Naturalization Process: What to Expect from Start to Finish

2. Biometrics Appointment

After you file the Form N-400, the next step is to attend a mandatory biometrics appointment. If you are under the age of 75, you will be required to attend a biometrics appointment. At the biometrics appointment, your fingerprints will be taken digitally. Even if you’ve recently had your biometrics taken by USCIS, you are still required to attend the biometrics appointment.

Biometrics Appointment Notice

About 4-6 weeks after you file the Form N-400, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice in the mail. The biometrics appointment notice will specify the date, time, and location of your biometrics appointment. If you need to reschedule the appointment for any reason, there are also instructions on the notice for how to reschedule the appointment.

The biometrics appointment is usually scheduled to take place about 7 to 14 days from the day you receive the appointment notice in the mail.

Important Points About the Biometrics Appointment

• Make sure to arrive on time to your appointment
• Bring the original biometrics appointment with you to your biometrics appointment
• Bring a valid state/government issued photo ID will you to the biometrics appointment
• This appointment should be quick and easy

3. Naturalization Interview

One of the most important parts of the naturalization process is the naturalization interview. Failure to appear at this interview may result in a denial of your application or an administrative closure of your application.

Appointment Notice for Naturalization Interview

About 4 to 8 months after filing your N-400 application for naturalization, you will receive a notice in the mail of your upcoming naturalization interview. The appointment notice will specify the date, time, and place of the interview.

What Happens at the Naturalization Interview?  

Once you arrive at the interview, the USCIS officer who will be interviewing you will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the interview. The officer will then place you under oath.

Questioning Regarding Eligibility

Once you are under oath, the substantive part of the interview will begin. The officer will review your Form N-400 and ask you questions about your background, immigration history, travel in and out of the U.S., character, and various other questions. These questions are designed to make sure that you are satisfy all of the naturalization requirements.

English Test

Following the officer’s questioning regarding your naturalization application, the officer will then administer an English test.

The English test is designed to determine your ability to speak, read, and write regular English. Your ability to speak is typically determined based on your ability to respond and answer the USCIS officer’s questions during the interview. To determine your ability to read, the USCIS officer will ask you to read one of three sentences out loud. Similarly, to determine your ability to write, the USCIS officer will require you to write one of three sentences.

Certain individuals may be exempt from the English test.

Civics Test

Following the English test is the civics test. The civics test is designed to test your knowledge of U.S. government and U.S. history. There are 100 potential questions that the officer may ask you. The officer will ask 10 questions from the list. You must answer at least six of the questions correctly to pass the civics test.

What Happens if You Fail the English or Civics Test?

If you fail either the English or the civics test, you will be rescheduled to come back for another interview where you will be tested again. If you fail for a second time, your application is denied.

Documents to Take with you to the Naturalization Interview

Here is a general list of some of the documents you may be required to take to the naturalization interview:

• Permanent resident card
• State-Issued I.D. card or driver’s license
• Passport
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Evidence of name change (if applicable)
• Tax returns for the past 5 years (or 3 years in certain cases)
• Evidence that you maintained continuous residence in the U.S.

4. Oath of Allegiance

Within a few weeks after your naturalization interview, you should receive a notice to attend your Oath of Allegiance ceremony.

The Oath of Allegiance is a very important step in the naturalization process. At this ceremony you will take an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution as well as the laws of the United States, among other things.

Certain individuals may be exempt from the oath ceremony or may qualify to undertake a modified oath.

Following successful completion of the oath ceremony, the naturalization process is complete.

5. Conclusion

Naturalization is the process through which someone is granted U.S. citizenship based on satisfying certain requirements. The naturalization process has 4 main steps that are very important to the overall success of your application.

Here are the 4 main steps in the naturalization process:

1. The first step is to file the Form N-400 with USCIS;
2. After the N-400 is filed, you will attend a biometrics appointment to have your fingerprints taken;
3. After the biometrics appointment, you will attend a naturalization interview, where a USCIS officer will review your application, ask you various questions, and administer an English and civics test;
4. Following the naturalization interview, you will take an Oath of Allegiance.

If you have any questions regarding the naturalization process, please feel free to email me directly at Michael@AshooriLaw.com.

Resources:

• Ashoori Law Naturalization Guide

• USCIS, N-400 Instructions

• 7 Foreign Affairs Manuel (FAM) 1110.

• S. Constitution Amendment XIV, Section 1

• AILA’s Guide to U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Law

• Gatekeeping the American Dream: The Importance of the Naturalization Interview to Achieving Citizenship and Full Integration into American Life by Dree K. Collopy

• The Oath of Allegiance by Gary Endelman and Cyrus D. Mehta