Organize files to upload for N400 online

[Balakasha 11]

Hello everyone,

 

I am about to submit N400 online under 3-year rule, and I need your advice with the files to upload with the form.

- The bank statements, utilities' bills: do you upload 1 file for 1 month, or combine those together in 1 file? How many months should be uploaded?

- The divorce decree of previous marriage should be uploaded now or should be brought to the interview? Where it can be uploaded (under what tab)?

- What joint documents can be uploaded while filing n400 form, and what documents just keep then bring to interview later?

 

Thanks so much all for any advice.

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by Balakasha

[bakphx1 789]

Combine statements by the different accounts but put them in one document (size permitting).

 

Upload everything.  They can verify a lot before the interview and the easier you make it to be approved ahead of time, the more likely you can be approved at the interview instead of having to wait.  

[SoCal2021 201]

29 minutes ago, Balakasha said:

Hello everyone,

 

I am about to submit N400 online under 3-year rule, and I need your advice with the files to upload with the form.

- The bank statements, utilities' bills: do you upload 1 file for 1 month, or combine those together in 1 file? How many months should be uploaded?

- The divorce decree of previous marriage should be uploaded now or should be brought to the interview? Where it can be uploaded (under what tab)?

- What joint documents can be uploaded while filing n400 form, and what documents just keep then bring to interview later?

 

Thanks so much all for any advice.

 

We are finalizing package for my wife's N-400 now.  She is applying in mid September, under 3 year rule as well.  We are submitting everything upfront.  Our package includes 3 years of joint checking, credit card statements, utilities, taxes and home/car insurances.  I saved all monthly statements in PDF format and then used Adobe Acrobat Pro to "merge" them together so that we have ONE file for each calendar year....for example we have 2020 BofA statements, 2021 BofA statements, etc.  You need to stay below 6 MB file size.  Some people use quarterly statements and that should be fine as well.  We are also uploading all the other documents which they have asked for (front/back copy of GC, my US naturalization certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).

 

[Balakasha 11]

7 minutes ago, SoCal2021 said:

We are finalizing package for my wife's N-400 now.  She is applying in mid September, under 3 year rule as well.  We are submitting everything upfront.  Our package includes 3 years of joint checking, credit card statements, utilities, taxes and home/car insurances.  I saved all monthly statements in PDF format and then used Adobe Acrobat Pro to "merge" them together so that we have ONE file for each calendar year....for example we have 2020 BofA statements, 2021 BofA statements, etc.  You need to stay below 6 MB file size.  Some people use quarterly statements and that should be fine as well.  We are also uploading all the other documents which they have asked for (front/back copy of GC, my US naturalization certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).

 

Thanks so much for your information.

How about photos/pictures? You will combine in 1 file also?

So you will have 3 files of bank statements, 3 files of tax, 3 files for utilities’ bills?

How many files total we can upload?

[Joyoussinger 1,427]

7 minutes ago, Balakasha said:

Thanks so much for your information.

How about photos/pictures? You will combine in 1 file also?

So you will have 3 files of bank statements, 3 files of tax, 3 files for utilities’ bills?

How many files total we can upload?

We don't need to send all this. According to the instructions, we only need to send a copy of the green card and a copy of the marriage certicifate.  All the rest can be brought to the interview. This makes uploading it so easy.  I almost forgot! We need to send the payment!

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400instr.pdf

Edited August 29, 2022 by Joyoussinger
to add information

[SoCal2021 201]

1 minute ago, Balakasha said:

Thanks so much for your information.

How about photos/pictures? You will combine in 1 file also?

So you will have 3 files of bank statements, 3 files of tax, 3 files for utilities’ bills?

How many files total we can upload?

We are not uploading any photos but she will taking it with her (along with copies of everything that was uploaded, just in case).  

Yes we have 3 files for bank statements (2020, 2021 and 2022), same for credit cards, utilities, etc.  We also have 3 years of IRS Account Transcripts (showing we have zero balance owed to IRS).  You can download them from IRS "Your Online Account" page. 

 

I am not sure of how many files you can upload since we have not filled out the online N-400 form, yet.  I was not aware there are any limits (again, file sizes must be below 6 MB).  Perhaps others can chime in and answer this questions.  

[Timona 4,208]

Quarterly statements are fine. No need for each month.

 

Online filing guides on what to upload. If you wanna upload anything else, there's an option to do that at the very end

[carmel34 3,664]

My husband just filed an N-400 online.  We decided after carefully reading the current USCIS instructions, to upload the required documents, including three years of IRS tax transcripts showing married jointly filings, plus a few other financial co-mingling documents (apartment lease, deed for house, insurance).  He will take other documents to the interview.

