What questions will the USCIS officer ask at my Naturalization Interview?

I have always been a big fan of making lists. Whether they are “To-Do” lists, checklists, or workflows, they help me to keep track of everything that I need to do and also help me to keep a record to refer back to in case I need to repeat a task in the future.

In my law practice, I have developed many different lists that I use when I work with clients on their Immigration cases. While most of them are checklists, I also keep lists and records of common things that happen at Immigration Interviews and Immigration Court hearings, for example, which I provide to my clients in advance of these events so that they have an idea of what to expect. In most cases, and my clients have even confirmed this with me, by the time they get to the Interview and get through it, they feel they have already gone through it because of the advance preparation that I have done to get them ready, and … of course, because they had the benefit of reading over my lists of questions and explanations of what to expect.

With this in mind, I decided to share a “transcript” (not exact, but based upon my notes and recollection) of the questions and sequence of events that took place at a Naturalization Interview. Hopefully, this should give you a pretty good idea of how your Naturalization Interview will unfold and the kind of questions that you will be asked:

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Can you please provide me with your green card and your driver’s license?

Can I see your passport as well?

Are you currently married?

When did you get divorced?

How many years were you married?

Did you get your green card through your spouse?

And did you come to the U.S. as a fiancee, with a fiancee visa, and then you got your green card?

Did you take many trips to the U.S. before you got your green card?

How many times were you in the U.S. before you got your green card?

What is your date of birth?

What is your current address?

What is your phone number?

How many times have you been married?

Do you have any children? How many? What are their ages?

Do any of them live with you? Which ones?

Are you employed? Who do you work for? Since when? What is your position?

Since you became a permanent resident, how many trips have you taken outside of the U.S.?

Have you taken any trips outside of the U.S. since you filed this application for Naturalization?

Were any of your trips outside of the U.S. for more than 6 months?

Have you ever been stopped by an Immigration officer at an airport or port of entry? When? Why? What happened?

Why were you traveling to the U.S. so often back then?

Did you get a visa?

Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen?

Have you ever registered to vote or voted in U.S. elections?

How about income taxes … have you filed tax returns with the IRS and paid taxes on all of the income you made?

Do you own any money to the IRS?

Have you ever been declared incompetent?

Do you have any claim to nobility?

Have you ever persecuted anyone because of their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion?

Have you ever attempted to overthrow the U.S. government?

Have you ever been involved in killing anyone, genocide, torture, or forcing anyone to have sex?

Have you ever prevented anyone from practicing their religion?

Have you ever been involved in or a member in any military, paramilitary, Police, Rebel group, or other armed group?

Have you ever received military or weapons training?

Have you ever worked or volunteered in a prison, labor camp or detention facility?

I see that you have taken many trips to [COUNTRY]. Why were you going to [COUNTRY] so frequently? Do you have a relative that lives there?

Have you ever committed a crime for which you were not arrested?

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime?

Have you ever plead guilty to or been convicted of a crime?

Have you ever been an alcoholic, involved with prostitution, or drugs?

Have you ever or do you plan to practice polygamy in the U.S.?

Have you ever been involved with gambling?

Have you ever failed to support dependents?

Have you ever received public benefits in the U.S.?

Have you ever lied to a U.S. government officer?

Have you ever used false documents to get a government benefit?

Are you now or have you ever been in removal or deportation proceedings?

Questions about the Oath of Allegiance: note that for most people, they will have just finished saying “NO” over and over again, in answer to the questions above. And then the officer, without notice, will launch into asking questions about the Oath of Allegiance, to which, obviously, all of the answers must be “YES”; otherwise, the applicant may have a serious problem in establishing eligibility for Naturalization:

Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the U.S.?

Do you understand the full oath of allegiance to the U.S.?

Are you willing to take the full oath of allegiance to the U.S.?

If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the U.S.?

If the law requires it, are you willing to perform noncombatant services in the U.S. armed forces?

If the law requires it, are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction?

Reading Test: “Please read this sentence … George Washington was the father of our country.”

Writing Test: “Please write the following sentence … California has the most people.”

Civics Test:

What is the last day you can pay your federal income taxes in the U.S.?

Who is in charge of the Executive Branch?

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

What is the name of the current Vice President of the U.S.?

Why did the original American flag have 13 stripes?

NOTE that Naturalization applicants only need to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly. Since this particular applicant answered the first 6 questions correctly, the Interviewing officer, as most officers will do in my experience, did not ask the remaining questions and declared that the applicant has passed the test.

The Interviewing Officer: “Congratulations, you passed the test. I am going to recommend your case for approval. We have an Oath Ceremony scheduled for _________[DATE]. Can you attend on that day? Thank you for coming today. I will lead you back to the waiting room. Please wait for about 10 minutes. Someone will be out shortly to give you a Notice for your Naturalization Oath ceremony.”

If you have questions about your N-400 Naturalization application or you are looking for quality legal advice and representation, contact U.S. Immigration Lawyer Sean D. Hummel and schedule a consultation today (954) 385-3111.

Special Note. The information on this blog is of a general nature and is not intended to answer any individual’s legal questions. Do not rely on the information presented in this blog to address your individual legal concerns. If you have a legal question about your individual facts and circumstances, you should consult an experienced U.S. Immigration Lawyer.