What Happens at the Citizenship Interview and Oath Ceremony? A Complete Guide

By Melisa Peña, Esq., Founding Partner

After years of waiting, paperwork, and patience, the citizenship interview feels enormous. We see it in our clients’ faces when they call to tell us the date finally arrived. The excitement is real—and so is the anxiety.

Here’s what we tell them: the interview is much more manageable than people expect. And the ceremony that follows is one of the most meaningful days they’ll ever have.

If you have a naturalization interview coming up—or you’re preparing for one soon—this guide walks you through exactly what to expect, what to bring, what the tests look like, and what happens from interview to the moment you take the Oath. In Miami and throughout South Florida, we’ve helped hundreds of clients through this final step. Here’s what we’ve learned.

What to Bring to Your Naturalization Interview

Arriving with the right documents makes everything smoother. At a minimum, bring:

• Your interview appointment notice (Form I-797)

• Your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

• A valid government-issued photo ID

• All passports you’ve held since becoming a permanent resident

• Any travel documentation for trips you took outside the U.S. since your green card was issued

• Documentation of any legal name changes

• If married to a U.S. citizen and applying under the 3-year rule: your marriage certificate and proof of your spouse’s citizenship

• If you have children who may have acquired citizenship through you: their birth certificates

If USCIS requested specific additional documents in your interview notice, bring those too. And bring originals, not just copies—the officer may need to review the actual documents.

What Actually Happens at the Interview

Your interview takes place at a USCIS field office—in South Florida, the field office that covers your address: Miami, Kendall, Hialeah, Oakland Park, or West Palm Beach. You’ll be called in by a USCIS officer who will conduct the entire interview.

Here’s how it usually goes:

You take an oath to tell the truth

Before anything else, the officer will ask you to swear to tell the truth during the interview. This is a formal step—take it seriously.

The officer reviews your N-400

The officer will go through your application with you, verifying the information you provided. They’ll ask you to confirm answers, clarify anything that seems incomplete, and explain anything that raises a question. This is why having a copy of your application to review before the interview matters so much—you want your verbal answers to match what’s on paper.

The English test

Most applicants are required to demonstrate ability to read, write, and speak basic English. The speaking portion is tested throughout the interview itself—the officer is evaluating your communication as you talk. For reading and writing, you’ll be asked to read one sentence correctly out of up to three, and write one sentence correctly out of up to three. The sentences are drawn from a list of vocabulary USCIS publishes.

Exceptions exist. Applicants who are 50 years old or older and have been permanent residents for at least 20 years, or 55 years old or older with at least 15 years of permanent residency, are exempt from the English requirement and may take the civics test in their native language.

The civics test

If you filed your N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, you’ll take the 2025 civics test: the officer asks up to 20 questions drawn from USCIS’s official list of 128, and you need 12 correct answers to pass. The officer stops as soon as you’ve passed or failed. (If you filed before that date, the older test applies: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, with 6 correct to pass.) Both official question lists are posted at uscis.gov—study from the list for your test version, not from third-party summaries, which sometimes contain errors.

If you don’t pass the English test or civics test the first time, you’ll have one more opportunity at a second interview, typically scheduled 60 to 90 days later. If you don’t pass on the second attempt, your application will be denied.

Have questions about preparing for your interview? We help naturalization applicants throughout Miami and South Florida get ready. Call us at 305-615-1005 or visit www.jp-lawgroup.com.

What Happens After the Interview

At the end of your interview, the officer typically takes one of three actions:

• Grant the application on the spot. This is the best outcome. You’ll receive a notice (Form N-652) indicating your application was approved and you’ll be scheduled for an oath ceremony.

• Continue the case. The officer needs more time or documentation before making a decision. You may receive a Request for Evidence (Form N-14) with a deadline to submit additional materials.

• Deny the application. If the officer denies the application, you have the right to request a hearing before an immigration officer to reconsider the decision—and if that fails, to appeal to federal court.

For most applicants whose cases are in order, the interview ends with approval. The wait between interview and ceremony varies—sometimes the oath is the same day, sometimes it’s weeks later. USCIS has expanded same-day oath ceremonies in South Florida are held at USCIS field offices or at larger ceremonial venues.

