What if you cannot attend?

If the applicant cannot attend the assigned oath ceremony, the applicant must request a continuance by returning Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) to USCIS with a written explanation, and USCIS will reschedule the ceremony for a later date. The procedure is set out in 8 CFR section 337.10. Form N-445 has a section on the back specifically for indicating that the applicant cannot attend, with options such as illness, work conflict, family emergency, religious observance, or pregnancy and delivery. The applicant signs and mails the form to the address on the notice.

USCIS will then send a new Form N-445 with a rescheduled ceremony date, typically within four to eight weeks, although the wait can be longer in busy offices. Repeated requests for continuance are permitted but may eventually trigger an administrative review under 8 CFR section 335.5.

If the applicant fails to attend the ceremony without notice, USCIS may treat the absence as administrative abandonment and may deny the application; the applicant would then need to refile Form N-400 to start the process over. Same-day oath ceremonies scheduled immediately after the interview can also be rescheduled if the applicant has a personal constraint (such as needing time for family travel or to invite guests).

The naturalization is not complete until the oath is taken, so a continuance simply delays citizenship until the rescheduled ceremony; eligibility, the approved interview, and the underlying decision remain valid. Most rescheduled ceremonies occur within four to eight weeks of the original date, using the same procedure as the originally scheduled event.