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Citizenship Interview Questions: What the Officer Asks, Including the "Have You Ever" Questions

What happens at the naturalization interview: questions about your N-400, the "have you ever" questions, the English and civics tests and what to bring.

By the Citizo Team6 min read

Two people practice interview questions at a home table; one holds a folder.

In short

  • At the interview, a USCIS officer goes over your Form N-400 with you and asks questions to clarify or confirm your answers.
  • That conversation is also your English speaking test. You may ask the officer to repeat or rephrase a question.
  • The officer also gives you the civics test and the English reading and writing tests, unless you are exempt.
  • Part 9 of Form N-400 has many "Have you EVER" questions. "Ever" means anywhere in the world, at any time.
  • Bring your interview notice, Green Card, a state ID and all your passports and travel documents.
In this guide
  1. How the interview works
  2. Questions about you (Parts 1 to 8)
  3. The "have you ever" questions (Part 9)
  4. The Oath questions (items 31 to 37)
  5. What to bring
  6. Practice with Citizo
  7. Frequently asked questions
  8. Sources

How the interview works

  1. You arrive at the USCIS office on the date and time in your notice. Bring the notice with you.
  2. The officer places you under oath. You promise to tell the truth.
  3. The officer reviews your N-400. Expect questions about your name, addresses, marital history, children, work and school, and trips outside the United States.
  4. The officer asks Part 9 questions ("Have you ever...").
  5. You take the tests: civics (oral), reading and writing, unless you are exempt.
  6. You sign your application at the interview (Part 15) and the Oath part (Part 16). Signing Part 16 does not make you a citizen yet.
  7. You get a notice of the results.

An officer does not need you to understand every word on the application. If you understand the questions and answer in a way that makes sense, you show that you can speak English.

Questions about you (Parts 1 to 8)

The officer may ask you to confirm or update:

Part of Form N-400Example questions
Part 2. Information About YouWhat is your full name? Have you used other names? What is your date of birth?
Part 4. Your ResidenceWhere do you live now? Where did you live before?
Part 5. Marital HistoryAre you married? When did you marry?
Part 6. Your ChildrenHow many children do you have? Where do they live?
Part 7. Employment and SchoolsWhere do you work? Since when?
Part 8. Time Outside the United StatesHow many trips have you taken? How long was each one?

Practice saying these answers in English: "I live at...", "I work at... since 2019", "I have two children."

The "have you ever" questions (Part 9)

Form N-400 says: when a question includes the word "EVER," you must give information about any actions anywhere in the world at any time. The officer may read these questions again. Many use hard words. Here are the main groups in the current edition (01/20/25):

ItemsTopic
1Claiming to be a U.S. citizen
2Registering to vote or voting in a U.S. election
3 to 4Overdue taxes; calling yourself a "nonresident" on a tax return
5 to 14Communist or totalitarian parties, groups that used violence, torture, genocide, military or armed groups, weapons, detention places, child soldiers
15 to 16Crimes and arrests, including ones that were sealed or cleared
17 to 19Prostitution, drugs, more than one spouse, marriage for immigration, smuggling, illegal gambling, child support, false information to the government
20 to 21Removal or deportation
22 to 29Selective Service and U.S. armed forces
30 to 37Titles of nobility and the Oath of Allegiance

Key words to know:

  • Ever: at any time in your life.
  • Arrested: taken by the police. Cited: given a ticket or a written notice. Detained: held by an official.
  • Convicted: found guilty by a court.
  • Overdue taxes: taxes you should have paid and did not.
  • Bear arms: carry weapons. Noncombatant service: help the military without fighting.

The form says you must list crimes and offenses even if the records were sealed, expunged or cleared, and even if someone told you it is no longer on your record. If any answer is "yes," the form asks you to explain in Part 14 and send evidence. If you have something to explain, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative before the interview.

The Oath questions (items 31 to 37)

These ask if you support the Constitution, understand the full Oath of Allegiance and are willing to take it, and, if the law requires it, to bear arms, do noncombatant service or do work of national importance. Learn what each one means so you can answer clearly.

What to bring

  • Your interview appointment notice.
  • Your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
  • A state-issued ID, such as a driver's license.
  • All valid and expired passports and travel documents that show your trips since you became a permanent resident.
  • Other documents for your situation. Form M-477, Document Checklist, and the N-400 instructions have the full list.

For clothes and security tips, read what to wear to the citizenship interview.

Practice with Citizo

Citizo helps you with the test parts of the interview: the practice test plays each civics question in English when you press a button; you answer out loud and mark whether you got it right, or you choose from options. Reading and writing uses the official word lists. Read also citizenship test questions 2026 and the reading and writing test. Citizo does not practice the personal N-400 questions, so prepare those with your own application.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring an interpreter?

If you qualify for an exemption from the English part, such as 50/20 or 55/15, you must bring your own interpreter. A medical exception (Form N-648) that covers English speaking also lets you use one. See the 65/20 rule and language exemptions.

What if I do not understand a question?

Ask the officer to repeat or rephrase it. USCIS allows this.

What if my information changed after I filed?

Tell the officer. If your name changed, bring the documents that changed it.

Do I become a citizen at the interview?

Only after you take the Oath of Allegiance. Sometimes the ceremony is the same day. Read what to expect at the oath ceremony.

About this guide

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative. Citizo is an independent app. It is not part of the U.S. government and has no connection to USCIS. The official information is at uscis.gov. Written by the Citizo Team. Facts checked on October 29, 2026.

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