Optional checklist
After Citizenship
Apply for a U.S. passport
Status: Not started ☐
A passport proves U.S. citizenship and lets you travel internationally as a U.S. citizen.
- Review the application steps and current fees on travel.state.gov.
- Check which original citizenship document you need to submit and how it will be returned.
- Allow processing time before any planned travel.
Update citizenship information with Social Security
Status: Not started ☐
Social Security records may still list your previous status. Updating them can prevent problems with employment verification.
- Check ssa.gov for the current way to update your citizenship status.
- Have your citizenship document ready as instructed by Social Security.
Register to vote and check your state's instructions
Status: Not started ☐
As a citizen you can vote in federal elections. Registration rules, ID rules, and deadlines differ by state.
- Go to vote.gov and choose your state.
- Follow your state's registration steps and note its deadlines.
- Only register through official state or vote.gov links.
Be ready for a jury summons
Status: Not started ☐
Citizens can be called for jury service, often after registering to vote. Knowing what a real summons looks like also protects you from jury duty scams.
- Read our jury duty guide so you know what to expect.
- If a summons arrives, respond by the deadline printed on it.
- Ignore calls or texts demanding a fine for "missed jury duty" — they are scams.
U.S. Courts: Jury service(opens uscourts.gov in a new tab)U.S. Courts: Juror scams(opens uscourts.gov in a new tab)Jury duty guideReview driver's license or state ID updates
Status: Not started ☐
Some states ask you to update records when your status or name changes. Requirements vary by state.
- Find your state's motor vehicle agency through USA.gov.
- Check whether any update is needed for your situation.
Keep your naturalization records secure
Status: Not started ☐
Your Certificate of Naturalization is an important document. Replacing it takes time and a fee.
- Store the original somewhere safe, such as a fire-resistant folder.
- Only share it when an official process requires it.
- If it is lost, stolen, or damaged, review USCIS Form N-565.
Update records after a name change (if it applies)
Status: Not started ☐
If you changed your name during naturalization or later, other records may need to match.
- Review the order of updates suggested on USA.gov — Social Security is often an early step.
- Then update other records such as your passport, license, bank, and employer.
Children born outside the U.S.: review whether they may need citizenship documents
Status: Not started ☐
Children born in the United States are generally citizens from birth, and their U.S. birth certificate is usually their proof. Some children born outside the U.S. to citizens may already be citizens or become citizens, and may want documentation such as a Certificate of Citizenship. The rules are detailed.
- Read the official USCIS information about Form N-600.
- For complex situations, speak with a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.
Get qualified legal help
Child citizenship questions can be complex. We do not determine whether a child is a citizen. Please talk to a qualified legal professional for your family's situation.USCIS Form N-600 (Certificate of Citizenship)(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)USCIS: Find legal services(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)Family & Kids guide (benefits, school, college aid)
Common mistakes to avoid
Traveling on your other passport — or booking travel before your U.S. passport arrives
What happens: Some new citizens plan a trip right after the ceremony, expecting to use their birth-country passport or their old Green Card. You return your Green Card at the ceremony, and U.S. citizens — including dual nationals — must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.
Instead: Apply for a U.S. passport soon after your ceremony and allow processing time before booking international travel. Your other country may also have its own rules for entering it.
Not checking your Certificate of Naturalization for errors
What happens: A misspelled name or wrong date on your certificate can cause problems later with passports and other records.
Instead: USCIS asks you to review the certificate carefully and tell them about errors before leaving the ceremony. If you find a problem later, review Form N-565. Keep the original somewhere safe and send it only when an official process asks for it.
Assuming your Social Security record already shows you're a citizen
What happens: Social Security records may still list your earlier immigration status, which can cause confusion with some job verification checks.
Instead: Check ssa.gov for the current way to update your citizenship status, and have your citizenship document ready.
Thinking you're registered to vote because you attended the ceremony
What happens: USCIS says you'll receive a voter registration application at the ceremony — but receiving the form doesn't register you. Each state sets its own deadlines.
Instead: Complete and submit your registration through your state or vote.gov, note your state's deadline, and confirm your registration before Election Day.
