N-400 interview words
Before the civics test, the officer goes over your application in English and asks many yes or no questions. Learn the words so you understand every question.
Plain-English meanings of words a USCIS officer may use when going over your Form N-400. This is a study aid, not legal advice. Answer every question truthfully; if a question applies to you, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited representative before the interview.
Starting the interview
oath
A serious promise. At the start you promise that everything you say is true.
Officer: “Please raise your right hand. Do you swear that everything you will say today is the truth?”
swear
To promise in a serious, official way.
Officer: “Do you swear to tell the truth?”
identification
A document that shows who you are, like a green card or passport.
Officer: “May I see your identification?”
permanent resident card
Your green card.
Officer: “Do you have your permanent resident card with you?”
appointment notice
The letter from USCIS that tells you the date and time of your interview.
Officer: “Do you have your appointment notice?”
About you
current address
Where you live now.
Officer: “What is your current address?”
date of birth
The day, month and year you were born.
Officer: “What is your date of birth?”
marital status
Whether you are single, married, divorced or widowed.
Officer: “What is your marital status?”
spouse
Your husband or wife.
Officer: “What is your spouse's name?”
divorced
Your marriage was legally ended.
Officer: “Have you ever been divorced?”
widowed
Your husband or wife died.
Officer: “Are you married, single, divorced or widowed?”
employer
The company or person you work for.
Officer: “Who is your current employer?”
occupation
Your job or the kind of work you do.
Officer: “What is your occupation?”
trips outside the United States
Times you left the U.S. and came back.
Officer: “How many trips outside the United States have you taken in the last five years?”
physical presence
The days you were actually inside the United States.
Officer: “Have you met the physical presence requirement?”
continuous residence
Living in the U.S. without long breaks abroad.
Officer: “Did you take any trip longer than six months?”
Have you ever…
claimed to be a U.S. citizen
Said, in writing or out loud, that you were a U.S. citizen when you were not.
Officer: “Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen?”
registered to vote
Signed up to vote in an election.
Officer: “Have you ever registered to vote in any federal, state or local election?”
voted
Took part in an election by choosing a person or answer.
Officer: “Have you ever voted in any federal, state or local election in the United States?”
title of nobility
A special royal or noble title, like lord or duke.
Officer: “Do you now have, or did you ever have, a hereditary title or an order of nobility?”
owe overdue taxes
You have taxes you should have paid but did not pay on time.
Officer: “Do you owe any overdue federal, state or local taxes?”
nonresident
On a tax return, saying you do not live in the U.S. for tax purposes.
Officer: “Have you ever called yourself a nonresident on a tax return?”
arrested
Taken by the police because they thought you broke a law.
Officer: “Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer?”
cited
Given a ticket or written notice for breaking a rule or law.
Officer: “Have you ever been cited by a police officer?”
detained
Held by police or officials for a time, even if not arrested.
Officer: “Have you ever been detained?”
charged
Officially accused of a crime.
Officer: “Have you ever been charged with committing any crime?”
convicted
Found guilty of a crime by a court.
Officer: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offense?”
probation
A court order that lets you stay out of jail if you follow rules.
Officer: “Have you ever been placed on probation?”
parole
Early release from prison with rules you must follow.
Officer: “Have you ever been paroled?”
habitual drunkard
A person who is drunk very often.
Officer: “Have you ever been a habitual drunkard?”
prostitution
Selling or buying sex for money.
Officer: “Have you ever been involved in prostitution?”
controlled substances
Illegal drugs or drugs regulated by law.
Officer: “Have you ever sold or smuggled controlled substances?”
smuggle
To bring people or things into a country illegally.
Officer: “Have you ever helped anyone enter the United States illegally?”
polygamy
Being married to more than one person at the same time.
Officer: “Have you ever been married to more than one person at the same time?”
gambling
Betting money on games or events.
Officer: “Have you ever received income from illegal gambling?”
lied to a U.S. government official
Said something false to get an immigration benefit or to enter the U.S.
Officer: “Have you ever given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official?”
failed to support your dependents
Did not give money you owed to your children or family, like child support.
Officer: “Have you ever failed to support your dependents or pay alimony?”
alimony
Money a person must pay to a former husband or wife after divorce.
Officer: “Have you ever failed to pay alimony?”
removed or deported
Made to leave the United States by the government.
Officer: “Have you ever been removed or deported from the United States?”
removal proceedings
A case in immigration court about making someone leave the U.S.
Officer: “Have you ever been placed in removal proceedings?”
Groups and serious acts
member of
Belonging to a group or organization.
Officer: “Have you ever been a member of, or in any way associated with, any organization?”
Communist Party
A political party that follows communism.
Officer: “Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”
totalitarian party
A party that controls everything in a country and allows no other parties.
Officer: “Have you ever been a member of any other totalitarian party?”
terrorist organization
A group that uses violence against people to reach political goals.
Officer: “Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organization?”
overthrow
To remove a government by force.
Officer: “Have you ever advocated the overthrow of any government by force?”
persecuted
Hurt or treated someone badly because of their race, religion, nationality, group or political opinion.
Officer: “Have you ever persecuted any person because of race, religion or political opinion?”
genocide
Killing or hurting people to destroy a whole national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
Officer: “Have you ever been involved in genocide?”
torture
Causing great pain to someone on purpose.
Officer: “Have you ever been involved in torture?”
militia
A group of armed people that is not the regular army.
Officer: “Have you ever served in a militia or other armed group?”
rebel group
An armed group fighting against a government.
Officer: “Have you ever been part of a rebel group?”
child soldiers
Children under 15 used to fight or help in an armed group.
Officer: “Have you ever recruited or used anyone under 15 years old to serve in an armed group?”
weapon
Something used to hurt people, like a gun.
Officer: “Have you ever received any type of military or weapons training?”
Military and oath
Selective Service
The U.S. system that registers men aged 18 to 25 in case of a military draft.
Officer: “Did you register with the Selective Service System?”
armed forces
The military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force and Coast Guard.
Officer: “Have you ever served in the U.S. armed forces?”
desert
To leave the military without permission.
Officer: “Have you ever deserted from the U.S. armed forces?”
support the Constitution
To accept and follow the U.S. Constitution.
Officer: “Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the United States?”
Oath of Allegiance
The promise new citizens make to be loyal to the United States.
Officer: “Do you understand the full Oath of Allegiance to the United States?”
bear arms
To carry weapons and fight for the U.S. if the law requires it.
Officer: “If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States?”
noncombatant service
Work in the military that does not involve fighting.
Officer: “Are you willing to perform noncombatant services in the U.S. armed forces?”
work of national importance
Important civilian work for the country when the law requires it.
Officer: “Are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction?”