What do you promise in the oath?

In the Oath of Allegiance the applicant promises to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, to bear true faith and allegiance to the same, to renounce all prior foreign allegiance, and to bear arms or perform noncombatant or civilian service for the United States when required by law.

The full text, set out in 8 CFR section 337.1, contains six discrete promises: renunciation of foreign allegiance and fidelity; support and defense of the Constitution and laws against all enemies foreign and domestic; bearing true faith and allegiance to the same; bearing arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; performing noncombatant service in the Armed Forces when required by law; and performing work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law. The oath ends with a declaration that the obligation is taken freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, followed by the optional phrase "so help me God."

Two of the six promises (the bear-arms and noncombatant-service clauses) may be omitted under 8 CFR section 337.1(b) on the basis of religious training and belief, allowing for a modified oath for conscientious objectors. The other four promises must be made by every applicant.

The oath does not require the applicant to give up their native language, change their name, change their religion, or surrender their previous passport. It requires allegiance to the United States and obedience to U.S. law going forward. The full recitation typically takes around 60 seconds, with the presiding official reading the text and applicants repeating it in unison.