Step 11 -- Attend your Interview. Go to the CIS office on your notice for the interview at the specified time. You should appear at the office where you are to be interviewed before the time of your interview. Since many CIS offices are crowded, you should not bring other people with you. If you fail to appear at your interview without contacting CIS, your case will be administratively closed. If your case is closed and you do not contact CIS within 1 year to reopen it, your application will be denied due to abandonment. Rescheduling an interview may add several months to your naturalization process.
If CIS schedules your interview for a date when you are not available due to deployment or other military necessity, write on the interview notice why you cannot attend and when you expect to be available (some time after you expect to return to your home station or mobilization station) and mail the annotated notice back to the address of the CIS office that sent you the interview notice. If feasible, attach a copy of your deployment orders to the annotated notice you return to CIS. CIS has assured the military services that they will work with members to reschedule interviews missed due to military necessity, PROVIDED the member keep CIS informed of their status.
In some cases, CIS may ask you to bring additional documents to the interview. These documents will be listed on your appointment letter. If you fail to bring the necessary documents, your case may be delayed or denied.
During your interview, your ability to read, write, and speak English will be tested. You will also be given a civics exam to test your knowledge and understanding of U.S. History and Government. Many schools and community organizations help applicants prepare for their citizenship tests. Some of these programs are very good; however, CIS does not review or approve any of these outside classes or materials. You may first want to check the CIS website ( http://www.uscis.gov/ ) for available study material. Test questions are provided as part of the CIS Guide to Naturalization.
Your English language proficiency will be tested in one or more of the following ways:
- Reading—To test your reading ability, you may be asked to read aloud parts of the N-400, read a set of civics questions and answer them, and/or read several simple sentences aloud.
- Writing—To test your writing skills, you may be asked to write one or two simple sentences.
- Speaking—Your speaking ability will be tested when you answer questions about yourself and your application.
Your knowledge of U.S. History and Government will be tested by requiring you to answer orally a set of civics questions or to take a written multiple choice test with as many as 20 questions.
At your interview, a CIS officer will place you under oath and then ask you about:
- Your background.
- Evidence supporting your case.
- Your place and length of residence.
- Your character.
- Your attachment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Your willingness to take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
The CIS officer may ask you questions to make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. Be prepared to explain any differences between your application and other documents you have provided to CIS. Remember that you are under oath. Always tell the truth during your interview. If you are granted citizenship but CIS finds out later that you lied on your application or during your interview, your U.S. citizenship may be revoked.
Step 12 -- Wait for the CIS Decision. After your interview, your application for U.S. citizenship will be granted, continued, or denied.
Granted -- Sometimes, CIS can tell you if you will be granted citizenship at the end of your interview. Otherwise, you will receive a notice telling you when and where your oath ceremony will be held.
Continued -- -The CIS officer may also continue your case. This means your case is on hold. The most common reasons for continuation are failing the English and civics tests or failing to give CIS the documents they need. If your case is continued, you will either be asked to come to a second interview, usually within 60-90 days of the first interview or to provide additional documents.
Denied -- CIS may also deny your application for naturalization. If CIS denies your application, you will receive a written notice telling you why. There is an administrative review process for applicants who receive denials. If you believe that you were wrongly denied citizenship, you may request a hearing with a CIS officer. Your denial letter will explain how to request a hearing and will include the form you need. The form for filing an appeal is the Request for Hearing Proceedings under Section 336 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, Form N-336.
(Compiled from Amy Member's Guide to Citizenship, published by the Army, and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services)
