If everything goes well at your citizenship interview and you pass the exam, USCIS will send you Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony. This document officially notifies you of your oath ceremony and provides key details of your appointment, including the date, time, and location. And it lists the documents you must bring.
Form N-445 also includes a questionnaire that you must complete on the day of your ceremony. In this section, you will confirm under oath whether anything has changed since your interview. For example:
- Have you traveled outside the United States since your interview?
- Have you had any legal issues?
- Have you gotten married or divorced?
- Have there been any other changes that could affect your eligibility?
What is Form N-445?
Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony is the USCIS official summons to your oath ceremony. It formally notifies you of the exact date, time, and location where you will take the Oath of Allegiance. The form also includes a checklist of documents to bring to the ceremony.
Also to the appointment details, Form N-445 contains a short questionnaire on the back that you must complete on the day of the ceremony. This is essentially the final screening step before you become a U.S. citizen.
The questions are designed to confirm that your situation has not changed since your naturalization interview and that you remain eligible for citizenship.
It is extremely important that you bring the completed original Form N-445 with you. Without it, USCIS may not allow you to take part in the ceremony, even if your Form N-400 has already been approved.
When do you receive N-445 Form?
In most cases, you will receive Form N-445 in your myUSCIS online account or by mail within 1 to 6 weeks of your approved naturalization interview.
The exact timing depends on the workload of your local USCIS office and when the next oath ceremony is scheduled in your area. Larger cities, such as Miami or New York, may sometimes take longer due to higher case volumes.
If more than 45 days have passed since your approval and you have not received a notice, contact USCIS. You can submit an inquiry through your online account or schedule an InfoPass appointment at your local field office.
Some applicants are fortunate enough to have a “same-day oath.” This means they complete their naturalization ceremony on the same day as their interview.
In those cases, USCIS will not issue a separate Form N-445 in advance because your eligibility was confirmed during the interview. Instead, you will be asked to return later that day with the required documents to take the Oath of Allegiance.
How to fill out the N-445 Form: Step-by-step
The USCIS notice consists of two pages. You should complete it on the day of your ceremony, ideally a few hours beforehand. USCIS needs to confirm that your answers are up to date as of the day you take the Oath of Allegiance.
It is one of the first documents you will hand to USCIS officers during check-in. So, you must bring the completed form to your ceremony.
Also, you must complete and sign Form N-445 in black ink.
Page 1: Instructions
The first page of Form N-445 is informational only. You do not need to write anything on this page. Instead, carefully review it to ensure that all your information is correct.
In the upper right corner, you will see your Alien Registration Number (A-Number). Below that is the date the form was issued.
This page also lists the exact time and location where you must appear to take your Oath of Allegiance. It also has the checklist of documents you are required to bring to your naturalization ceremony.
- The original Form N-445, issued by USCIS.
- Your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
- Any reentry permits
- Refugee Travel Documents
- Any other USCIS-issued documents in your possession.
If you are completing the naturalization process on behalf of your child, or if you are completing it concurrently, you should bring your child with you.
Page 2: N-445 questionnaire
The second page contains the questions that you must answer. It consists of eight yes-or-no questions designed to help USCIS officers determine your continued eligibility for naturalization.
These questions are similar to the “Yes or No” questions in Part 9 of Form N-400. Ideally, your answers should be consistent with what you provided during your interview.
If you answer “yes” to any question, be prepared to explain your answer to the USCIS officer. You may also need to bring supporting documentation.
It is extremely important to answer honestly. For example, if you state that something never happened, but USCIS later discovers that it did, your naturalization could be denied based on issues related to good moral character.
The N-445 questions
- Have you ever been married, widowed, separated, or divorced? (If yes, bring documented proof.)
- Have you traveled outside the United States?
- Have you knowingly committed any crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
- Have you ever been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, convicted, fined, or imprisoned for violating any law, including traffic violations?
- Have you ever joined or associated with any organization, including the Communist Party?
- Have you claimed exemption from military service?
- Has your willingness to bear arms, perform noncombatant service, or perform work of national importance, if required by law, changed in any way?
- Have you practiced polygamy, engaged in illegal gambling, participated in prostitution-related activities or drug trafficking, helped someone enter the United States unlawfully, given false testimony for immigration benefits, or been a habitual drunkard?
After answering the questions, complete the final section of the form with the following data:
- The state and city where your naturalization ceremony will take place
- The date you complete the form (it must match the ceremony date).
- Your signature.
- Your full address, including ZIP code.
What happens if you miss your oath ecremony?
If you cannot attend your scheduled naturalization ceremony, return the N-445 form to your local USCIS office. Include a written letter requesting that your ceremony be rescheduled, and clearly explain why you cannot attend.
Note that USCIS does not accept just any excuse. It must be a legitimate and significant reason, such as a serious family emergency or another compelling circumstance.
Also, do not fail to appear without notifying USCIS, and avoid repeatedly rescheduling your ceremony.
According to USCIS guidance, failing to provide proper notice of your absence could lead the agency to determine that you have abandoned your application, which may result in denial.
Summing Up
Congratulations if you are waiting for your N-445! This means you have reached the final stage of the naturalization process. You can relax a bit, but not too much. You still need to complete your oath ceremony.
After taking the Oath of Allegiance, you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization and officially become a U.S. citizen.
However, your responsibilities do not end there. After the ceremony, you should:
- Apply for your U.S. passport.
- Update your Social Security status.
- Update your status with your state driver’s license agency.
- Register to vote.
FAQs
How long does it take to receive Form N-445?
In most cases, you will receive the form by mail within one to six weeks after your Form N-400 is approved.
The exact timing depends on your local USCIS field office and when the next oath ceremony is scheduled in your area.
Can I travel after receiving Form N-445 but before the ceremony?
Yes, you may travel outside the United States after receiving Form N-445. But, you must do so carefully. Until you take the Oath of Allegiance, you are a lawful permanent resident, not a U.S. citizen.
Any trip you take must be disclosed on your N-445 questionnaire. Most importantly, make sure you return in time for your ceremony. Missing your oath ceremony can delay your citizenship process by several months.
In some cases, failing to appear without proper notice to USCIS may result in your application being denied.
Do I have to complete Form N-445 before arriving at the ceremony?
You must complete and sign the questionnaire on the back of Form N-445 on the day of your ceremony, ideally a few hours beforehand.
What if I lost my green card before the ceremony?
If you lost your Permanent Resident Card (green card) before your ceremony, you should report the loss to the police immediately.
On the day of your ceremony, bring the original police report, along with your completed Form N-445. In some cases, USCIS may also ask you to provide proof that you filed Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card). or a sworn statement explaining how the card was lost.