[Joyoussinger 1,427]

 

 

1 hour ago, carmel34 said:

My husband just filed an N-400 online.  We decided after carefully reading the current USCIS instructions, to upload the required documents, including three years of IRS tax transcripts showing married jointly filings, plus a few other financial co-mingling documents (apartment lease, deed for house, insurance).  He will take other documents to the interview.

Here is a list of what USCIS says to upload with the application for N-400. This is from their website: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400instr.pdf

Below is a list of documents to submit with your Form N-400.
1. Photographs. Only applicants who reside overseas must provide two identical color photographs of yourself taken
recently. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and
be unmounted and unretouched. Passport-style photos must be 2” x 2”. The photos must be in color with full face,
frontal view on a white to off-white background. Head height should measure 1” to 1 3/8” from top of hair to bottom
of chin, and eye height is between 1 1/8” to 1 3/8” from bottom of photo. Your head must be bare, unless contrary to
your religious beliefs. Using a pencil or felt pen, lightly print your name and A-Number (if any) on the back of the
photo.
2. Photocopy of Permanent Resident Card. Provide a photocopy of the front and back of your Form I-551 (Permanent
Resident Card). USCIS must be able to read the information on the photocopy. If you have lost your Form I-551,
attach a photocopy of any other entry document or a photocopy of a receipt showing that you have filed Form I-90,
Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
3. Photocopy of your Current Legal Marital Status Document. Provide a photocopy of your current marriage
certificate, divorce, annulment decree, or death certificate of former spouse.
4. Documents for Military Personnel or Spouses of Military Personnel:
A. Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service). If you are a current member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, provide a completed and certified Form N-426. If you are separated from the military, provide an
uncertified Form N-426.

 

These are necessary to take to the interview: 

Below is a list of documents to bring with you to your Form N-400 interview. 1. Permanent Resident Card. 2. State-Issued Identification. Bring a valid State-issued identification, such as a driver’s license. 3. Passports and Travel Documents. Bring valid and expired passports, as well as any travel documents issued by USCIS. 4. Evidence of Your Current Legal Marital Status. Bring the original of all marriage certificates, divorce or annulment decrees, death certificates, and other official records to confirm your marital history and your current legal marital status. 5. Evidence of the Termination of Your Spouse’s Prior Marriage(s). Bring the original of your current spouse’s divorce certificate. If your spouse is widowed, bring the original of his or her former spouse’s death certificate. If neither of these are available, bring any other evidence that indicates the termination of your spouse’s marriage for consideration. 6. Name Change(s). If you have changed your name at any time, bring the document(s) that legally changed your name(s), such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, name change petition, or other official record if you ever changed your name. 7. Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, you should bring certain documents to your interview. You may also submit copies of these documents with your application. For example: A. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen. Bring the following items to your interview if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of your marriage to a U.S. citizen: (1) Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: a birth certificate (if your spouse never lost U.S. citizenship since birth), Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Form FS-240 Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; (2) Evidence of the termination of all your prior marriages; and (3) Evidence that you and your spouse have lived in marital union for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: (a) Joint bank and credit card statements; (b) Leases or mortgages; (c) Birth certificates of children; (d) Insurance policies; and (e) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you and your spouse filed for the past 3 years (or an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years).

 

[SoCal2021 201]

1 hour ago, Joyoussinger said:

 

 

Here is a list of what USCIS says to upload with the application for N-400. This is from their website: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400instr.pdf

Below is a list of documents to submit with your Form N-400.
1. Photographs. Only applicants who reside overseas must provide two identical color photographs of yourself taken
recently. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and
be unmounted and unretouched. Passport-style photos must be 2” x 2”. The photos must be in color with full face,
frontal view on a white to off-white background. Head height should measure 1” to 1 3/8” from top of hair to bottom
of chin, and eye height is between 1 1/8” to 1 3/8” from bottom of photo. Your head must be bare, unless contrary to
your religious beliefs. Using a pencil or felt pen, lightly print your name and A-Number (if any) on the back of the
photo.
2. Photocopy of Permanent Resident Card. Provide a photocopy of the front and back of your Form I-551 (Permanent
Resident Card). USCIS must be able to read the information on the photocopy. If you have lost your Form I-551,
attach a photocopy of any other entry document or a photocopy of a receipt showing that you have filed Form I-90,
Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
3. Photocopy of your Current Legal Marital Status Document. Provide a photocopy of your current marriage
certificate, divorce, annulment decree, or death certificate of former spouse.
4. Documents for Military Personnel or Spouses of Military Personnel:
A. Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service). If you are a current member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, provide a completed and certified Form N-426. If you are separated from the military, provide an
uncertified Form N-426.

