N-400 Yes/No Questions: What Each One Asks

The Yes/No questions on Form N-400 are in Part 9 (Additional Information About You), which has 37 items about good moral character, national security and attachment to the U.S. Constitution. This article explains what each question asks, based on the 01/20/25 edition of Form N-400 and its instructions. It does not tell you whether to answer Yes or No: your answers must be true for you, and you sign them under penalty of perjury.

At the citizenship interview, the USCIS officer asks about your application and background, so these questions may come up again. See the whole process in U.S. Citizenship Test 2026: Every Step from Form N-400 to the Oath Ceremony.

What does "EVER" mean in these questions?

Form N-400 says at the start of Part 9: when a question uses the word "EVER", you must report any act or event anywhere in the world, at any time, unless the question says otherwise. That means not only in the U.S., and not only in the last 5 years.

If you answer "Yes" to items 1–14, the form asks you to explain in Part 14 (Additional Information).

Items 1–4: Citizenship claims, voting and taxes

• Item 1: Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen (in writing or any other way)?
• Item 2: Have you ever registered to vote or voted in any federal, state or local election in the U.S.? The form notes that if you lawfully voted only in a local election where noncitizens are allowed to vote, you may answer "No".
• Item 3: Do you currently owe any overdue federal, state or local taxes?
• Item 4: Since becoming a permanent resident, have you called yourself a "nonresident alien" on a tax return, or not filed because you considered yourself a nonresident?

According to the N-400 instructions, applicants with overdue taxes should submit IRS tax transcripts, any agreement to pay the taxes, and documents showing the payment status.

Item 5: Communist parties and anti-government groups

• Item 5.a: Have you ever been a member of, involved in, or associated with any Communist or totalitarian party anywhere?
• Item 5.b: Have you ever advocated, supported or been part of any group that advocated the violent overthrow of the U.S. government, opposition to all organized government, world communism, a totalitarian dictatorship in the U.S., the assault or killing of government officials, unlawful damage to property, or sabotage?

This question matters especially for many people who lived in Vietnam. The N-400 instructions explain that current or past membership in certain organizations may indicate a lack of good moral character or of attachment to the Constitution. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 7, the law has exceptions (for example, involuntary membership, membership before age 16, or membership to get employment, food rations or other necessities), and the applicant has to show the exception applies. Still, whether a particular case falls under an exception is a legal question. If this item applies to you, talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you file.

Items 6–14: Violence, weapons and armed groups

These items ask whether you have ever:

• 6.a–6.c: Used a weapon or explosive to harm someone or damage property; taken part in kidnapping, assassination, or hijacking or sabotage of an aircraft, vessel or vehicle; or threatened, attempted, conspired, prepared, planned or incited others to do so.
• 7.a–7.g: Ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with or otherwise taken part in: torture; genocide; killing or trying to kill someone; sexual contact with someone who did not consent; intentionally and severely injuring someone; not letting someone practice their religion; or harming someone because of race, religion, national origin, membership in a social group or political opinion.
• 8.a: Served in, been a member of, or helped any military or police unit (in any country).
• 8.b: Served in or helped an armed group, such as a paramilitary unit, self-defense unit, vigilante unit, rebel group or guerrilla group.
• Item 9: Worked, volunteered or served in a place where people were detained (for example a prison, jail, prison camp or camp for political prisoners, detention facility or labor camp), or directed or took part in detaining people.
• 10.a–10.c: Been a member of or helped a group that used or threatened to use a weapon against another person; and if so, whether you yourself used or threatened to use a weapon.
• Item 11: Sold, provided or transported weapons that you knew or believed would be used against another person.
• Item 12: Received any weapons, paramilitary or military-type training.
• Items 13–14: Recruited or used anyone under age 15 in an armed group or in combat.

If you answer "Yes" to 8.a or 8.b, the form asks for the country, the name of the unit or group, your rank or position, and the dates, in Part 14. Many older Vietnamese Americans served in a military or worked for a government agency before coming to the U.S.; these items ask about those facts, and Part 14 is where you explain them.

Items 15–16: Crimes and arrests

• 15.a: Have you ever committed, agreed to commit, asked someone else to commit, helped commit or tried to commit a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
• 15.b: Have you ever been arrested, cited, detained or confined by any law enforcement officer, military official or immigration official for any reason, or been charged with a crime or offense?
• Item 16: If you received a suspended sentence, or were placed on probation or parole, have you completed it?

Form N-400 asks you to list every crime or offense, in the U.S. or anywhere else, including domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI) and offenses committed before age 18, even if the record was sealed, expunged or pardoned, and even if someone (a judge, police officer or attorney) told you that you did not have to disclose it. The instructions say that failing to disclose can lead to a denial even if the offense itself would not have.

