Oath
2. Oath of Allegiance: Ceremony
The ceremony starts with a presentation that includes videos, music, and an opening greeting from a Master of Ceremonies; there may also be a greeting from a guest speaker.
You will be invited to stand, raise your right hand, and recite the Oath of Allegiance aloud.
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
You do not need to memorize the Oath in advance. The ceremony ends with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance along with a conclusive congratulation from the Master of Ceremonies.
After the ceremony, you will be given a Certificate of Naturalization: this document proves your citizenship. Check it for any possible mistakes and omissions before you leave the ceremony and keep it in a safe place. If your Certificate is lost or stolen, it may be replaced, but it takes 6-12 months, and the cumulative fees could exceed $1,000 (Form N-565 (officially called the “Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document”).
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