Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Ceremony

Becoming a U.S. citizen is no small task; there are a variety of requirements an applicant must meet prior to completing the naturalization process. Fulfilling these conditions requires constant communication back and forth with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

As you move through the process, USCIS will typically instruct you on the next steps. One of the final expectations before completing the naturalization process is to take the naturalization oath. Form N-445 is how USCIS notifies applicants when and where they will take this oath.

What Is USCIS Form N-445?

Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony, is a USCIS form used to notify an applicant of the time and place at which their U.S. citizenship oath ceremony is scheduled to happen. Filling out this form is a necessary step on the road to legal U.S. citizenship.

The naturalization process begins with the completion of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. If you meet all the criteria, turn in all necessary documents, and go to the citizenship interview, you will likely be on your way to becoming a citizen.

You will then be required to take both a civics and English test. If you do not pass those tests, USCIS will ask you to leave the country after your current visa expires. If you do pass those tests, all you have to do is wait. Once your N-400 form is approved by USCIS, you will receive an N-445 form in the mail notifying you to attend your naturalization oath ceremony.

What Is a Naturalization Oath Ceremony?

If you are soon to become a U.S. citizen, you will need to attend a naturalization oath ceremony—also called a citizenship oath ceremony—at which you will perform certain actions to complete the naturalization process. Attendance at the citizenship ceremony is mandatory and will not be waived.

You will be expected to dress appropriately, bring basic documents, bring any family members who are also eligible for naturalization, and present your USCIS Form N-445. Any eligible applicants will then take the naturalization oath and receive a Naturalization Certificate at the ceremony or in the mail. The naturalization oath ceremony is also where you can apply for a name change if desired.

Who Needs a Form N-445 Citizenship Notice?

USCIS uses this specific form to reach applicants who have passed the naturalization test. This form usually comes in the mail after your interview. Once USCIS decides that everything is correct, they will send you the N-445 form to inform you of the final steps.

There is also something called a “same day oath” which involves the applicant taking their naturalization oath later on the same day as their citizenship interview. If the interview and oath are scheduled for the same day, USCIS officials will not issue a notice, they will simply ask you to come back later in the day for your oath.

USCIS Form N-445 Instructions

Form N-445 doesn’t require you to fill anything out before the time of the oath, it is primarily used to inform you of your ceremony’s date and location. The document will consist of two separate pages.

Form N-445 Page 1

The first page of the oath notice is used to confirm your identity and let you know the necessary information. On the right side of the first page, toward the top, you should see your Alien Registration Number (A-Number). Beneath the A-Number, you should see the date on which the form was issued. This information will help you confirm that the document was in fact intended for you.

This page also shows the time and place you are expected to be to take your citizenship oath. Although it’s unlikely that you would find any typing errors, it’s still important to check the date against any other possible source to confirm its accuracy.

The first page also lists the things you will need to bring to the oath ceremony. If you are performing the naturalization process on behalf of your child or the two of you are doing it concurrently, you should bring them along with you. In addition to bringing any family members who are also required to take the oath, you must also bring the following required documents:

• The Form N-445 you have been issued by USCIS
• Your Permanent Resident Card (green card)
• Re-entry permits
• Refugee travel documents
• Any other USCIS documents you have ever been issued

Page one provides you with all the necessary next steps to follow in the naturalization process.

Form N-445 Page 2

The second page must be brought to the naturalization ceremony because it has questions that must be filled out.

Do not fill out the questions before the oath ceremony.

There are eight yes-or-no questions that help USCIS officials determine your naturalization. Some of them can feel personal or intrusive, but it’s essential that you answer each of them truthfully. Being involved in some of the situations or activities described in the questions will not affect the view of your moral character.

If, however, you are caught in a lie, there may be consequences. If you indicate that you’ve never done something and the authorities discover that you did, you may be denied naturalization based on moral character.

At the ceremony, you will answer these questions then self-certify that your answers are correct (to your knowledge). Once you add the city, state, date, and your signature, you have completed all the portions of the document which you are responsible for.

What to Do After Citizenship Ceremony Notice

After you receive your Form N-445 in the mail, your next step is to attend the naturalization ceremony. Once you arrive at the ceremony, you will want to do the following:

• Check-in – Arrive at the predetermined place at the correct time and let the USCIS officials know you’re there. If you cannot attend the scheduled ceremony, you need to return the N-445 by mail to the local USCIS office. Along with the N-445, you must also send a letter explaining why you can’t make the original date. USCIS will send you an updated N-445 with information about the rescheduled ceremony.
• Return your Permanent Resident Card – You won’t need your Permanent Resident Card anymore because you will be presented with a Certificate of Naturalization. You can turn in your card to USCIS when you check in. If you never had permanent residence because of military service, or you have proved that your card was lost and you tried to retrieve it, you do not need to fulfill this requirement.
• Take the oath – Once you read and take the Oath of Allegiance at a citizenship ceremony, you will officially become a U.S. citizen.
• Receive your Certificate of Naturalization – Look over your certificate before leaving the ceremony to verify that USCIS did not make any errors. The Certificate of Naturalization is your official proof of U.S. citizenship.

How Is My U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony Date Decided?

Your USCIS oath ceremony will be scheduled based on your citizenship interview. You should receive the notice in the mail between three to six weeks after your interview. The notice should inform you that the ceremony is scheduled some time in the next few weeks.

Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C.

When you’re applying for naturalization, it helps to have the guidance of a trained legal professional. Becoming a U.S. citizen is a monumental decision that can have a huge impact on you and your family. Hiring an experienced immigration lawyer can make the process go faster and more smoothly, while still ensuring that you meet every necessary requirement.

Here at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C., our Chicago immigration attorneys have years of knowledge built on cases similar to yours, and we’re ready to use that knowledge to help you in any way possible. If you’re applying for U.S. naturalization, contact us today to get started building a solid case.