What this guide is best for
Direct answer: Use this when a medical or developmental condition makes the English or civics requirement unrealistic.
Best used when: USCIS charges nothing for the form. The clinician completing it may charge, and that fee is not published.
Whether N-648 applies to you
Key point: USCIS charges nothing for the form. The clinician completing it may charge, and that fee is not published.
What a good provider should make clear: A treating clinician who knows the applicant well and can explain the connection in the form’s own terms.
Common mistake: Assuming any medical condition qualifies. The form asks a clinician to link the condition to the specific inability.
Questions to ask: Do you complete Form N-648, and what do you charge for the assessment and the paperwork?
Whether N-648 applies to you
Opening intent: explain what the form does, who completes it, and which of the two costs is published
- Use this page when: Use this when a medical or developmental condition makes the English or civics requirement unrealistic.
- Check first: USCIS charges nothing for the form. The clinician completing it may charge, and that fee is not published.
- Slow down if: Assuming any medical condition qualifies. The form asks a clinician to link the condition to the specific inability.
- What to confirm next: Do you complete Form N-648, and what do you charge for the assessment and the paperwork?
Quick answer
Form N-648 is how an applicant for naturalization asks USCIS to excuse the English and civics requirements because of a medical or developmental condition.
It is completed by a licensed medical professional, not by the applicant. USCIS states: "There is no filing fee for Form N-648. However, a medical professional may charge a fee for a medical examination and for filling out forms."
So the government cost is $0 and the clinical cost is whatever the clinician charges. The second number is published nowhere.
The two fees, and where they sit
| Cost | Who sets it | Published? |
|---|---|---|
| N-648 filing fee | USCIS | Yes, and it is $0 (Form G-1055, edition 05/29/26) |
| N-400 filing fee | USCIS | Yes: paper $760, online $710, reduced fee $380, or $0 with an approved waiver |
| The clinician’s assessment and paperwork fee | The medical professional | No. Ask directly |
Note that N-648 accompanies an N-400. The naturalization fee is the one with real money attached.
What the clinician is being asked to do
The form asks the clinician to identify the condition, and to explain how it prevents the applicant from learning English or civics.
The link between the two is the substance of the form. A diagnosis alone does not carry it.
Choose a clinician who has treated the applicant over time. A one-visit assessment is harder to write convincingly and often costs more.
How it fits the timeline
N-648 is filed with the N-400 where possible, and can be presented at the interview. It does not remove the interview itself.
An applicant with an approved exception still attends, and the oath requirement is handled separately.
Questions to ask the clinician
- Have you completed Form N-648 before?
- What do you charge for the assessment and for completing the form?
- How long have you treated this patient?
- Can you explain the connection between the condition and the requirement?
- How quickly can the form be ready?
Common mistake: paying for a single-visit assessment from a clinician with no history with the applicant.
What to do next
Confirm the applicant’s treating clinician will complete the form and what they charge. Read the current form instructions on the USCIS site before the appointment.
Educational only. Not legal or medical advice. No endorsements or rankings.