Form N-470 is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application that a lawful permanent resident files to preserve continuous residence for naturalization while working outside the United States for one year or longer in qualifying employment. It is used by residents employed abroad by the U.S. Government, an American research institution, an American firm, a public international organization or a religious organization. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; USCIS publishes the official PDF and instructions, and the application is filed with USCIS by mail.
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What is N-470?
Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, is the USCIS form a lawful permanent resident files to preserve continuous residence for naturalization when qualifying employment requires living outside the United States for one year or longer.
Residence built up before the absence can be kept even though the time abroad exceeds one year, and the time spent outside the United States may count toward the residence requirement if Form N-470 is approved. Without an approved Form N-470, a lawful permanent resident who stays outside the United States for more than one uninterrupted year disrupts the residence requirement for naturalization, according to the USCIS instructions.
Part 1 of the form asks you to select one basis for your absence: the U.S. Government, an American institution of research, an American firm or corporation developing U.S. foreign trade and commerce, an American firm protecting its property rights abroad, a public international organization of which the United States is a member, or a denomination or mission performing ministerial or priestly functions. The form also collects your trips abroad since becoming a lawful permanent resident, a description of your job, any nonresident tax filings and details of family members who will live abroad with you.
Form N-470 is not the same as a reentry permit, which you must still request in advance of trips you expect to last one year or more. It is also not needed by a spouse of a U.S. citizen who qualifies for naturalization under INA section 319(b). The form carries OMB No. 1615-0056.
Who needs to file N-470?
Lawful permanent residents who will be absent from the United States for one year or more for qualifying employment and want to preserve continuous residence for naturalization should file Form N-470. The instructions set four conditions, all of which must be met:
- You were physically present and residing in the United States for an uninterrupted period of at least one year after admission as a lawful permanent resident (religious workers are excepted).
- You will be absent for one year or more.
- You have qualifying employment in a specific job with the U.S. Government, the private sector or a religious organization.
- You want to preserve your continuous residence for naturalization.
If USCIS approves the application, your spouse and dependent unmarried sons or daughters receive the same benefit, provided they are members of the same household and reside with you abroad.
Do not file Form N-470 if you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is eligible for naturalization under INA section 319(b); those spouses are exempt from the residence and physical presence requirements. Approval does not exempt you from the physical presence requirements unless you are employed by, or under contract with, the U.S. Government.
You may be represented by an attorney or accredited representative, who must submit Form G-28. A parent or legal guardian may sign for an applicant under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person.
When to file N-470
File Form N-470 before you have been outside the United States for a continuous period of one year. You may file before or after your qualifying employment begins, and you do not have to be in the United States when you file.
Generally, you must first have been physically present and residing in the United States for an uninterrupted period, without absences, of at least one year after admission as a lawful permanent resident.
Religious workers have a wider window. They may apply before departing, after departing or after returning to the United States, and they do not need to have lived in the United States for a specific period before filing. A religious worker who files after returning gives, in Item Number 14, the entire length of employment outside the United States in that capacity.
The instructions give no processing time. USCIS will notify you of its decision in writing.
Documents you need
- Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative: required with Form N-470 only if an attorney or accredited representative represents you; select the box at the top of the form.
- A full English translation of any document in a foreign language, with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence, including printed name, signature date and contact information.
- Legible photocopies of any documents you submit; send originals only if the instructions or USCIS specifically request them.
- Part 7 continuation sheets, if you need more space: your name and A-Number, the page, part and item number each answer refers to, and your signature and date on each sheet.
How to fill out N-470
Add attorney details and A-Number
If an attorney or accredited representative assists you, they complete the box at the top and you select the box that Form G-28 is attached. Enter your 9-digit A-Number, with leading zeros if needed, at the top of every page.
Select your Part 1 eligibility basis
In Part 1, select only one box, Items 1 to 6, that shows on whose behalf you will be absent: U.S. Government, research institution, American firm, firm protecting property rights, public international organization or religious denomination or mission.
Enter your names in Part 2
Item 1: current legal name, no nickname. Item 2: all other names used, including aliases, maiden name and nicknames. Item 3: your name exactly as on your Permanent Resident Card, even if misspelled.
Provide identifiers and addresses
Items 4 to 8: USCIS Online Account Number (only if you have one), Social Security Number (or N/A), date of birth as mm/dd/yyyy, country of birth and country of citizenship. Items 9 and 10: physical and mailing addresses.
Enter residence and trip history
Item 11: the date you became a lawful permanent resident. Item 12: answer Yes or No on one year of uninterrupted residence and presence. Item 13: list every trip of 24 hours or more, most recent first, including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Describe your job and tax history
Item 14: explain the position requiring your absence and its intended length; religious workers filing after returning give the entire length of employment abroad. Item 15: answer whether you ever filed as a nonresident or claimed nonresident alien benefits.
