What Questions Can I Expect in My U.S. Citizenship Interview?

When you attend your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you personal questions to check the accuracy of the information in your naturalization application.

The USCIS officer will also ask you questions regarding the contents of your Alien file (A-file). An A-file is a record of every applicant’s interactions with USCIS and any other government organization that has been involved in their immigration process.

After your citizenship interview you will take a two-part naturalization test. However, the following guide will go over the potential questions a USCIS officer will ask you before the naturalization test.

The following guide is a general list of questions that USCIS officers typically ask applicants during their citizenship interview. This guide is not a complete list of questions you will be asked.

It is important to remember that USCIS officers can ask applicants any question which they feel is important to the applicant’s case.

Common Citizenship Interview Questions

Below we will include sample questions that you may be asked during your naturalization interview. These questions will be organized by category.

You will probably not be asked each of these questions. Most of these questions will be familiar to you because they are similar to the questions you answered on your naturalization application.

While some of these questions may seem unimportant, the USCIS officer will be paying close attention to your responses to hear you speak English, and to observe your overall demeanor.

Meeting the USCIS Officer

• How are you today?
• How do you feel?

Being Placed Under Oath

• Do you promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
• Do you understand the meaning of the word “oath”?

Basic Personal Information

• What is your name?
• Have you ever used any other names?
• Do you plan to change your legal name?
• What is your date of birth?
• Where were you born?
• Are you Hispanic or Latino?
• What is your race or ethnicity?

Physical Attributes

• What color is your hair?
• What color are your eyes?
• How tall are you?

Family History

• What is your mother’s full name?
• What is your mother’s maiden name?
• What is your father’s full name?
• Are one or both of your parents U.S. citizens?
• Were your parents married before your 18th birthday?
• How many children do you have?
• What are your children’s names?
• When are your children’s birthdays?
• Where do your children currently live?
• Are your children your biological children, stepchildren, or adopted children?

Relationship History

• Are you single, married, divorced, or widowed?
• What is your current spouse’s name?
• When and where did you get married?
• Is your spouse a citizen of the United States?
• What is your spouse’s nationality?
• Where does your spouse hold citizenship?
• What is your spouse’s date of birth?
• Has your spouse served in the military?
• What is your spouse’s occupation?
• Where does your spouse work?
• Have you had any previous marriages? If so, when did these end?
• Has your spouse had any previous marriages? If so, when did these end?

Military Background

• Have you ever served in the U.S. military?
• Have you ever left the United States to avoid being drafted by the military?
• Have you ever deserted the U.S. military?
• Have you lived in the United States or received your green card anytime between the ages of 18 and 26?
• (If you’re a male, and answered yes to the previous question) – Did you register with the Selective Service?
• If yes, when did you register for Selective Service?
• If not, why did you not register for Selective Service?

Immigration Status

• What is your home country?
• Which countries are you a citizen of?
• When did USCIS approve your permanent resident card (green card)?
• How long have you been a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder)?

Travel Abroad

• Since becoming a permanent resident, how many times have you left the United States?
• Did any of your trips outside the U.S. last six months or longer?
• What was the purpose of your trip outside the U.S.?
• When did you last travel abroad?
• What countries have you visited during your travels?
• On what day did you return to the United States?

Residential History

• Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
• Have you resided anywhere else in the last five (or three) years? When did you live elsewhere?

Employment and Education History

• Where do you work right now?
• What is your current job?
• Where else have you worked in the past five (or three) years?
• When did you work there?
• Where did you last attend school?
• What is the name of your school?
• When did you attend that school?

Income Tax Obligations

• Since becoming a lawful permanent resident, have you filed all your required income tax returns?
• Since becoming a lawful permanent resident, have you ever claimed to be a non-resident on a federal, state, or local income tax return?
• Do you owe any taxes to the federal government or your state or local government?

Personal Ethics

• Have you ever falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen?
• Have you ever registered to vote or voted in a federal, state, or local election in the United States?
• Have you ever discriminated against or denied another person’s rights because of their nationality, race, religious beliefs, membership in particular social groups, or political opinions?
• Do you support the American government?
• Do you support the U.S. Constitution and its amendments?
• Do you promise to obey the laws of the United States?
• Do you understand and are willing to take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States?
• Would you be willing to defend the United States in a war if necessary?
• If necessary, would you be willing to perform noncombatant (civilian) services in the U.S. military or work of national importance?

Affiliations With Organizations

• Have you ever been a member of nobility in any other country?
• If so, are you willing to give up these titles when swearing allegiance to the United States?
• Have you ever been associated with or a member of any organization, association, fund foundation, party, club, or similar group anywhere in the world? If so, please state the name of the group, its purpose, and why you got involved.
• Have you ever been associated with the Communist Party, the Nazi Party, or a terrorist organization?

Legal History

You may be asked other questions about previous arrests, charges, convictions, or incarceration records. For a complete list of possible questions, review Part 12 of Form N-400.

Other Possible Questions

• Do you understand why we are interviewing you?
• Why do you want to become a U.S. citizen?
• Has you ever been declared you incompetent or confined to a mental institution?

Should documents for my citizenship Interview be translated into English?

When you attend your citizenship interview, you will be required to bring documents that pertain to your naturalization case. These documents may help to answer some of the questions asked in your citizenship interview.

However, any document you bring with information in a foreign language, must also be accompanied by an English translation.To make sure that these documents are translated correctly and accepted by the USCIS officer, it helps to have a certified translation.

Some documents that commonly need to be translated for immigration purposes include:

• Criminal records
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Academic transcripts

Order Your Certified Translation

Author: Aaron Randolph | LinkedIn