times page and the I-130 processing time.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the N-400 take?

Completed N-400s took 12.7 mo on average in August 2026, from receipt to decision.

When can I file my N-400?

Generally up to 90 days before you meet the continuous-residence requirement: 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen.

Why does N-400 time vary by city?

Naturalization interviews are held at local field offices, so staffing and caseload at your office drive much of the wait. The USCIS case processing tool shows times by office.

Sources

  1. Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: August 2026 (report to Congress, CSV) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, August 2026
  2. Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: August 2025 (report to Congress, CSV) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, August 2025
  3. Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: November 2022 (report to Congress, CSV) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, November 2022
  4. N-400, Application for Naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, accessed November 13, 2026
  5. Check Case Processing Times · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, updated monthly