Once a person applying for citizenship successfully passes the citizenship interview and two citizenship tests, there is one more step to complete before that person will become a citizen. All those who seek American citizenship must attend a citizenship ceremony and take the citizenship oath. Until this citizenship oath ceremony has been completed, an applicant will not be deemed to be an American citizen.
At the citizenship ceremony, government officials will collect the permanent resident card (“green card”) and question the applicant to ensure that they have maintained their citizenship eligibility since their citizenship interview (see Form N-445). The applicant will not be able to take the citizenship oath if they have failed to maintain their citizenship eligibility.
During the naturalization ceremony, the applicant for US citizenship will be required to repeat the naturalization Oath of Allegiance, as follows:
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
After you have taken the citizenship oath, you will be given your certificate of naturalization. You are now a newly naturalized American citizen.