No, the interview is not the last step to citizenship. The final step in the citizenship process (for both the U.S. and Australia) is typically attending a citizenship ceremony and taking the Oath of Allegiance.
90% of applications are processed within 9 months. 90% of approved applicants will have the opportunity to attend a ceremony within 5 months of approval.
Once you have successfully completed your interview and your application has been approved, we will schedule you to take the Oath of Allegiance. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
Oath Ceremony
Taking the Oath of Allegiance is the final step to becoming a U.S. citizen. You will be scheduled for a ceremony after the USCIS officer approves your application. You must meet all eligibility requirements until your oath ceremony – you do not become a U.S. citizen until you are sworn in.
Once you've passed the interview and citizenship test, USCIS will send you a notification that your application was approved. You will then be scheduled for your oath ceremony, usually 1–2 months after your successful interview.
The waiting time between the interview and oath ceremony is usually no more than 30 days. Find out how long people in your USCIS district normally wait for the oath ceremony notice. Contact USCIS if you have waited longer than normal for your district.
The 2025 naturalization civics test is an oral test consisting of 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer 12 questions correctly to pass the 2025 test. You will fail the test if you answer 9 of the 20 questions incorrectly.
An alien has two opportunities to pass the English and civics tests: the initial examination and the re-examination interview. USCIS denies the naturalization application if the alien fails to pass any portion of the tests after two attempts.
Green Card (Adjustment of Status) Applications – Most applicants receive a decision within 30 to 90 days, though complex cases may take longer. Naturalization (Citizenship) Applications – Applicants typically receive a decision within 120 days, followed by an oath ceremony if approved.
Taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving your Certificate of Naturalization. In many cases, your Oath of Allegiance ceremony will take place on the same day as your interview and exam, assuming your application is approved. Otherwise, USCIS will schedule it about two to six weeks later.
After your citizenship application is approved, the final step is to attend a citizenship ceremony and make the Australian Citizenship Pledge. You officially become an Australian citizen currently you make this pledge.
How can you expedite the naturalization process?
If you filed an immigration application or petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you can check the progress of your case's status online or by phone. And learn how long it may take to process it.
Please note there is no option to 'fast-track' or 'expedite' your ceremony. Urgent ceremonies are only approved in exceptional and very limited circumstances. In order to qualify for an urgent ceremony you are required to provide full details along with supporting evidence to demonstrate your exceptional circumstances.
If you have lodged an Australian citizenship application and then leave Australia, for the Department of Home Affairs to continue processing your application you need to return to Australia or provide an intended return date.
How to Pass the US Citizenship Test
Business casual is a reliable choice, with clean, pressed outfits, khakis, and button-down shirts being appropriate. More formal attire, such as a suit, can also be a great option if you feel comfortable wearing it.
Often, this occurs when the foreign national fails one of the tests for citizenship. They might simply need to spend more time studying for the civics test or the English-language test. The second interview will occur within 60 or 90 days from the first interview, so they should make sure to prepare during that time.
The biggest red flags in an interview often involve toxic culture indicators like the interviewer badmouthing past employees, aggressive pressure to accept quickly, extreme vagueness about the actual job, or a disorganized process. These signal potential issues with management, a poor environment, or a desperate need to fill the role, rather than finding the right fit, showing a lack of respect for you or the position.
Approximately 6 to 10 Months After Filing
You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. The oath is administered by USCIS at an administrative ceremony or by a judge in a judicial ceremony.
What should you not say to an immigration officer?
If You Don't Pass
If you fail any of the tests at your initial interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview.
Top 15 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in 2026: Updated
More than 92% of applicants pass the civics portion of the naturalization test on their first attempt, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.