 

These are necessary to take to the interview: 

Below is a list of documents to bring with you to your Form N-400 interview. 1. Permanent Resident Card. 2. State-Issued Identification. Bring a valid State-issued identification, such as a driver’s license. 3. Passports and Travel Documents. Bring valid and expired passports, as well as any travel documents issued by USCIS. 4. Evidence of Your Current Legal Marital Status. Bring the original of all marriage certificates, divorce or annulment decrees, death certificates, and other official records to confirm your marital history and your current legal marital status. 5. Evidence of the Termination of Your Spouse’s Prior Marriage(s). Bring the original of your current spouse’s divorce certificate. If your spouse is widowed, bring the original of his or her former spouse’s death certificate. If neither of these are available, bring any other evidence that indicates the termination of your spouse’s marriage for consideration. 6. Name Change(s). If you have changed your name at any time, bring the document(s) that legally changed your name(s), such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, name change petition, or other official record if you ever changed your name. 7. Other Documents. Depending on the circumstances, you should bring certain documents to your interview. You may also submit copies of these documents with your application. For example: A. Spouse of a U.S. Citizen. Bring the following items to your interview if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of your marriage to a U.S. citizen: (1) Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: a birth certificate (if your spouse never lost U.S. citizenship since birth), Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Form FS-240 Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; (2) Evidence of the termination of all your prior marriages; and (3) Evidence that you and your spouse have lived in marital union for at least 3 years at the time you file your Form N-400. Such evidence may include: (a) Joint bank and credit card statements; (b) Leases or mortgages; (c) Birth certificates of children; (d) Insurance policies; and (e) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you and your spouse filed for the past 3 years (or an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years).

 

Hi Joy, hope you are doing well.  What you included makes total sense.  However, there is a form M-477 (Document Checklist- please see below URL) which states: "If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to US citizens, send the following 4 items"....it lists 4 items to send.  Note: item #4a asks for "Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages...."  It also provides you other options under 4b and 4c since it has the word "or".   To be honest, it is a bit confusing.  That is the reason we are front loading bunch of bank/credit card statements, just in case.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/attachments.pdf

[Joyoussinger 1,427]

2 minutes ago, SoCal2021 said:

Hi Joy, hope you are doing well.  What you included makes total sense.  However, there is a form M-477 (Document Checklist- please see below URL) which states: "If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to US citizens, send the following 4 items"....it lists 4 items to send.  Note: item #4a asks for "Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages...."  It also provides you other options under 4b and 4c since it has the word "or".   To be honest, it is a bit confusing.  That is the reason we are front loading bunch of bank/credit card statements, just in case.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/attachments.pdf

Oh! Thank you for sending this! I didn't see it. They're instructions are so inconsistent! We will send everything then. 

- Jodi

[PeachesMagee 62]

I still have my documents on my computer, and when I checked, here is what I uploaded (all are separate PDFs):

3 years taxes (3 files), life insurance, auto insurance, divorce certificate, condo deed, green card, wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, additional life insurance (through work), N-400 form, N-400 additional responses

Total PDFs I sent in: 13

I brought all the originals with me for my interview, but wasn't asked to show anything, except for the green card.

 

Good luck!!

[Joyoussinger 1,427]

3 minutes ago, PeachesMagee said:

I still have my documents on my computer, and when I checked, here is what I uploaded (all are separate PDFs):

3 years taxes (3 files), life insurance, auto insurance, divorce certificate, condo deed, green card, wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, additional life insurance (through work), N-400 form, N-400 additional responses

Total PDFs I sent in: 13

I brought all the originals with me for my interview, but wasn't asked to show anything, except for the green card.

 

Good luck!!

Thank you for sharing this! 

[Balakasha 11]

10 minutes ago, PeachesMagee said:

I still have my documents on my computer, and when I checked, here is what I uploaded (all are separate PDFs):

3 years taxes (3 files), life insurance, auto insurance, divorce certificate, condo deed, green card, wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, additional life insurance (through work), N-400 form, N-400 additional responses

Total PDFs I sent in: 13

I brought all the originals with me for my interview, but wasn't asked to show anything, except for the green card.

 

Good luck!!

Thanks so much.

what is the n-400 additional responses file?

[PeachesMagee 62]

The additional response was an explanation to a question. I answered "yes" to having served in the military. I just had to explain what/where.