What Can I Expect from My Naturalization Interview?

You may file Form N-400, Application for Citizenship, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if you believe you are eligible to become a naturalized citizen. Soon after, you may receive an appointment notice, which details the scheduled date, time, and location of your naturalization interview. This is a pivotal step toward achieving the status you desire in this country. So, without further ado, please read on to discover what to expect from your naturalization interview and how one of the seasoned Lancaster County naturalization lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you enter this meeting being adequately equipped.

What can I expect to happen during my naturalization interview?

At the start of your naturalization interview, the USCIS officer may ask you questions pertaining to your filed Form N-400, such as your country of origin, employment status, marital status, etc. While you may assume that these questions are pretty straightforward, it does not hurt to review a copy of your application beforehand to ensure that your answers align with exactly what you provided here.

Then, the two main parts of the interview will ensue, which are the English language exam and the civics exam. For the former, the USCIS officer may ask you to read aloud three sentences in English, and then write down three sentences in English. You must read at least one sentence correctly and write at least one sentence correctly. For this, we recommend that you check out the USCIS’s website, which offers a Reading Test Vocabulary List and a Writing Test Vocabulary List that you may study from.

For the latter, the USCIS officer may ask you questions about U.S. government history and geography. The officer may pick from a list of 128 standard questions, which again may be accessed as a resource on the USCIS’s website. Specifically, they may ask who wrote the Declaration of Independence, what is the name of the head of the executive branch, and more. Here, you are expected to get at least 12 out of 20 questions answered correctly.

What can I expect to happen after my naturalization interview?

Hopefully you are able to answer enough questions correctly that you pass your naturalization interview. If so, the USCIS officer may schedule a naturalization ceremony where you are to take the Oath of Allegiance. This is typically held in a federal courthouse, and marks your becoming a U.S. citizen officially.

Unfortunately, you may have just fallen short of meeting the passing criteria the first time around. Do not feel discourages, as this happens more often than you may realize. Rest assured, you may have an opportunity to schedule a second naturalization interview to retake these tests approximately 60 to 90 days later.

To make the best use of this time, you should focus on studying from the resources provided by the USCIS’s website. You may even want to ask a trusted individual, such as your lawyer, to quiz you and overall help you prepare for this second chance.

And so, if you are ready to get started on your interview preparation, now is a better time than ever to contact one of the competent Lancaster County naturalization lawyers. Lupton Law LLC is here to help.