Can the oath be modified?

Yes, the Oath of Allegiance can be modified for applicants who, by reason of religious training and belief, are conscientiously opposed to bearing arms or to performing noncombatant military service. The standard oath, set out in section 337(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. section 1448(a)), includes commitments to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law, to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces when required by the law, and to perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law.

Applicants whose religious or conscientious beliefs prevent them from making one or both of the first two commitments may request a modified oath under 8 CFR section 337.1(b). Two modifications are available. First, applicants opposed to bearing arms may take an oath that omits the bear arms clause but retains the commitments to perform noncombatant service and work of national importance. Second, applicants opposed to both bearing arms and noncombatant service may take an oath that omits both military commitments and retains only the commitment to perform work of national importance under civilian direction.

Applicants who request a modified oath must submit evidence of their religious or conscientious beliefs as part of Form N-400 or in response to a USCIS request, including a personal statement explaining the basis of the belief (typically training in a particular religious tradition with a long history of conscientious objection, such as the Religious Society of Friends, the Mennonite Church, the Church of the Brethren, the Jehovah's Witnesses, or other recognized peace churches), supporting documents (letters from religious leaders, baptismal or membership records), and answers to follow-up questions at the interview.

Section 337(a) also permits applicants to omit the phrase so help me God on religious or conscientious grounds and to substitute solemnly affirm for the words swear or oath; these are not separate modifications but standard options available to all applicants regardless of basis. USCIS reviews modified-oath requests carefully but routinely approves them when the applicant demonstrates a sincere and longstanding belief. The modified oath has the same legal effect as the standard oath: the applicant becomes a U.S. citizen on completion.