N-426 Instr

Instructions for Request for Certification
of Military or Naval Service
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS
Form N-426

OMB No. 1615-0053
Expires 09/30/2021

What is the Purpose of Form N-426?
USCIS requests certification of the service member’s military service. This request is for current or former members of the
U.S. Armed Forces applying for naturalization under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 328 or 329. Persons
who are serving or have served under specified conditions in the U.S. Armed Forces are granted certain exemptions from
the general requirements for naturalization. To establish eligibility, the law requires the executive department under which
such person served to certify whether the service member served honorably, and whether the service member’s separation
from the service was under honorable conditions pursuant to Department of Defense policy and guidelines.
NOTE: ONLY military personnel (serving in pay grade O-6 or above) and equivalent civilian personnel (GS-15
or above) with proper authorization may certify this request. Actively serving armed forces members who are
NOT in pay grade O-6 or above and or not equivalent civilian personnel are NOT AUTHORIZED to complete and
certify this request. Recruiters are NOT authorized to certify Form N-426.
Anyone who files pursuant to qualifying military service must include this completed request with Form N-400,
Application for Naturalization when filing with USCIS. Requestors must complete Parts 1. - 4. Certifying officials must
complete Parts 5. - 8.
NOTE: Veterans who are no longer serving may leave Parts 5. - 8. blank, but must provide their DD Form 214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and/or NGB Form 22, National Guard Report of Separation and
Record of Service. Only applicants currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are required to obtain certification of
Form N-426 by having a certifying official fill out Parts 5. - 8.
Failure to provide the information requested may delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form N-400. USCIS
will not reject your Form N-400 if you do not provide your SSN. However, it may be difficult to verify your military
service if we do not have your SSN, which may increase the time it takes to review and process your naturalization
application.

General Instructions
USCIS provides forms free of charge through the USCIS Website. In order to view, print, or fill out our forms, you should
use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do
not have internet access, you may order USCIS forms by calling the Forms Request Line at 1-800-870-3676. The Forms
Request Line provides information in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Signature. Each request must be properly signed and filed. An original ink signature or a copy of an original ink signature
is acceptable. A digital signature is not acceptable. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person.
Filing Fee. There is no filing fee.
How To Fill Out Form N-426
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. Requestors must complete Parts 1. - 4. Certifying Officials must complete Parts 5. - 8. Both requestors and
certifiers must sign where indicated.

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NOTE: Certifying officials must sign Form N-426 ONLY for military members currently serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces. Veterans who are no longer serving may leave Parts 5. - 8. blank, but must provide all their DD Forms 214
and/or NGB Forms 22.
3. Requestors must answer all questions in Parts 1. - 4. If a question does not apply to you, type or print “N/A,” unless
otherwise directed.
4. If you need extra space to complete any item within this request, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional
Information.
5. USCIS Online Account Number (if any). If you have previously filed an application or petition using the USCIS
online filing system (previously called USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS)), provide the USCIS
Online Account Number you were issued by the system. You can find your USCIS Online Account Number by
logging in to your account and going to the profile page. If you previously filed certain applications or petitions on a
paper form through a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may have received a USCIS Online Account Access Notice issuing
you a USCIS Online Account Number. You may find your USCIS Online Account Number at the top of the notice.
The USCIS Online Account Number is not the same as an A-Number. If you were issued a USCIS Online Account
Number, enter it in the space provided.

What Evidence Should You Submit?
Include the following documents pertaining to certification of your military service when you submit your completed and
signed Form N-400:
1. Completed and certified Form N-426; and
2. Veterans who are no longer serving must provide a copy of DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22 that includes the character
of service upon separation for each period of service, including the most recent period of service.

Processing Information
Initial Processing. USCIS will review your certification request for completeness. You and the certifying official must
each complete your respective portions of Form N-426. If you fail to do so, USCIS may reject or deny your Form N-400.
Requests for More Information. We may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
certification. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. USCIS will return any
requested originals when they are no longer needed.

DHS Privacy Notice
AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this request, and the associated evidence, is collected under the
Immigration and Nationality Act sections 328 and 329 and 8 U.S.C. sections 1439-40.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this request is for the Department of
Defense to verify your military or naval service. This request is submitted to the branch of the U.S. military in which
you, as a naturalization applicant, are currently serving or previously served in order to certify your military service.
Completion and certification of this request by you and a certifying official serve as an authenticated record of military
service. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses the information you provide to grant or deny the immigration
benefit you are seeking.

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DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay the naturalization process or
result in failure to locate military records or prove qualifying military service.
ROUTINE USES: DHS may, where allowable under relevant confidentiality provisions, share the information you
provide on this request and any additional requested evidence with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government
agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses described in the associated published system
of records notices [DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System and DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System] and the published impact assessment [DHS/USCIS/PIA-015 Computer Linked Application
Information Management System (CLAIMS 4)] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this
information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

Paperwork Reduction Act
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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The
public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 45 minutes per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the request, preparing
statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the request. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140; OMB No. 1615-0053. Do not mail your completed Form N-426 to this
address.

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