Complete Part 3 family information
Answer Items 1 and 2 on lawful permanent resident family members living with you in and outside the United States. If Yes, enter name, date of birth, relationship and A-Number for each member who will live abroad with you.
Complete Part 4 statements and contact details
Select Item 1A or 1B on reading English or using an interpreter, and Item 2 if a preparer helped. Enter your daytime phone, mobile phone and email in Items 3 to 5.
Fill Parts 5 and 6 if needed
An interpreter completes Part 5 and a preparer completes Part 6 with name, address, contact details, statement and signature. If the same person did both, they complete both parts.
Use Part 7 for extra space
Enter your name and A-Number, then the page, part and item number for each added answer with the explanation. Use Part 7 as well to explain a No answer to Part 2, Item 12.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every item has an answer or N/A or None. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, sign in ink and date Part 4, Item 6, then follow the filing channels under How to submit.
How to submit N-470
You file Form N-470 with USCIS by mail, using the USPS address or the courier address below. USCIS directs applicants to www.uscis.gov/N-470 for the most current filing information.
- U.S. Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: N-470, P.O. Box 650809, Dallas, TX 75265.
- FedEx, UPS and DHL: USCIS, Attn: N-470 (Box 650809), 2501 S. State Hwy.121, Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067.
A filing fee applies. Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/forms, and the USCIS Fee Schedule page give the current amount. If your application is rejected, USCIS may be unable to return the fee unless you gave a complete and valid mailing address.
If you print the form to mail it, the edition date and page numbers must be visible at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the same edition, or USCIS may reject it. A photocopy, fax or scan of an original with a handwritten signature is valid for filing. USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment or interview; if you are overseas, the notice tells you how to contact a U.S. Embassy, Consulate or USCIS office abroad. For questions, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the USCIS channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out your A-Number. USCIS may reject the application, and the USCIS page lists a missing Part 1 A-Number as a reason for rejection.
- Submitting the form without a handwritten signature in Part 4, or with a stamped or typewritten name. USCIS rejects unsigned applications.
- Writing an A-Number with fewer than nine digits. Add leading zeros, for example A1234567 becomes A001234567.
- Filing after you have already been outside the United States for a continuous year, unless you are a religious worker, who may file before or after the absence.
- Filing Form N-470 as the spouse of a U.S. citizen eligible under INA section 319(b), who is exempt from the residence and physical presence requirements.
- Mailing pages from different form editions or without the edition date and page numbers visible. USCIS may reject the form.
- Leaving items blank instead of typing or printing "N/A" or "None"; incomplete answers may delay the form.
- Using correction fluid or tape after substantial errors. USCIS recommends starting over with a new form, because scanners may see through it.
- Using a PO Box in Item 9, Physical Address, when you have another address.
- Sending a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form N-470 used for?
Form N-470 is the USCIS application to preserve continuous residence for naturalization. A lawful permanent resident who must live abroad for a year or longer for qualifying employment files it so the time abroad does not break the residence requirement.
Who is eligible to file Form N-470?
Lawful permanent residents who lived in the United States uninterrupted for at least one year after admission (religious workers excepted), will be absent a year or more for qualifying employment, and want to preserve residence for naturalization. Qualifying jobs are listed in Part 1 of the form.
Do I need to file N-470 if I am married to a U.S. citizen working abroad?
Not if you qualify for naturalization under INA section 319(b). USCIS says such spouses are exempt from establishing the residence and physical presence requirements, so they are not required to file Form N-470.
When must I file Form N-470?
File before you have been outside the United States for a continuous period of one year. You may file before or after your employment begins, and you do not need to be in the United States. Religious workers may file before leaving, after leaving or after returning.
Where do I mail Form N-470?
Mail it to USCIS, Attn: N-470, P.O. Box 650809, Dallas, TX 75265 for USPS. For FedEx, UPS or DHL, use USCIS, Attn: N-470 (Box 650809), 2501 S. State Hwy.121, Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067. Check www.uscis.gov/N-470 for current information.
Is there a filing fee for Form N-470?
Yes, a filing fee applies. USCIS directs you to Form G-1055 at www.uscis.gov/forms and the USCIS Fee Schedule page for the current amount. This page does not list the amount.
Does approval of Form N-470 replace a reentry permit?
No. You must still apply for a reentry permit in advance of trips outside the United States you expect to last one year or more. Approval also does not exempt you from physical presence requirements unless you work for, or under contract with, the U.S. Government.
Do my spouse and children get the benefit too?
Yes, if USCIS approves your Form N-470, your spouse and dependent unmarried sons or daughters receive the same benefit. All of them must be members of your household and reside with you while you live outside the United States.
Can I fill out Form N-470 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the application; you submit it to USCIS by mail.
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