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The Military Member’s Guide to Citizenship Application The Oath |
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If INS approves your application for naturalization, you must attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. The following are the steps in this process:
Receive a ceremony date. INS will notify you by mail of the time and date of your ceremony. The notice INS sends you is called the "Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony" (Form N-445). In some cases, the INS may give you the option to take the Oath on the same day as your interview. If you decide to take a "same day" oath, INS will ask you to come back to the office later that day. At this time, you will take the Oath and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
Check in at the ceremony. When you arrive at the ceremony, you will be asked to check in with INS. Try to arrive early. Remember that often there are many other people being naturalized with you who must also be checked in. If you cannot attend the ceremony on the day you are scheduled, you should return the INS notice (Form N-445) to your local INS office. You should include a letter explaining why you cannot be at the ceremony and asking INS to reschedule you.
Return your Permanent Resident Card. You will be required to return your Permanent Resident Card to INS when you check in for your oath ceremony. You will no longer need your Permanent Resident Card because you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization at the ceremony.
Answer questions about what you have done since your interview. If more than a day has passed between your interview and the ceremony, you will need to answer several questions. These questions will be located on the back of the notice INS sends you (Form N-445). Some of the questions include ""Have you traveled outside the United States?" and "Have you claimed exemption from military service?" You should read the questions carefully and mark your answers before you arrive at the ceremony. Answer the questions on the back of the Form N-445 only for the time since your interview.
Take the Oath. You are not a citizen until you have taken the Oath of Allegience. You will take the Oath during the ceremony. An official will read each part of the Oath slowly and ask you to repeat his/her words. The Oath can be found in the section titled "Eligibility Requirements".
Changes to the Oath. You may take the Oath without the words "to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law…" if you provide enough evidence that you are opposed to fighting on behalf of the United States because of your religious beliefs (this does not apply to the military sponsor). If you provide enough evidence and INS determines that you are opposed to any type of service in the Armed Forces because of your religious beliefs, you may omit the words "to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law" (this also does not apply to the military sponsor).
If INS determines you are unable to swear the Oath using the words "on oath," you may replace these words with "and solemnly affirm." Finally, if INS determines you are unable to use the words "so help me God" because of your religious beliefs, you may omit these words.
If you believe you qualify for a modified oath, you should include a letter with your application explaining the situation. INS may also ask you to provide a document from your religious organization explaining its beliefs and stating that you are a member in good standing.
Hereditary titles. If you have any hereditary titles or positions of nobility, you must give them up at the oath ceremony.
Receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Once you have taken the Oath, you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization. You may use this document as proof that you are a U.S. citizen.
IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that you obtain a U.S. passport soon after your naturalization ceremony. A passport serves as evidence of citizenship and is easier to carry around than a Certificate of Naturalization. In addition, if you lose your Certificate of Naturalization, it can take up to one year to receive a new certificate. If you do not have a passport, you will not have evidence of citizenship during the time you are waiting for a new certificate. You can get an application for a passport at your oath ceremony or at most post offices.
Information Courtesy of U.S. Army
