Free Good Moral Character Checklist for Naturalization

Good Moral Character is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — requirements for U.S. naturalization. It is not about whether you are a good person. It is a defined legal standard with permanent bars, conditional bars, and discretionary factors that USCIS reviews carefully on every Form N-400.

This free checklist, prepared by Passage Immigration Law attorneys, walks through the categories USCIS reviews, the documents that help, and the red flags to address before you file. If you have any concern in your record — past arrest, late tax filings, child support, financial issues — this is the resource to start with.

What’s inside the Good Moral Character Checklist

• The categories USCIS reviews on every N-400 — criminal history, tax compliance, Selective Service registration, child support, false statements, voting, and the discretionary factors
• Documents to gather if you have any of these issues in your record, including certified court dispositions, IRS transcripts, and proof of payment plans
• Permanent bars vs. conditional bars — what disqualifies you forever vs. what disqualifies you only during the statutory period
• How to address concerns in your N-400 cover letter and supporting evidence
• Common mistakes that lead to a Notice of Intent to Deny months after a clean-looking interview

Who should download this checklist

• Green card holders ready to apply for naturalization who want to make sure their record is in order before filing N-400.
• Applicants with any criminal history — even a single DUI, a dismissed charge, or a sealed/expunged record. The N-400 still requires disclosure, and the checklist explains what documentation to gather.
• Applicants with tax concerns — unfiled returns, IRS payment plans, or questions about whether prior “non-resident” tax filings will affect their case.
• Applicants who registered to vote or voted before becoming a citizen, including the DMV “yes” check during a license renewal.
• Anyone who has been told their case is “complicated” and wants to understand the GMC categories before talking with an attorney.

Why GMC matters

Most N-400 applicants pass the GMC review without issue. But the cases that derail are usually the ones where the applicant didn’t know a particular issue mattered — a single old DUI, an unfiled tax return from years ago, a Selective Service registration that never happened, an inadvertent voter registration check at the DMV.

USCIS officers know to look for these issues. Walking into the interview having addressed them — with certified court records, IRS transcripts, current payment agreements, or a clear explanation of an unintentional Selective Service issue — is much stronger than walking in hoping the officer won’t ask.

How we use this checklist with our clients

At Passage Immigration Law, every N-400 case starts with a GMC review. We pull court records, IRS transcripts, and state agency records when relevant. We document positive equities — community involvement, stable employment, family ties, hardship to family if denied. Where there is a real concern, we address it directly in the cover letter rather than hoping the officer doesn’t notice.

This checklist is the same framework we use internally. Downloading it gives you a clear-eyed view of where your case stands before you file.

Related reading

• Good Moral Character and Naturalization
• Good Moral Character for Naturalization: What USCIS Really Examines
• Permanent and Conditional Bars to Good Moral Character
• Can I Become a U.S. Citizen if I Have a Criminal Record?
• Can You Naturalize if There Are Issues With Your Taxes?
• All Free Immigration Guides