What to Expect at Your Citizenship Interview
A complete walkthrough of the naturalization interview process.
Before the Interview
- Bring your green card, passport, and interview notice
- Bring 2 passport-style photos
- Review your N-400 application — they’ll ask about it
- Study the 128 civics questions
During the Interview
- Check in at the USCIS office front desk
- Take the oath to tell the truth
- English test — Speaking starts immediately (the officer evaluates your English throughout)
- N-400 review — The officer goes through your application
- Reading test — Read 1 sentence correctly out of 3 attempts
- Writing test — Write 1 sentence correctly out of 3 attempts
- Civics test — Answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly
- Decision — Usually told the same day
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t be late — arrive 30 minutes early
- Don’t lie — answer honestly, even about past mistakes
- Don’t memorize answers — understand the concepts
- Don’t panic if you don’t understand a question — ask the officer to repeat it
Practice Before Your Interview