Are interviews confidential?

Yes, the naturalization interview is confidential. USCIS treats the substance of the interview, the contents of the application file, and any documents submitted with Form N-400 as protected information under federal privacy laws and USCIS policy. Information from naturalization applications is governed primarily by section 245A(c)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and by 8 CFR sections 103.10 and 208.6, as well as the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. section 552a), which restricts how federal agencies may disclose personal information. USCIS does not disclose interview content or application materials to third parties without the applicant's written consent or a valid court order, and access to the file is limited to USCIS officers, supervisors, attorneys representing the applicant (with Form G-28 on file), and other federal agencies with appropriate legal authority and a need to know.

The interview itself is conducted in private, in an office or interview room at the USCIS field office. Family members are not permitted in the interview room, with limited exceptions: an attorney or BIA-accredited representative who has filed Form G-28, an interpreter for applicants who qualify for a language exception, and parents or legal guardians of minor applicants (although nearly all naturalization applicants are adults).

The officer asks questions related to the application and to eligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act; the questions cover sensitive topics including criminal history, family relationships, marital history, employment, religious affiliation (in cases where conscientious objector status is requested), and political affiliations (under section 313 of the Act, which bars members of certain totalitarian and terrorist organizations from naturalization). All answers given by the applicant under oath at the interview are part of the official record and may be used in subsequent immigration proceedings if relevant, but they are not generally disclosed publicly.

Applicants who are concerned about confidentiality should ask the officer at the start of the interview to explain how information is handled, and applicants represented by attorneys can ask the attorney to explain the privacy protections in advance.