N-400 Processing Times 2026: How Long Does Citizenship Take?

Current N-400 Processing Times in 2026

Updated June 13, 2026: we revised the field-office figures in this guide with the latest USCIS data, the Form N-400 quarterly performance report published June 12, 2026 (FY2026 Q1, covering cases through December 31, 2025).

USCIS publishes N-400 processing-time estimates as the time it took to complete 80% of cases over the prior six months, and those estimates vary widely by field office. For a complete overview of the N-400 citizenship application process, see our step-by-step guide. USCIS officially closed FY2025 with a median N-400 processing time of 5.7 months, its fastest pace since 2016. A filing surge in fall 2025 then pushed the current monthly average up to 7.9 months as of February 2026. Actual times still run anywhere from about 2.5 months to 18 months or more, depending on your field office and your situation.

For a stage-by-stage walkthrough of every step from filing to oath, see our after filing N-400 timeline guide.

Current national figures:

These processing times measure how long it takes USCIS to complete 80% of cases - from the day they receive your application to the day USCIS completes adjudication (approval or denial). The oath ceremony is typically scheduled after approval and may add additional time.

Why processing times improved

Several factors contributed to the faster processing:

USCIS hired more staff. After processing times peaked in 2022, the agency expanded its workforce and streamlined procedures.

Biometrics reuse sped things up (until late 2025). Through 2024 and most of 2025, USCIS often reused fingerprints from previous applications, cutting weeks from the process. That ended for naturalization on December 12, 2025: new N-400 filings now require fresh biometrics, including a new photo (Policy Alert PA-2025-29).

Online filing expanded. More applicants file N-400 online, which speeds up receipt processing.

Fee changes took effect April 1, 2024. The Form N-400 fee is $760 if filing by paper or $710 if filing online.

Processing times by field office: why location matters

Your field office assignment makes a bigger difference than most applicants realize. USCIS assigns your case based on where you live, and processing speeds vary dramatically by location.

The difference between Cincinnati (about 3 months) and Harlingen (about 13 months) can be close to a year of waiting for the same application.

Where the biggest backlogs are

USCIS released field-office numbers for the first quarter of FY2026, covering October through December 2025, and they show where cases are piling up. A handful of large offices hold much of the national backlog. Houston had 27,425 N-400 cases pending at the end of December 2025, ahead of Dallas at 22,135 and Chicago at 18,329. Across all offices, USCIS received 252,190 N-400 applications and approved 147,200 during the quarter, leaving 620,920 pending at the close of December 2025. A big backlog is not the same as a long wait, though. These offices also take in and approve large numbers of applications, so a high pending count says as much about how busy the office is as how long you will wait.

Field offices with the largest N-400 backlogs: pending naturalization cases at the close of FY2026 Q1 (December 31, 2025). Houston, Dallas, and Chicago still carried the heaviest caseloads. Source: USCIS Form N-400 Quarterly Performance Data, FY2026 Q1.

How to find your field office processing time

You can check current processing times for your specific field office:

1. Go to the USCIS Processing Times tool
2. Select "N-400" as the form
3. Enter your state or field office
4. View the estimated processing range

The tool shows the time to process 80% of cases. Your actual timeline could be faster or slower depending on your specific situation.

How processing times have changed over time

N-400 processing times have swung a lot over the past decade. Here's the short version.

N-400 processing times, FY2016 to FY2025. The fiscal-year median fell to 5.7 months in FY2025, the fastest since 2016. The current monthly average of about 7.9 months by February 2026 reflects the fall-2025 filing surge, not the speed at which FY2025 cases were actually finished. Sources: USCIS Historical National Median Processing Times; USCIS FY2025 Q4 Performance Data; USCIS Report to Congress.

Times climbed from FY2016 through FY2021, peaking at 11.5 months during the pandemic backlog. USCIS brought them back down over the next few years with more staff, biometrics reuse, and online filing. By FY2025 the median had dropped to 5.7 months, the fastest since 2016.

That is the fiscal-year picture, and it is a good one. The catch is timing. The fall 2025 filing surge hit right after FY2025 closed, and October alone brought roughly four times the usual number of applications. The current monthly average climbed to 7.9 months by February 2026, even though the cases USCIS finished during FY2025 still cleared in a median of 5.7 months.

N-400 backlog: what the monthly data shows

USCIS files monthly processing data with Congress. Here's what September 2025 through February 2026 shows.

Source: USCIS Report to Congress, "Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time" (USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data)

N-400 Naturalization: Monthly USCIS Data (Sep 2025 to Jan 2026). Left: applications received vs. approved. Right: pending backlog and average processing time. Source: USCIS Report to Congress.

October 2025 was not a normal month. USCIS received 169,159 N-400 applications, roughly four times the usual 42,000-46,000. September was also elevated at 87,903. The pattern matches election years, when permanent residents rush to naturalize before major votes.

Volume returned to normal by November, but the backlog hasn't come down. By February 2026 it had climbed to 647,000, because USCIS can't clear October's wave as fast as it arrived. The surge added roughly 109,000 pending cases between September and February.

The number worth watching is cases "pending over 6 months." It grew from 118,313 in September to 234,728 in February, almost double, and it's the clearest signal that the wait is getting longer for people who filed in mid-2025 or earlier.

Monthly approvals dropped too: from 71,181 in September to 23,626 in February, a 67% decline. Some of that is seasonal staffing. Most of it is that newer cases from the October surge haven't worked through the queue yet.

