U.S. Provides Third Gender Option on Application for Citizenship

As of April 1, 2024, applicants filing for U.S. citizenship will have the option to select “X” as their gender on their application forms per an Alert posted on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. 

The introduction of this additional gender option, denoted by “X”, allows for applicants who do not identify as either male or female to have an alternative option wherein “X” will be defined as “Another Gender Identity” for purposes of USCIS forms and secure identity documents. This is aligned with other federal and state agencies that have adopted the use of a third gender option to acknowledge gender diversity.

The 04/01/2024 edition of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will be the first USCIS form to include the X gender option, and applicants filing Form N-400 on or after April 1, 2024 will have the option to select X as the gender on their form. Applicants with pending citizenship applications who wish to have their gender updated on or after April 1, 2024 may review the USCIS Alert for specific instructions to request an update. 

USCIS expects to complete additional form revisions and release new editions of other forms to include the three gender options: “Male (M)”, “Female (F)” and “Another Gender Identity (X)”. Note that applicants are not required to submit supporting documentation to select X as their gender, nor does the gender selected on the USCIS form need to match the gender listed on an applicant’s biographic documents including passport, birth certificate or state identification except for Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.