The interview: what to expect on test day

The naturalization interview is a conversation with a USCIS officer at a field office. It is short, usually under half an hour, and two things happen in it: the officer goes through your application with you and, unless you qualify for an exemption, gives you the test.

What the officer does with your application

They will ask about what you wrote on the N-400: where you live, what you do, your trips, your marital status, your background. It is not a surprise interrogation: these are your own answers, said out loud.

That is why it pays to reread your application before going, especially if you filed months ago. And if anything changed since then, tell the officer and bring the document that backs it up.

The English test

It has three parts:

• Speaking. There is no separate exercise: the officer assesses how you speak and understand while you go through the application.
• Reading. You must read aloud one of three sentences correctly.
• Writing. You must write one of three sentences correctly.

The sentences are built from the official reading and writing vocabulary that USCIS publishes. On this site you can practice with those same lists, in the English section.

The civics test

Which one you take depends on when you filed the N-400, not on when your interview is:

It is an oral test: the officer asks and you answer out loud. There are no options to pick from, which is why the mock interviews on this site also make you type or say the answer instead of choosing from a list.

On the 2025 test the officer stops asking as soon as you reach 12 correct or 9 incorrect. If they stop early, it does not necessarily mean something went wrong.

If you plan to answer in Spanish

There is an exemption known as 65/20: if you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years or more, you may take the civics test in the language you prefer and you study only a subset of 20 questions marked with an asterisk.

Other exemptions and accommodations exist, for example based on age and years of residence, or on a documented medical condition. If you think you might qualify, check with an attorney or an accredited organization: it depends on your case.

If something goes wrong

Not passing the test on the first try does not close the case. USCIS gives you a second chance at the part you did not pass, at a later appointment. Check the details and deadlines on the official interview page.

It can also happen that the officer needs more documents and sends you a notice asking for them. Answer it within the deadline it states.

What comes next

If you are approved, one step is still left: the Oath of Allegiance. It may be the same day or at a later ceremony. You are not a citizen until you take the oath; that is where the process ends and where you receive your Certificate of Naturalization.

How to arrive calm

• Bring what your appointment notice asks for, plus the originals of anything you sent as a copy.
• Arrive early: there is a security checkpoint.
• Practice the questions out loud, not just by reading them. The test is oral and the difference shows.
• If you do not understand a question, ask the officer to repeat it. That is allowed.

When you need a lawyer

If your case involves a criminal record, long absences, unpaid taxes or any doubt about your history, talk to an immigration attorney or an organization accredited by the Department of Justice before the interview, not after.