The oath ceremony

Getting the date

Some field offices hold a ceremony the same day as the interview; you wait an hour or two and take the oath that afternoon. Most schedule it separately, usually within a few weeks and occasionally a couple of months, and mail Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony. If you cannot attend, return the notice with a written explanation and USCIS will reschedule you; missing a ceremony without explanation can lead to a denial after two no-shows.

Before you go

The back of the N-445 is a questionnaire about what has happened since your interview: trips abroad, arrests, marriage or divorce, a change of address, joining any organization. Answer it at home, in ink, and sign it. Be as truthful as you were at the interview; an officer reviews it at check-in and a "yes" is not automatically a problem, but a wrong "no" is.

Bring the completed N-445, your green card, and a government photo ID. Bring your passport if you have one; it is not required, but if you have been outside the country since the interview the officer may want to see it. Dress as you would for a job interview. Guests are usually welcome and there is often a limit per person printed on the notice.

The ceremony

1. Check-in. An officer reviews your questionnaire, takes your green card (you will not get it back; you no longer need it), and hands you a seat assignment and often a small flag.
2. Waiting. Ceremonies are large. Expect one to three hours from check-in to leaving. Many offices play a welcome video and a judge or USCIS official gives short remarks.
3. The Oath of Allegiance. Everyone stands, raises their right hand, and repeats the oath in English, line by line. This is the moment you become a citizen.
4. The Pledge of Allegiance and the anthem usually follow.
5. Your Certificate of Naturalization. You are called by name and handed the certificate. Check it before you leave the room: the spelling of your name, your date of birth, and your photo. Errors are far easier to fix on the day than later.

Take care of the certificate

It is your primary proof of citizenship for the rest of your life. Do not laminate it; that invalidates it. A replacement (Form N-565) costs several hundred dollars and takes months. Make copies for your records and keep the original somewhere safe and fireproof. Once you have a U.S. passport you will rarely need to show the certificate.

The first things to do

• Register to vote. Many ceremonies have voter registration tables in the lobby. Otherwise, vote.gov.
• Apply for a U.S. passport. Use the certificate as proof. Do this soon; the passport is the document you will use for travel and everyday proof, and it lets you keep the certificate at home.
• Update the Social Security Administration. Visit an SSA office with your certificate so your record shows you are a citizen. This matters for benefits later and for employment checks.
• Tell your employer so your Form I-9 can be updated.
• Update your driver's license if your state marks citizenship status or if you had a limited-term license.
• Children under 18 with green cards who live with you may have become citizens automatically when you did. Apply for their Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) or simply a U.S. passport for each of them.

Last reviewed September 5, 2026. Procedures vary by field office and change over time; confirm anything that matters for your case at uscis.gov.