Assuming your children received citizenship papers automatically
What happens: Under U.S. law, some children born outside the U.S. become citizens automatically when certain conditions are met — for example, they are under 18, are permanent residents, and live in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of a citizen parent. No document is mailed to them automatically.
Instead: Review the official USCIS information for children of U.S. citizens. Families often document a child's citizenship with a U.S. passport or a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600).
Get qualified legal help
Child citizenship rules depend on dates and details. We do not determine whether a child is a citizen — please talk to a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.Not checking your birth country's rules on dual citizenship
What happens: U.S. law does not require you to choose between U.S. citizenship and another nationality, but each country has its own laws. Some countries may end your citizenship when you naturalize elsewhere, or require you to use their passport to enter.
Instead: Check with your other country's embassy or consulate before you travel, renew documents, or handle property or inheritance there. Dual nationals must obey the laws of both countries.
Forgetting about foreign income and bank accounts at tax time
What happens: U.S. citizens are taxed on worldwide income, even when living abroad. Separately, if the combined value of your accounts outside the U.S. went over $10,000 at any time in the year, you may need to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
Instead: Review the IRS pages on citizens abroad and FBAR filing. For complicated situations, use a qualified tax professional or free IRS-supported tax help.
Assuming Selective Service doesn't apply to you
What happens: Selective Service says almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants ages 18 through 25 are required to register. Some new citizens assume it only applies to people born here.
Instead: If you're a man in that age range, check sss.gov's "Who needs to register" page or read our guide.
Trusting calls or messages about a "problem" with your citizenship
What happens: Scammers target new citizens with calls, texts, and emails that claim there is an issue with their status, a missed jury duty fine, or a fee they must pay right away.
Instead: Don't pay or share personal information. Look up the agency's contact details yourself on its .gov website, and report scams to the FTC.
Myths vs. facts
Myth
Naturalized citizens have fewer rights than citizens born here.
Fact
Naturalized and U.S.-born citizens have the same rights and responsibilities — voting, jury service, holding most public offices, and protections under the Constitution. The main exception in the Constitution: the President must be a "natural born Citizen," and the 12th Amendment applies the same rule to the Vice President.
National Archives: The Constitution (full text)(opens archives.gov in a new tab)USCIS: Resources for new U.S. citizens(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)Read the ConstitutionMyth
A naturalized citizen can be deported, just like a Green Card holder.
Fact
U.S. citizens cannot be deported. Naturalization can be revoked only through a legal process in limited situations — for example, when it was obtained illegally or by hiding or misrepresenting important facts. If you receive any notice about your citizenship, talk to a qualified immigration attorney.
Myth
Becoming a U.S. citizen automatically ends my other citizenship.
Fact
U.S. law does not require you to choose one nationality. Whether you keep your other citizenship depends on that country's laws — check with its embassy or consulate.
Myth
To be a "real" American I have to give up my language, faith, or culture.
Fact
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, and peaceful assembly for everyone. Being a citizen means sharing the Constitution's principles and civic responsibilities — not giving up your heritage.
National Archives: The Bill of Rights (full text)(opens archives.gov in a new tab)USCIS: Naturalization Oath of Allegiance(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)Founding ValuesMyth
Now that I'm a citizen, I can just show up and vote.
Fact
In almost every state you must register first, and registration deadlines and ID rules differ by state. Check your state's steps on vote.gov.
Government & votingMyth
As a citizen, I can bring any relative here right away.
Fact
Citizens can petition for certain relatives. Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents (if you are 21 or older) are "immediate relatives" without a yearly limit, but processing still takes time. Other relatives wait in preference categories, often for years.
USCIS: Green Card for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)USCIS: Green Card for family preference immigrants(opens uscis.gov in a new tab)Bringing family guideMyth
If I move back to my birth country, I no longer file U.S. taxes.
Fact
U.S. citizens are generally subject to U.S. tax on worldwide income wherever they live. Special rules, such as the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit, may reduce the tax — but you must qualify and usually still file.
Myth
Jury duty is only for people born in the United States.
Fact
Being a U.S. citizen is one of the qualifications for federal jury service — it applies to naturalized citizens too. Other qualifications include age, residence, and English ability.
Jury duty guide