The US citizenship interview: what the officer actually asks (2026)

Four tests in one interview, and most people only prepare for one of them.

Updated August 2026

The naturalization interview is not a quiz. In twenty to thirty minutes a USCIS officer reviews your N-400 line by line, asks the civics questions out loud, has you read one sentence and write another, and judges your spoken English from the moment you sit down. Which civics test you take depends on when you filed: applications filed before 20 October 2025 take the 2008 test (10 questions from 100, six correct to pass), and applications filed on or after that date take the 2025 test (20 questions from 128, twelve correct to pass). This page covers all four parts and what the officer is listening for in each.

This is interview practice, not legal or immigration advice. Merra does not review your application and does not predict whether you will be approved.

Citizenship interview guides

3 guides
The civics test, asked out loudThe officer asks these out loud, gives you no feedback between answers, and stops the moment you pass.The English test: speaking, reading, writingNobody tells you when the speaking test starts, because it starts when the officer says hello.The N-400 review and Part 9 questionsThe officer already has your answers. The interview is about whether you say the same thing out loud.

The four things being tested at once

Free civics quizzes only cover one of four parts. The officer reviews your N-400 line by line, asks the civics questions out loud, has you read one sentence and write another, and — the part almost nobody prepares for — judges your spoken English from the moment you sit down, silently, across every question. Someone who only revises the civics list has prepared for a quarter of the interview.

Merra: the naturalization interview, practised out loud

An AI officer asks the questions aloud, in conversation, and assesses your spoken English as it happens — not a written quiz, which is what every free civics app already gives you.

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An AI officer asks the questions out loud, follows up in conversation, and assesses your spoken English as it happens — not a written quiz.

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The naturalization interview process

  1. 1The officer calls you in and puts you under oath.
  2. 2They review your Form N-400 with you, out loud, comparing your answers to what you filed.
  3. 3They ask the Part 9 eligibility and good moral character questions.
  4. 4They ask the civics questions aloud and stop as soon as you have passed.
  5. 5You read one sentence of three, and write one sentence of three.
  6. 6They tell you the result, or that a decision will follow.

Which civics test applies to you

Decided entirely by your filing date — not by when your interview happens.

Filed before 20 October 2025
2008 test
  • 100-question pool
  • 10 questions asked
  • 6 correct to pass
Filed on or after 20 October 2025
2025 test
  • 128-question pool
  • 20 questions asked
  • 12 correct to pass

What good moral character means since August 2025

Since August 2025, USCIS weighs positive factors — taxes paid, steady work, caring for family, community involvement, military service — alongside any negatives, rather than only checking for disqualifying conduct. Bring your positives into the room.

The exemptions most people do not know about

Age and residency length can change which tests you take, and how.

65/20
65 years or older, 20 years a permanent resident

May take the civics test from a reduced set of questions, in their own language.

55/15
55 years or older, 15 years a permanent resident

May take the civics test in their own language and are exempt from the English requirement.

50/20
50 years or older, 20 years a permanent resident

May take the civics test in their own language and are exempt from the English requirement.

N-648
Form N-648 (medical exception)

Completed by a medical professional, can exempt an applicant from the English and civics requirements.

Real citizenship interview questions

Grouped by area — drawn from USCIS materials.

The N-400 review

“Have you ever used any other names?”
“How many days have you spent outside the United States in the last five years?”
“What was your longest trip?”

Eligibility and good moral character

“Have you ever failed to file a required tax return?”
“Have you EVER been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer, anywhere in the world?”
“Have you ever given false information to a US official?”
“Have you ever claimed to be a US citizen?”

Attachment and the oath

“Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the United States?”
“Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance?”

Spoken English, never announced

“Tell me about your job.”
“Why do you want to be a United States citizen?”

Pricing

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US citizenship interview FAQs

How long is the citizenship interview?

Usually twenty to thirty minutes, longer than most people expect, because the officer reviews the whole form.

Which civics test will I take?

The 2008 test if you filed before 20 October 2025, the 2025 test if you filed on or after it.

Does the officer tell me when the English test starts?

No. Your spoken English is assessed throughout the interview, from the first question.

What happens if I fail?

You are retested on the failed portion only, between 60 and 90 days later. There are two attempts in total.

Is a "yes" answer on the form automatically a problem?

No. Concealing something the officer can already see is far more damaging than disclosing it.

Official information

For the official application process, forms and requirements.

uscis.gov: The naturalization interview and test ↗uscis.gov: Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 2 ↗uscis.gov: 2025 civics test resources ↗

More interview guides

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Merra is an independent interview-practice platform and is not affiliated with USCIS or the US government. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any interview or application outcome, and it is not legal or immigration advice.

The naturalization interview is spoken. Practise it that way.

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