The N-400 Process

What Happens During the Naturalization Interview?

The naturalization interview is often the part people worry about most, but knowing generally what happens can make it far less intimidating.

Before you're called in

You'll typically check in, and USCIS staff will confirm your identity and appointment. Bring the documents requested in your interview notice, along with your green card and any other identification.

Review of your application

An immigration officer will generally go through your N-400 application with you, asking questions to confirm the information you provided is accurate and current, including any changes since you filed.

The civics and English test

In the same appointment, you'll typically take the English test (reading, writing, and speaking, largely assessed through the interview itself) and the civics test (a spoken quiz on U.S. history and government), unless you qualify for an exception.

What happens next

At the end, the officer will generally tell you whether your application is approved, still pending further review, or denied, and explain the next steps, which for many applicants means scheduling an oath ceremony.

This is a general description, not a guarantee of how your specific interview will go. A member of our staff can help you prepare based on your own file.

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