[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9723-9724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4863]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

[INS No. 2247-02]


Application for Naturalization, Form N-400: Termination of 
Acceptance of Editions Issued Prior to May 31, 2001

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice confirms only editions dated May 31, 2001, or 
later, of the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, as acceptable 
for filing by persons applying for United States citizenship. These 
revised editions include recent legislative changes, clarify the 
information required from applicants, eliminate obsolete questions, and 
update the data collection process. This notice advises the public that 
all Forms N-400 that are mailed, postmarked or otherwise filed on or 
after March 31, 2003 must bear the edition date of May 31, 2001, or 
later.

DATES: This notice is effective March 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Casale, Business Process and 
Reengineering Division, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 801 I 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 514-0788.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In a Federal Register notice dated November 16, 2001, at 66 FR 
57737-57739, the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (Service) announced the establishment of the revised Form N-
400, bearing the edition date of May 31, 2001, as the only edition 
acceptable for applications for United States citizenship. That notice 
stated that earlier editions of Form N-400 would not be acceptable for 
filing after December 31, 2001.
    Subsequent to publication of the November 16, 2001, notice the 
Service

[[Page 9724]]

continued to allow additional time for transition to the processing of 
the current Form N-400, during which the previous edition has been 
accepted for processing. However, it is necessary to complete the 
conversion to an updated naturalization application format that 
reflects all current benefits and requirements.
    Accordingly, as of March 31, 2003, only the May 31, 2001, or 
subsequent editions of Form N-400 will be valid for filing an 
application for naturalization.
    To prevent applicants from mistakenly submitting obsolete editions 
after the termination date of March 31, 2003, offices involved in the 
distribution of naturalization applications should only provide 
editions of Form N-400 having an edition date of May 31, 2001, or 
later.

What Happens After the ``Sunset Date'' for Accepting the Previous 
Edition of Form N-400?

    Beginning March 31, 2003, only the May 31, 2001, or later editions 
of Form N-400 will be valid for filing an application for 
naturalization.
    Service Centers will no longer accept earlier editions of the form 
for filing. Any obsolete editions of the Form N-400 application that 
the Service Centers may receive on or after March 31, 2003 will be 
rejected and returned to the applicant with instructions to submit a 
current Form N-400.

Will the Service Continue to Process the Previous Edition Form N-400 
Applications that were Filed Prior to March 31, 2003?

    The previous edition of the naturalization applications, if it was 
properly filed at a Service Center before March 31, 2003 will be 
processed to completion. However, in cases where there is an 
eligibility issue that the previous edition does not cover, the Service 
may ask for additional information.

How Can Applicants Obtain the Current Edition of Form N-400?

    Applicants can obtain copies of the current Form N-400 by calling 
the Service Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676. The current edition of Form 
N-400 also can be viewed, filled, and printed electronically from the 
Service's Web site at www.ins.usdoj.gov.

Michael J. Garcia,
Acting Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4863 Filed 2-26-03; 12:08 pm]
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