What Happens If the Information on My Naturalization Certificate Is Incorrect?

When someone receives a naturalization certificate at the conclusion of the citizenship oath ceremony, it's important to review it for accuracy and alert a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official of any mistakes found there. However, in the excitement of the moment, it's not uncommon for people to fail to take a close enough look. Here's what to do if you later discover a mistake, such as a misspelled name, the wrong birthdate, and so on.

Using USCIS Form N-565 to Request a New Naturalization Certificate

People who discover an error on the naturalization certificate after they've left the swearing-in ceremony can send USCIS a request for a new one using Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.

This form is used for a variety of issues. In Part 3, "Type of Application," you'll want to check box 1.b to indicate you're requesting a new certificate of naturalization.

An accurately prepared naturalization certificate should state the place of the person's application and the date and place of naturalization, and be signed (or stamped) by the Director of USCIS. There are also several pieces of personal information that must be present on a naturalization certificate:

1. Name. (If you requested a name change on your N-400, your new name should be on your naturalization certificate.)
2. Date of birth.
3. Gender/Sex (though under the Trump Administration, you cannot ask for a certificate that reflects gender reassignment; the only error it will correct is one where the sex on the naturalization certificate does not match the sex assigned at birth).
4. Height.
5. Country of former nationality.

If a USCIS signature is missing or if any personal or other information on the certificate is incorrect, you should submit Form N-565 to USCIS (along with your original naturalization certificate, which contains the mistake).

Will You Have to Pay the N-565 Fee to USCIS?

If the error on your naturalization certificate is USCIS's fault, you will not have to pay an application fee.

But if the error is your fault, perhaps because you provided incorrect information on your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, or you failed to update the particular piece of information prior to taking the naturalization oath, you will have to pay a filing fee. For the current USCIS fee, see its fee schedule. Also see the USCIS Policy Manual for a summary of who owes a fee and the regulations at 8 C.F.R. §338.5.

If you file this application by mail (paper) instead of online, your options until October 27, 2025 include paying by money order, personal check, cashier's check, bank transfer, or credit card. After that date, per a change in USCIS policy, the options reduce to bank transfer (for which you'll need to complete and submit Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions) or credit card (for which you'll need to include Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions).

If USCIS was the source of the error, then in Part 4 of Form N-565 (the 02/27/2025 version), you can indicate and explain this. You must also provide evidence of the actual correct information and why the error was not your fault.

Submitting Documents in Support of Your Form N-565

To prove that USCIS used incorrect information on your naturalization certificate, it can be crucial to provide an authoritative source of the real information. For an erroneous date of birth, for example, submit copies of your birth certificate, driver's license, and other official documents stating your birthday. Take a similar approach with a misspelled name or misstated sex (gender).

If the error was not your fault, also include a copy of your signed Form N-400 application for citizenship showing that you provided USCIS with the correct information.

Submitting Form N-565 to USCIS

You have two choices for how you file your completed N-565: online (after creating an account with USCIS) or by mail, at the address provided on the USCIS site. Even if you file online, however, you will have to mail your original certificate and photos to the USCIS Service Center afterward, because it will keep or use these.

Before sending anything to USCIS by mail, make a complete copy for your personal records. That protects you against the very real possibility that your application will get lost in the system.

It can take several months for USCIS to process an N-565. (Check the agency's latest processing times for averages.) If you need your naturalization certificate immediately (because you need to apply for a U.S. passport for upcoming travel, for example), include a letter requesting expedited service due to this necessity. Attach any relevant documentation, such as a letter from a doctor stating that you have an ill family member in your home country (whom you wish to visit).

If you are filing an N-565 because of USCIS's error, state that in your cover letter.

Once USCIS has received your N-565 application, you can use the USCIS Contact Center to check the status of your application and, if need be, make an expedite request. It's wise to call the Contact Center early in the day, because you will most likely need to request a call-back rather than being allowed to talk to a live person right away. It can take hours to receive such a call-back, so choose a day when you won't be tied up in other activities or away from your phone.

Getting Legal Help

Although getting a replacement naturalization certificate is a task you don't necessarily need an immigration attorney for, it can be helpful to hire one in order to draft a cover letter, ensure that the paperwork is prepared correctly, and answer all your questions. The lawyer can also follow up with USCIS in the event of delays and misunderstandings.