Are you a member of any political party?

When the USCIS officer asks whether the applicant is a member of any political party, the applicant should respond truthfully and disclose any past or present membership in political parties or political organizations, in the United States or in any country. The N-400 application Part 12 includes specific questions about political affiliation and membership in totalitarian or revolutionary organizations. USCIS officers raise the political-party question for specific reasons. First, certain political memberships are bars to naturalization. Second, the question helps confirm the applicant's general civic awareness. Third, the question tests basic English communication.

Membership in mainstream American political parties (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Independent, etc.) is not relevant to naturalization eligibility and is fully protected by the First Amendment. Permanent residents may be members of any political party, work on campaigns, support candidates with money or volunteer time, and otherwise participate in political life, with the major exception that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections (and most state and local elections). Applicants need not disclose membership in mainstream U.S. political parties.

The N-400 question focuses on specific bars under sections 313 and 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including: membership in or affiliation with the Communist Party of any country; membership in any totalitarian party (Nazi-affiliated parties, fascist parties, certain communist parties of authoritarian states); affiliation with terrorist organizations; advocacy of overthrow of any government, including the U.S. government, by force or violence; participation in genocide, persecution, torture, or extrajudicial killings; or recruitment of child soldiers.

Membership in the Communist Party or other totalitarian parties is presumptively a bar, with limited exceptions for involuntary, technical, or non-meaningful membership and for those who have terminated membership for at least 5 years (10 years for some categories) before applying. Applicants from countries that had ruling communist or socialist parties (USSR, Eastern Bloc, China, Vietnam, Cuba, North Korea) where membership was virtually required for advancement should disclose any membership and explain the circumstances. Many such applicants qualify for the involuntary or non-meaningful membership exceptions.

Applicants from countries with mainstream political parties similar to American parties (United Kingdom Labour and Conservative, German CDU and SPD, French parties, etc.) generally need not be concerned about membership. Applicants who have been involved with political organizations of any unusual character should consult an immigration attorney before filing. Honest disclosure with appropriate explanation is the right approach. The vast majority of applicants either have no political party membership or have memberships that are not problematic.