The best prep for the U.S. Citizenship Test.

Fees for various parts of the naturalization process are subject to periodic change, so the latest fee scale should be consulted. Many of the minor forms may be filed at no charge. According to the most recent fee schedule, the fee for submitting the required N-400 form is listed as $760 for filing by paper and $710 to file online. There is a process, however, through which you can have this fee waived. There is also a chance that social service and community agencies may help with the payment of this fee. For more information about fees, see the form G-1055 fee schedule and this list of filing fees. Be sure to check often for updates to these pages.

On the day of your interview appointment, you will need to have several items with you to complete the process:

• the appointment notice that was mailed to you after you applied for naturalization
• your permanent resident card (form I-551)
• all your valid and expired passports
• a state-issued ID card, such as a driver’s license

Other documents can prevent delays in your naturalization procedure, so be sure to bring these along if they apply to your particular situation:

• documents proving marital status
• documents proving any name change you may have made
• proof of spouse’s marital history, if previously married (e.g., divorce decree)
• any court records that include your name
• Selective Service Registration (if you are a male between ages 18 and 31)

To determine if there are any other documents needed, refer to the form M-477 document checklist.

Notes:

• If you feel sick or have another emergency on the day of your interview appointment, be sure to call ahead to inform the USCIS office and reschedule your appointment. Failure to do this could delay or even prevent your access to citizenship.

• If any of the information you supplied on your N-400 form has changed (e.g., marital status, employment status, number of children) since it was filed, be prepared to discuss these changes.

You will pass this test provided you can demonstrate two things:

• the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English
• basic knowledge of US government and history

English ability is determined by your performance during the interview (understanding and speaking) and by doing the following:

• Read one of three sentences correctly. There is no penalty for having an accent.

• Write one of three sentences legibly enough to be read by the examining officer. There is no penalty for spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors as long as the written sentence can be understood. You cannot abbreviate any word.

Your knowledge of US government and history is assessed by the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. The officer will ask you up to 20 questions from the 128 questions on the official test question list.

• You must answer a total of 12 questions correctly to pass.
• The test will end when you answer 12 questions correctly or nine questions incorrectly.

If you fail any part of the test, the officer should provide you with the next steps required to continue the process.

Simply living permanently in the United States entitles a person to some rights, by virtue of the US Constitution and the laws of the country. As a resident, you are automatically entitled to certain protections under the law. Becoming a citizen of the United States, however, will provide you many additional privileges, such as the right to vote.

Eligibility for US citizenship is subject to change, so you should be sure to obtain the most current information. You can now determine your eligibility online.

Just living permanently in a country may offer you much of what you desire in life, but becoming a citizen means much more than that. It means you are part of the country’s heritage and proclaim allegiance to its government. Citizenship also entitles you to many rights that are not given to non-citizens. Being a US citizen gives you additional responsibilities, as well.

While there is no pay earned for simply becoming a citizen, there are benefits that could lead to earning a higher salary in your chosen field. For example, only citizens may work for U.S. government agencies, which often offer very competitive salaries and benefits. Also, if travel is a part of your job, U.S. Citizenship will provide you with U.S. Government assistance while you are abroad.

The interview and naturalization tests are conducted at USCIS offices around the country. You must have been issued an interview appointment to take this test. Here is how to apply for naturalization.

This link has more information about immigration paths. Be sure to check dates on any of this information to be sure it applies to the process for the updated 2025 version of the test.

Before you attend your interview/testing session, thoroughly review your application and all documentation that you have submitted or will be taking with you. Practice speaking, reading, and writing in English, including following orally-given instructions.

On the day of your appointment, arrive at least 15 minutes early. Be sure to allow for any possible traffic delays you might encounter. If you do not arrive on time for your appointment, the USCIS office may immediately cancel the appointment and require you to reschedule it for another day, which can involve a considerable delay.

Once there, you will first go through a security screening and then be asked to wait to be called in for the interview. There is really no way to tell how long you might have to wait for your interview to start, regardless of your appointment time. Average reported wait times seem to be in the range of 15 to 30 minutes. This time may be affected by such things as staff absences and weather-related delays. Since you don’t want to have to leave and reschedule, it is best to plan to allot the greater portion of your day to this naturalization process.

The various parts of the US citizenship interview and tests are each short, but they may total about 30 minutes.