What happens at the citizenship interview?

What happens during the interview?

Everyone applying for citizenship must appear in person before an officer of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS sends a notice with the date, time, and office. Field offices don't take walk-ins, so go at the time on your notice.

Here is what the Policy Manual describes:

1. The officer places you under oath

   The officer introduces themselves, explains the purpose of the interview, and places you under oath. What you say after that is sworn testimony.

2. The officer reviews your application

   The officer goes over the answers on your Form N-400 and the evidence in your file, and asks follow-up questions.

3. You take the tests

   Unless you are exempt, you take the English and civics tests. In most cases the same officer gives them. The manual doesn't set a fixed order, so the tests may come at different points in the interview.

4. You sign the last parts of the form

   The officer has you complete Parts 15 and 16 of Form N-400. Signing Part 16 means only that you don't object to taking the oath. It doesn't make you a citizen.

5. You get a notice of results

   The officer must give you this notice (Form N-652) at the end, whatever the outcome. It tells you the result and, if your case is continued, what happens next.

What should I bring?

USCIS lists your appointment notice, your green card, a state-issued ID such as a driver's license, and all your valid and expired passports and travel documents. If you have any court records, the instructions say you must bring originals or court-certified copies.

Our documents checklist has the full list, including tax and marriage documents. Federal law also prohibits weapons, such as firearms, knives, and pepper spray, at USCIS facilities, even with a permit.

What will the officer ask me?

The questions center on your application, your documents, and anything that came up in your background checks. The officer can ask anything relevant to your eligibility. According to the Policy Manual, topics may include:

• Your biographical information, marital history, and any military service.
• How and when you became a permanent resident.
• Your trips outside the U.S.
• Where you have lived and worked.
• Your moral character and any criminal history.
• Your loyalty to the U.S. and attachment to the Constitution.
• Your memberships in certain organizations.
• Your willingness to take the Oath of Allegiance.

Our guide to what the officer asks about your application explains the harder questions. If you sent character reference letters with your form, USCIS weighs them with the rest of your record.

Your answers matter. Your written answers were signed under penalty of perjury, and the officer may also take a sworn statement. The interview may be recorded, at the officer's discretion. If something on your form is wrong or has changed, tell the officer. The record can include changes the officer makes based on what you say.

What tests will I take?

Unless you qualify for an exemption, you take two tests. As of November 2026, this is how USCIS describes them.

Our guides to the civics test and the English test go deeper. Studying helps you prepare, but no study method can guarantee a result.

Who can come with me?

It depends on the role they would play. We didn't find a USCIS rule on bringing family or friends just for support, so check your notice or ask USCIS.

Do you need an accommodation? USCIS provides accommodations for people with disabilities. Requesting one is separate from a medical exception to the tests. USCIS points people to uscis.gov/e-request to ask for an accommodation at an appointment, and the officer reviews your request before the interview.

What can happen at the end of the interview?

There are three possible outcomes, according to the Policy Manual.

If you don't pass, see our guide to what happens next. As of November 2026, USCIS says it has 120 days from your first interview to decide.

What if I can't make it to my interview?

As of November 2026, the rule works like this. If you miss your interview without good cause and don't tell USCIS the reason within 30 days, USCIS treats your application as abandoned. The regulation says this notice must be in writing and ask for a new date. USCIS may then close your application without deciding it.

You can ask to reopen a closed application in writing within 1 year, with no fee. If you don't, USCIS dismisses it without further notice. After a retest date, the rules are stricter: USCIS may deny your application if you miss it without a timely or reasonable request to reschedule.

If you can't attend, USCIS says to follow the instructions on your appointment notice as soon as possible, and warns that rescheduling may add several months to the process. The USCIS Contact Center is at 800-375-5283.

Also keep your address current, because moving can change your office and your notice.

When should I talk to an attorney?

You don't always need a lawyer for this interview. But consider getting legal advice before it if any of these apply:

• You have an arrest, citation, or conviction.
• You took long trips abroad, or you aren't sure you meet the time rules.
• You have ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen, or registered or voted in a U.S. election.
• You have been in removal proceedings, or received a deportation order.
• Something in your application is wrong, and it's not a simple correction.

USCIS generally can't approve an application while a removal case is pending against you, with limited exceptions for military cases.