Understanding Form N-400: Part 8. Information About Your Employment and Schools You Attended

Form N-400 stands as a pivotal document in the naturalization process for individuals seeking United States citizenship. It serves as the formal application to become a naturalized citizen and involves a comprehensive review of an applicant’s personal history, including their employment and educational background.

The Importance of Part 8: “Information About Your Employment and Schools You Attended”

Part 8 of the Form N-400 delves specifically into “Information About Your Employment and Schools You Attended.” This section requires a detailed account of an individual’s work and educational history over the past five years, encompassing both full-time and part-time engagements. It mandates the provision of information regarding schools attended, places of employment, and periods of unemployment, if applicable.

The significance of Part 8 lies in its role in constructing a comprehensive profile of the applicant’s recent history. It aids immigration authorities in understanding the individual’s trajectory in terms of education, career, and periods of non-employment. This data is critical in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for naturalization.

Accurate and detailed information in this section is imperative, as it provides an overview of an individual’s activities and commitments during the specified period. It is crucial for ensuring that the applicant meets the residency and good moral character requirements, among other criteria, as mandated by the naturalization process.

Overview of Required Information in Part 8

Part 8 of Form N-400 demands a comprehensive breakdown of an individual’s recent employment and educational history. The required information encompasses a detailed account of each engagement over the last five years. Let’s dive into the specifics of the fields mandated within this section:

1. Employer or School Name: This field necessitates the clear and accurate labeling of the name of the employer or educational institution attended by the applicant. It’s essential to provide the official, full name of the entity.a. Street Number and Name: The exact street address of the workplace or educational institution where the applicant was engaged is to be listed here. This includes the building number and street name.b. Apt. Ste. Flr. Number: If relevant, any apartment, suite, or floor number associated with the address should be included for precision.

   c. City or Town: The city or town where the employer or school is located must be stated clearly.

   d. State: For addresses within the United States, the state must be specified. For foreign addresses, this may be replaced with “Province or Region” and the respective details.

   e. ZIP Code + 4: The ZIP code, with the additional four-digit extension if applicable, is essential for U.S. addresses. For foreign addresses, the equivalent postal code information should be provided.

   f. Province or Region (foreign address only): Where applicable, the specific province or region for foreign addresses is to be included here.

   g. Postal Code (foreign address only): This is the foreign equivalent of a ZIP code, specific to the country’s postal system.

   h. Country (foreign address only): For foreign addresses, the country in which the employer or school is situated should be explicitly stated.

   i. Date From (mm/dd/yyyy) and j. Date To (mm/dd/yyyy): The precise dates of engagement or attendance at the stated employer or school should be recorded here, including the month, day, and year of commencement and conclusion.

This meticulous breakdown of information is vital for providing a clear and complete overview of an applicant’s recent employment and educational history, ensuring compliance with the naturalization requirements. Accuracy and attention to detail in these fields are crucial for a successful completion of this section.

Example Persona for Part 8

Let’s craft a fictitious persona to illustrate the application of the required details within Part 8 of Form N-400:

Fictitious Persona:

• Name: Ravi Sharma
• Address:
  • Employer 1: ABC Corporation
    • Street: 123 Main Street
    • City: Anytown
    • State: California
    • ZIP Code: 98765-4321
    • Dates of Employment: 08/15/2019 – 03/20/2023
    • Occupation: Arts, Design and Fashion
  • School: XYZ University
    • Street: 456 University Avenue
    • City: Otherville
    • State: California
    • ZIP Code: 54321-4321
    • Dates of Attendance: 09/10/2015 – 06/05/2019

Explanation:

Ravi Sharma’s provided details align with the requirements of Form N-400’s Part 8. The section necessitates a comprehensive record of an individual’s employment and educational history over the last five years. In this case, Ravi has diligently provided information about his most recent employment and educational engagements, precisely as required by the form.

For his employment history, Ravi lists his work at ABC Corporation, detailing the full official name, complete address, including the street, city, state, and ZIP code, and the specific dates of employment. His occupation in Arts, Design and Fashion during this tenure is also clearly stated, adhering to the requirements of the form.

In the education section, Ravi includes his attendance at XYZ University, encompassing the university’s complete details—address, city, state, and ZIP code—along with the specific dates of his enrollment.

This fictitious example embodies the type of information that needs to be accurately and meticulously presented in Form N-400, specifically in Part 8, to fulfill the requirements and provide a transparent and thorough depiction of the applicant’s recent history of employment and education.

Payment Information for Form N-400

A. Filing Fee Details ($640 with $85 biometric fee, where applicable)

The completion and submission of Form N-400 require a filing fee of $640. Additionally, a biometric fee of $85 is applicable in certain cases. It’s crucial to note that the total fee becomes $725 when the biometric service is necessary.

B. Payment Options

When filing the Form N-400, applicants have various payment methods at their disposal. If opting for the online submission, payment can be made through the online portal.

For those filing via mail (paper submission), payments can be made using a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or through credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If making payment by check, it must be made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

C. Exceptions for Specific Groups Exempt from Fees

Certain groups are exempt from particular fees related to the N-400 application process. Applicants who are 75 years of age or older are not required to pay the biometric fee; they only need to pay the $640 filing fee. Additionally, military applicants filing under section 328 or 329 of the INA do not need to pay any filing or biometric services fee.