The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant update to its citizenship forms, introducing a “third gender” option to accommodate individuals who do not identify as male or female. This development aims to improve the accuracy of data collection for immigrants.
Previously, USCIS forms and associated documents only offered male and female options, creating barriers for individuals whose gender identity does not fit within these categories.
In an official statement released on Monday, USCIS stated, “We have revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to provide a third gender option, ‘X’, defined as ‘Another Gender Identity’.”
The USCIS Policy Manual will also be updated to reflect this form revision and future revisions that will include a third gender option.
Starting from April 1, 2024, applicants filling out Form N-400 will have the option to select “X” as their gender identity. The USCIS plans to extend this option to other forms in the future.
According to USCIS, the addition of a third gender option aims to ensure that identity documents and biographical data are accurate. It also aligns with federal and state agencies’ efforts to include a third gender option in official documents, such as the U.S. Department of State’s expanded passport services offering gender “X” in passport applications.
