What oath do new citizens take?

New citizens take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, the formal oath set out in 8 CFR section 337.1 and administered as the final step of the naturalization process under section 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The oath is recited in English by all new citizens together at a public ceremony, and it has six promises: renunciation of all prior foreign allegiance and fidelity; support and defense of the Constitution and laws of the United States 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," which the applicant may omit. Conscientious objectors whose religious training and belief prohibits military service may take a modified oath under 8 CFR section 337.1(b) that omits the bear-arms and noncombatant-service clauses while keeping the rest.

The oath is administered by a federal judge or a USCIS officer, depending on whether the ceremony is judicial or administrative. Citizenship vests at the moment the oath is taken, and the new citizen receives a Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) immediately afterward, completing the legal transition from lawful permanent resident to U.S. citizen. This text has been substantially the same since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 and is the federal naturalization oath.