USCIS CHICAGO FIELD OFFICE — VERIFIED DATA
FIELD OFFICEChicago Field Office
STATES SERVEDIllinois, parts of Indiana and Wisconsin
MAJOR CITIESChicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford, Evanston
MAY 2026 PROCESSING TIME7 months
VS NATIONAL RANGEFAST — BELOW NATIONAL MEDIAN
DATA SOURCEUSCIS May 2026 ✓
Important: USCIS processing times update monthly. Always verify your specific office at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times — select Form N-400 and your field office name — before making any decisions.
HOW TO CONFIRM THIS IS YOUR OFFICE
Your field office is determined by your home address when you file — not where you work or were born. Verify yours:
01
Office Locator: egov.uscis.gov/office-locator — enter your zip code to confirm your assigned office
02
Your receipt notice: Form I-797C shows your assigned field office name once you've filed
03
USCIS Processing Times Tool: egov.uscis.gov/processing-times — select N-400 and your office for the current verified figure
HOW TO CHECK YOUR CASE STATUS
01
Case Status Tool: uscis.gov/case-status — enter your receipt number from Form I-797C
02
USCIS Online Account: myaccount.uscis.gov — free account, automatic email and text alerts
03
Case Inquiry: If your case is 30+ days past 7 months, submit an inquiry through your USCIS online account
WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT
- Start civics prep now — 7 months goes fast and interview notices arrive 4-8 weeks before the date. Practice all 128 questions →
- Build your interview document packet — full checklist →
- Keep your address current — update USCIS within 10 days of any move or your interview notice goes to the wrong address
- Set up USCIS online account alerts — myaccount.uscis.gov — so you never miss a status change
PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
LEGALIAI walks you through every document, every civics question, and full interview prep in 8 languages for $9.99. No lawyer needed.
START PREPARING — $9.99FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I moved to a different area — does my field office change?
If you move after filing, update your address with USCIS within 10 days using your online account or Form AR-11. Your case may transfer to the field office covering your new address. There is no guarantee of transfer, but updating your address is required by law regardless.
Can I speed up processing at my field office?
USCIS does not accept general expedite requests for N-400 applications. The most effective way to avoid delays is to file a complete, error-free application, attend all appointments as scheduled, and respond immediately to any USCIS requests. An RFE can add 3-6 months to your timeline regardless of office.
What happens at the citizenship interview?
The USCIS officer reviews your N-400 application answers, tests your English reading and writing, and administers the civics test. Under the updated 2026 format, the officer asks up to 20 questions from a pool of 128 — you must answer at least 12 correctly. The interview typically takes 20-45 minutes for prepared applicants.