From passing the test to next steps (after N-400)

If you pass both the civics test and the English portion at your USCIS interview, the officer typically gives you the result on the spot using Form N-652 (Notice of Examination Results), or by mail within a few days. Your N-400 application itself is often marked "Granted" the same day, though the officer may instead check "Decision Cannot Yet Be Made" if more review is needed (figures as of 2026; subject to change).

Once approved, scheduling for the oath ceremony happens automatically — there is no separate application. Some USCIS field offices conduct a same-day oath right after the interview.

Decision notice → oath ceremony (Oath of Allegiance)

If you don't take the same-day oath, you'll receive Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) by mail. The ceremony is usually scheduled within a few weeks to a few months.

On the day of the ceremony:

• Bring your Green Card — you will surrender it.
• Answer the questions on the back of the N-445 (travel since interview, marital status changes, etc.) and submit it.
• Recite the Oath of Allegiance publicly with the other candidates.
• Receive your Certificate of Naturalization — you are officially a U.S. citizen at this moment.

Make a photocopy of the certificate and store the original somewhere safe — replacing it costs time and money.

ID and passport

Once you have the Certificate of Naturalization, you can apply for a U.S. passport.

• First-time applicants use Form DS-11 and must apply in person at a designated post office, some libraries, or county clerk offices. Cost: roughly $130 for an adult passport book + card combo, plus a $35 execution fee — about $165 total (figures as of 2026; subject to change).
• Processing typically takes 6–8 weeks (expedited service is faster for an extra fee). The original Certificate of Naturalization must be submitted; it is mailed back separately with your passport.

Your driver's license or state ID does not require immediate renewal, but update your citizenship status at the next renewal — some states require proof of citizenship for REAL ID renewals.

Original-nationality handling

U.S. law does not formally recognize dual citizenship, but in practice dual citizenship is allowed. The Oath of Allegiance contains a renunciation clause, but unless your home country's law strips your nationality automatically, your original citizenship is generally not lost simply by becoming a U.S. citizen.

However, home-country law varies:

• South Korea: automatic loss for those naturalizing before age 22; voluntary acquisition after 22 typically results in loss within six months (with limited exceptions).
• Japan: voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship triggers automatic loss of Japanese nationality.
• Other countries differ — check with your home consulate.

Always confirm dual-nationality rules with your home country's consulate directly.

Tax and Social Security changes

The U.S. is one of the very few countries that uses citizenship-based taxation. As a U.S. citizen, you must file U.S. taxes on worldwide income even if you live abroad.

• Annual Form 1040 (federal income tax) filing
• FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if foreign accounts total over $10,000 at any time in the year
• FATCA (Form 8938) for higher asset thresholds
• This is the most commonly missed obligation by new citizens — it begins immediately upon naturalization.

Social Security: SSA does not automatically update your citizenship status. File Form SS-5 to update it. As a citizen, you can typically receive Social Security benefits while living abroad with far fewer restrictions than green-card holders face.

Voting rights and local rights

You can vote in federal, state, and local elections immediately upon becoming a citizen — but voter registration is a separate step.

• Registration rules vary by state — some register you automatically when you renew a driver's license, others require a separate form.
• Start at vote.org or your state's election authority.
• A handful of localities (e.g. some Maryland cities) allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, but federal elections require citizenship.

Jury duty also begins applying once you are a citizen.

Effect on children's citizenship

Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, a child under 18 automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when all of the following are true at the same time:

• The child is under 18
• The child is a lawful permanent resident
• The child resides in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent

Even though citizenship is automatic, it is strongly recommended to file Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship) to obtain documentary proof — useful later for passports, employment, and college enrollment.

Frequently asked questions

How long until the oath, and what if I lose the certificate? Typically a few weeks to a few months after a successful interview, though some offices offer same-day oaths — watch for Form N-445 in the mail. If you lose the certificate, file Form N-565 for a replacement (around $555, figures as of 2026; subject to change); processing can take months, so guarding the original is strongly preferred.

Do I lose my original nationality automatically? That depends entirely on your home country's law, not U.S. law. Check with your consulate — for example, Korea and Japan generally trigger automatic loss.

Do I still owe U.S. taxes if I move abroad? Yes — U.S. citizens file on worldwide income regardless of residence (with deductions like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion). Renouncing citizenship can trigger an expatriation tax. You can apply for a passport right after the oath; request expedited service if travel is imminent.

Official information: uscis.gov/citizenship