How to prepare for your citizenship interview: tests, documents and what happens
The naturalization interview is the last big step before you become a U.S. citizen. A USCIS officer goes over your Form N-400 with you and gives you two tests: English and civics. Knowing what to expect makes it much less stressful.
General information only, not legal advice. Your interview notice tells you what to bring and when to arrive. If anything in your history worries you, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative before the interview.
What happens at the interview
- You take an oath to tell the truth.
- The officer reviews your N-400 with you, question by question, and may ask you to explain or update answers.
- The English test: speaking, reading and writing.
- The civics test: questions about U.S. history and government, asked out loud.
The English test
- Speaking: there is no separate test. The officer judges your spoken English during the interview itself.
- Reading: you read out loud one of up to three sentences correctly.
- Writing: you write one of up to three sentences that the officer reads to you. Small spelling or punctuation mistakes do not fail you if the meaning is clear.
USCIS publishes the reading and writing vocabulary lists on its study page.
The civics test
If USCIS received your N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 civics test: the officer asks up to 20 of 128 questions out loud, and you need 12 correct. There are no answer choices: you answer from memory. Questions about current officials (such as the President or the Speaker of the House) have answers that change, so check the USCIS test updates page close to your interview.
Practice all 128 official questions with our free citizenship test practice: a practice test in the same format, flashcards, multiple choice and read-aloud.
Exemptions and easier versions
- 50/20 and 55/15: if you are 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, you do not take the English test. You still take the civics test, and you can bring an interpreter.
- 65/20: if you are 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, you study only 20 marked questions; the officer asks up to 10 and you need 6 correct.
- Disability: a medical disability exception is possible with Form N-648, completed by a doctor.
What to bring
- Your interview notice.
- Your green card and a state ID or driver’s license.
- All your passports and travel documents used since you became a permanent resident.
- The originals of documents you sent copies of, and anything else your notice lists.
Our document checklist (choose N-400) includes an interview list.
If you do not pass a test
You get a second chance. USCIS schedules another interview, usually 60 to 90 days later, and retests you only on the part you did not pass.
After the interview
If USCIS approves your application, you take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony, sometimes on the same day. You become a citizen when you take the oath, and you receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
Need help organizing your documents?
One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.