What will the officer ask about my application?

How does the officer review my application?

At your interview, an officer of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) places you under oath. The officer then goes through your Form N-400 with you, along with the evidence in your file and the results of your background checks.

In practice, this means the officer:

• Confirms your answers. Expect questions about your addresses, jobs, marriages, children, and trips.
• Asks follow-up questions. This happens when something needs explaining, or doesn't match your records.
• Asks about new information. This can include anything the background checks found.
• Judges your spoken English. Unless you are exempt, these questions are also your English speaking test.

The officer can ask about anything relevant to your eligibility, so the form is a guide rather than a script.

Can I ask the officer to repeat a question?

Yes. The Policy Manual says you may ask for words to be repeated or rephrased. It also says officers should repeat and rephrase questions until they're satisfied that you either understand or can't understand English.

You don't need to understand every word on the form to pass the speaking test, according to the manual. You do need to be able to talk about your application and eligibility in English, unless you are exempt. Some errors in pronunciation and grammar are acceptable.

If you don't understand a question, say so instead of guessing. The manual treats refusing to answer, or not answering because you didn't understand even after rephrasing, as not meeting the requirement.

What does "EVER" mean on the form?

Many questions in Part 9 use the word EVER in capital letters. As of November 2026, the form says this means at any time and anywhere in the world, unless the question says otherwise.

That makes these questions different from the 5-year history in the rest of the form, or 3 years on the marriage path. They cover your whole life, including things that happened in another country or before you were 18.

The officer can also look beyond your good moral character period. The Policy Manual says earlier conduct may matter if your present conduct doesn't show you have changed, or if it's relevant to your character now.

What do the hard words in Part 9 mean?

These are plain-language explanations, not legal definitions. Read the form's own wording carefully when you answer.

What about "habitual drunkard"? The current form doesn't ask this, but you may see the term in other sources. The Policy Manual still lists being a habitual drunkard as a bar to good moral character, as well as having two or more convictions for driving under the influence during your good moral character period. In everyday terms, it refers to a pattern of heavy drinking, but the passages we read don't define it. Our guide to good moral character explains these rules.

What does the crimes question cover?

More than many people expect. The form asks about any crime or offense, anywhere in the world, including:

• Things you did but were never arrested for.
• Arrests, citations, or detentions, even if no charges were filed.
• Domestic violence and driving under the influence.
• Offenses from before you were 18.
• Records that were sealed, expunged, or cleared.

The form says you must disclose these even if someone, including a judge, officer, or attorney, told you they're no longer on your record or that you don't need to report them. Leaving out an offense can be its own problem, even when the offense itself wouldn't have been. Bring originals or court-certified copies of your records, as our documents checklist explains.

What about the oath questions?

At the end of Part 9, the form asks whether you support the Constitution and form of government, understand the Oath of Allegiance, and are willing to take it. It also asks whether you would bear arms, perform noncombatant service, or do work of national importance if the law requires it.

You can ask for a modified oath if you object to bearing arms or noncombatant service for religious or conscientious reasons. You can't ask to change the part about work of national importance. Someone who can't take the oath because of a disability can have a guardian or designated representative.

What if one of my answers is wrong?

Tell the officer. The record can include changes the officer makes based on what you say at the interview. When you sign Part 15, you swear that your answers, "including corrections", are true.

Small changes, such as a new address or a recent trip, are common. Correcting a fact is different from misleading the officer. Giving false testimony under oath to get an immigration benefit is a bar to good moral character.

If you answered "Yes" to any Part 9 question, or you're worried an answer was wrong, talk to a legal professional before your interview.