Naturalization 101: Preparing For The Interview

The USCIS interview is one of the most important parts of the naturalization process. Not only will you be interviewed about your background and history by a USCIS officer, you will also have to complete an English test and a Civics test. The interview and tests are just one part of the overall naturalization process, but they are an important step. Here are some tips that will help you navigate the naturalization interview successfully.

Use the resources provided by USCIS

The ten questions you will be asked during the civics test will be pulled from a publicly available list of 100 questions.

You can review the questions with the following official USCIS resources:

• The USCIS mobile app for iPhone and Android
• Review the questions with flash cards [PDF]
• Read the offical USCIS study guide [PDF]
• Take a practice test on the USCIS website
• Review the basic commands you may be given during the interview [PDF]

Note: You will probably see a lot of references to the "2008 USCIS civics test". Don't worry. 2008 was a long time ago, but that's still the version of the test that's being used. So you can use these materials.

Test preparation from other organizations:

• Civics Test Resources from USA Hello - Available in multiple languages
• Civics Test Resources from New Americans Campaign
• Civics Test Resources from the National Museum of American History
• Free online tutoring for the citizenship test from The Citizenship Coalition.

Additionally, USCIS released a set of four different preparation videos (below). These videos walk you through the interview and testing process, and are another valuable information source for preparation.

Remember to bring all of your supporting documents

You should bring a copy of your N-400 application along with the supporting documents you submitted with it. These may include:

1. Your green card
2. Your official state ID (driver's license)
3. Your passport
4. Marriage certificates
5. Tax returns

You may be advised to bring additional documents by your attorney. Some examples include:

• Your birth certificate
• Every passport you've ever had (including your expired passports)
• Information about travel outside of the U.S. since you've become a permanent resident (if applicable)

Make sure you have all these documents in order before your interview, so you can streamline the process for yourself.

Ask others about their experience

One useful tip that can come in handy is asking other naturalized citizens what their experiences were. Learning more about the test through the viewpoint of someone taking the test and getting interviewed can provide insights that USCIS resources cannot. Hearing from someone who has gone through the interview experience can be very helpful to reduce stress about the interview as well.