What this means if you're filing now

If you're filing in early 2026, plan for 7 to 10 months at most offices, not the 5 to 6 that was typical last year. Faster offices can still wrap up in 3 to 5 months; slower ones may go past 12.

The October surge looks like a one-time spike, and monthly receipts are back to normal. The backlog still hasn't turned the corner, though. As of February 2026 it sits at 647,000, the highest point in this stretch, and the average processing time has edged up to 7.9 months. It should ease once USCIS works through what arrived in fall 2025, but the monthly numbers haven't started moving that way yet.

Don't let the longer wait stop you from filing. You can submit up to 90 days before your continuous residence requirement kicks in, which puts you in line sooner. Filing online ($710 vs. $760 for paper) also moves your initial processing along faster.

The five stages

Once USCIS accepts your N-400, the rest of the case moves through five stages: receipt notice (2-4 weeks), biometrics appointment (3-8 weeks from filing), background check and interview scheduling (4-9 months from filing), the interview itself with the English and civics tests, and the oath ceremony (1-4 weeks after approval). For what to expect at each step (including what to bring, reschedules, and same-day oath rules), see our after-filing N-400 timeline guide.

Total timeline summary

Want to know where your application stands? Our guide on how to check your N-400 status online walks through the process and explains what each status message actually means.

What causes N-400 delays?

While most applications move through smoothly, certain situations can extend processing time.

Background check issues

The FBI background check typically takes weeks, but some cases require additional review:

• Common names that generate multiple matches
• Previous immigration violations
• Past criminal history (even minor offenses)
• Prior security concerns flagged in government databases

If your background check takes longer, you'll remain in "actively reviewing" status until it clears. There's little you can do to speed this up, but the delays are usually resolved without requiring action from you.

Pending I-751 (conditional green card removal)

If you have a conditional green card (2-year card) and filed your I-751 to remove conditions, your N-400 may be affected.

USCIS will process both applications together, but your N-400 cannot be approved until your I-751 is resolved. If your I-751 is still pending, this can add significant time to your citizenship process.

That said, you can still file N-400 while your I-751 is pending. Some applicants find this actually speeds up both cases because USCIS processes them at the same office.

Documentation problems

Missing or inconsistent information can delay processing:

• Incomplete application responses
• Missing supporting documents
• Discrepancies between your N-400 and previous applications
• Tax issues or missing returns

If USCIS needs additional information, they'll send a Request for Evidence (RFE). Responding promptly and completely helps get your case back on track.

Can you expedite N-400 processing?

Unlike some immigration applications, N-400 does not have premium processing. You cannot pay extra for faster handling.

However, USCIS may grant expedite requests in limited circumstances:

• Severe financial loss to a company or person
• Emergency situations
• Humanitarian reasons
• USCIS error causing delay
• National interest (rare)

These expedite requests are rarely approved for routine applications. In most cases, you'll need to wait for normal processing.

Real applicant timelines: what people actually experience

Processing times on the USCIS website are averages. Real experiences show the range you might expect.

Fast processing examples

Cincinnati, Ohio (3-year rule):

• Filed: December 1, 2024
• Biometrics: Reused same day
• Interview scheduled: December 16, 2024
• Interview date: January 22, 2025
• Total: 7 weeks filing to interview

Seattle, Washington:

• Filed: May 15, 2024
• Interview: November 2024
• Oath ceremony: November 19, 2024
• Total: 6 months

Houston, Texas:

• Filed under 3-year marriage rule (90 days early)
• Biometrics reused
• Interview: 9 days after 3-year eligibility date
• Oath: 2 weeks after interview
• Total: Under 3 months from eligibility

Moderate processing examples

Washington D.C.:

• Filed: May 10, 2024
• Biometrics: May 31, 2024
• Expected timeline: 8-10 months based on DC office volume

Anchorage, Alaska:

• Filed: May 18, 2024
• Interview and oath: January 21, 2025
• Total: 8 months

Delayed processing examples

Newark, New Jersey:

• Filed: June 2024
• Biometrics: Reused immediately
• As of October 2024: Still waiting for interview after 4+ months
• Expected timeline: 10-12 months based on Newark processing

San Francisco Bay Area (I-751 complication):

• N-400 filed: June 2020
• Oath ceremony: August 2021
• Total: 14 months (delayed by pending ROC at different office)

These examples show why field office matters so much. The same application can take anywhere from 7 weeks to over a year depending on location and circumstances.

N-400 fees in 2026

We cover filing fees, attorney costs, and the hidden expenses most people miss in our N-400 costs guide.

Official sources

This guide is based on current USCIS policy and federal regulations. All information was verified against these official sources as of June 2026:

USCIS resources

• USCIS Processing Times Tool
• Form N-400 Official Page
• N-400 Instructions
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12: Citizenship & Naturalization
• USCIS Fee Schedule
• 2025 Naturalization Civics Test
• 10 Steps to Naturalization
• Historic Processing Times
• Processing Times FAQ
• USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data (monthly processing data reported to Congress)

Federal regulations

• 8 CFR Part 316 - General Naturalization Requirements
• 8 CFR Part 312 - Educational Requirements
• Federal Register: 2025 Civics Test Implementation

Immigration and Nationality Act

• INA § 316(a) - General Naturalization Requirements
• INA § 312(a) - English and Civics Requirements

Immigration law changes frequently. We monitor USCIS policy updates and revise this guide when regulations change.