The N-400 instructions also list the documents to submit in each case (arrest reports, court dispositions, proof that a sentence was completed and so on). For traffic violations, documents are needed only if the incident involved alcohol or drugs, led to an arrest, or seriously injured someone. USCIS will not approve an application while you are on probation, parole or a suspended sentence.

Anyone who has ever been arrested or has a criminal record should talk to a licensed immigration attorney before filing Form N-400.

Items 17–19: Other moral character questions

Item 17 asks whether you have ever:

• 17.a: Been a prostitute, procured anyone for prostitution, or received proceeds from prostitution.
• 17.b: Manufactured, cultivated, produced, distributed, dispensed, sold or smuggled any controlled substances, illegal drugs or narcotics, or drug paraphernalia, in violation of U.S. or foreign law.
• 17.c: Married someone to obtain an immigration benefit.
• 17.d: Been married to more than one person at the same time.
• 17.e: Helped anyone enter the U.S. illegally.
• 17.f: Gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling.
• 17.g: Failed to support your dependents or to pay alimony as ordered by a court.
• 17.h: Made a misrepresentation to obtain public benefits.

Item 18 asks whether you have ever given any U.S. government official false, fraudulent or misleading information or documents. Item 19 asks whether you have ever lied to a U.S. government official to gain entry or admission to the U.S. or to get immigration benefits.

Items 20–21: Removal

• Item 20: Have you ever been removed or deported from the U.S.?
• Item 21: Have you ever been placed in removal, rescission or deportation proceedings?

If so, the instructions ask for the name used, the port of entry and the reason.

Item 22: Selective Service registration

Item 22.a asks whether you are a male who lived in the U.S. at any time between your 18th and 26th birthdays (not counting time when you were a lawful nonimmigrant the whole period). If so, 22.b asks whether you registered with the Selective Service, and 22.c asks for your registration number and date.

According to the N-400 instructions, men who did not register and are now between 26 and 31 (or 26 and 29 if filing as the spouse of a U.S. citizen) need to explain why and submit a status information letter from the Selective Service. Registration information is at sss.gov.

Items 23–29: U.S. military service

These items ask whether you have ever left the U.S. to avoid the draft, applied for an exemption from military service, served in the U.S. armed forces, are currently a member or are scheduled to deploy overseas, were discharged because you were an alien, were court-martialed or received an other than honorable discharge, or deserted. The instructions note that anyone convicted of deserting the U.S. armed forces in wartime is not eligible for naturalization.

Items 30–37: Titles of nobility and the Oath of Allegiance

• 30.a–30.b: Do you have a hereditary title or order of nobility in a foreign country, and are you willing to give it up at your naturalization ceremony?
• Item 31: Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the United States?
• Item 32: Do you understand the full Oath of Allegiance?
• Item 33: Are you unable to take the Oath because of a physical, developmental or mental impairment?
• Item 34: Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance?
• Items 35–37: If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States, perform noncombatant service in the U.S. armed forces, or perform work of national importance under civilian direction?

The form notes: if you answer "No" to any question other than item 33, read the Oath of Allegiance section of the instructions. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part J, Chapter 3, applicants may ask to take a modified oath without the clauses about bearing arms or noncombatant service if they have deeply held religious or moral beliefs. This is a detail to read in the instructions or ask an attorney about.

How should I prepare for the application review?

• Keep a copy of the Form N-400 you filed and reread it before your interview.
• Understand every question. If the officer asks again in English, you need to understand the question to answer it truthfully. Common words: "ever", "arrested", "claimed", "owe", "overthrow".
• Bring the related documents for any item you answered "Yes" that needs them, according to the table in the N-400 instructions.
• If you're unsure whether a question applies to you, don't guess. Ask a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited organization before you file.

N400 Ready is Manna One Solution's free app for citizenship test practice in English and Vietnamese, covering the civics questions, reading, writing, speaking and mock interviews. See also The 128 Civics Questions (2025 Test) and How to Study Them and What Is Form N-400?.

Need someone to prepare your application?

Manna One Solution's immigration document preparation service enters the information you give us into Form N-400, online for clients across the U.S. We do not choose your answers for you. Manna One Solution is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; some states require non-attorney immigration document preparers to register with the state, so we confirm the state you live in before taking your case.

Sources

• USCIS — Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (edition 01/20/25), Part 9 (checked October 15, 2026)
• USCIS — N-400 Instructions (edition 01/20/25) (checked October 15, 2026)
• USCIS — N-400, Application for Naturalization (checked October 15, 2026)
• USCIS — The Naturalization Interview and Test (checked October 15, 2026)
• USCIS Policy Manual — Vol. 12, Part D, Ch. 7: Attachment to the Constitution (checked October 15, 2026)
• USCIS Policy Manual — Vol. 12, Part J, Ch. 3: Oath of Allegiance Modifications and Waivers (checked October 15, 2026)
• Selective Service System (checked October 15, 2026)