The Oath of Allegiance Ceremony

The oath ceremony is the moment everything changes. One sentence defines it: the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. When you take that oath, you become a U.S. citizen. Not when the paperwork is filed, not when the interview is passed—when you raise your right hand and take the oath.

Ceremonies in South Florida are typically held at the Miami Field Office or at a larger ceremonial location. Some are small and simple. Others bring together hundreds of new citizens from dozens of countries. In Miami, where the immigrant community is woven into the fabric of everything, these ceremonies carry particular weight.

What to bring to the ceremony

• Your Oath Ceremony Notice (Form N-445) — review and complete Section B before you arrive

• Your Permanent Resident Card — you will turn it in at the ceremony

• Any travel documents or other items requested in your notice

What happens at the ceremony

A USCIS officer will review your Form N-445 answers to confirm your circumstances haven’t changed since your interview. You’ll turn in your green card. You’ll take the Oath of Allegiance. And then you’ll receive your Certificate of Naturalization—the document that confirms your U.S. citizenship. Some ceremonies include remarks from local officials, a video message, and a chance for photos.

What to Do Right After You Become a Citizen

The ceremony is the finish line—but there are a few important steps to take in the days and weeks that follow.

• Apply for a U.S. passport. Your Certificate of Naturalization is the primary document proving your citizenship. Use it to apply for a U.S. passport at your earliest convenience—it’s the most widely recognized citizenship document for travel and identification.

• Register to vote. As a citizen, you now have the right to vote in every election—federal, state, and local. Voter registration forms are often available at the ceremony itself.

• Update your Social Security record. Visit a Social Security Administration office with your Certificate of Naturalization to update your citizenship status in their records.

• Consider petitioning for family members. As a U.S. citizen, you can now sponsor immediate relatives—spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21—with no annual visa cap and shorter wait times than green card holders. If you have family abroad you’ve been hoping to bring to the United States, now is the time to start that conversation.

Legal Guidance You Can Trust

We’ve been in that room with our clients—watching them take the oath, seeing what it means. There is nothing quite like it. And we take the work of getting people there seriously.

At Jarbath Peña Law Group, we prepare naturalization applicants throughout Miami and South Florida from the initial eligibility review all the way through interview preparation and the ceremony itself. We catch the issues that can slow things down, prepare our clients for what the officer will ask, and make sure nothing in the application creates a surprise. Our bilingual team works in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

The oath is the finish line. We help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring family to my naturalization interview?

The interview itself is typically just you and the USCIS officer—family members generally wait outside. The oath ceremony, however, is a celebration you can absolutely share. Most ceremonies allow guests, and in Miami the ceremonies can be large, joyful events. Confirm the guest policy with the specific ceremony notice you receive.

What if I fail the civics test at the interview?

You’ll have a second chance. USCIS will schedule you for a second interview—typically 60 to 90 days later—where you’ll be tested on only the portions you didn’t pass the first time. If you don’t pass on the second attempt, your application will be denied. Between attempts, study specifically from the official USCIS civics list for your test version at uscis.gov. We can also help you prepare.

How long after my interview will the oath ceremony be?

It varies. Some applicants are scheduled for a same-day ceremony right after approval—USCIS has expanded this option at many field offices. Others wait days or weeks. In Miami, wait times fluctuate based on ceremony availability and caseload. You’ll receive a Form N-445 (Oath Ceremony Notice) in the mail. Until you receive that notice, your naturalization is approved but not yet complete.

What happens if I can’t make it to my scheduled oath ceremony?

Contact USCIS as soon as possible to request rescheduling. Missing a ceremony without notice or a good reason can create complications. If you have a legitimate conflict—a medical emergency, a family crisis, an unavoidable work obligation—USCIS will generally accommodate a rescheduling request, but it adds time. Don’t simply not show up.

I lost my Certificate of Naturalization. What do I do?

You can apply for a replacement using Form N-565 (Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document). Keep your certificate in a safe, permanent place—it is one of the most important documents you will ever own. A U.S. passport serves as an alternative proof of citizenship for most everyday purposes, which is another reason to apply for one promptly after your ceremony.

Preparing for your citizenship interview or have questions about the naturalization process? Contact Jarbath Peña Law Group today at 305-615-1005 or visit us at www.jp-lawgroup.com for a consultation.

This article is for general information and is not legal advice.