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Preparing Applicants for Naturalization Interviews
NAC has heard scattered reports of applicants experiencing more difficult naturalization interviews. The most common trend seems to be more long and complex sentences in the reading and writing portion of the test, but some applicants have also experienced unusually invasive questions. As we face the possibility of additional changes to USCIS practices, it is important to support applicants in preparing for the interview. Here are some recommendations:
[Note: This first section is intended for legal service providers who may be involved in preparing applications for your students; I'm sharing it as FYI for citizenship teachers]:
- Citizenship educators are typically not qualified to provide legal advice, so attorneys and accredited representatives play an important role in ensuring that applicants are prepared for their interview.
- Legal representatives should flag any potential issues on the N-400 that may invite extra attention from USCIS (such as absences, arrests, tax issues, etc.), and make sure that applicants are prepared to answer questions about these issues.
- We recommend incorporating interview preparation into your workflow for every client, so applicants know what to expect and are prepared to answer questions specific to their applications. (See the USCIS Policy Manual for a refresher on the guidance and process for interviews.)
- Applicants who are attending interviews on their own should be encouraged to try to remember details and make notes as they are able, in case something goes wrong in the interview. For example, applicants should note if they were asked civics questions that weren’t on the applicable list (based on the timing of their application submission), or if the adjudicator makes inappropriate personal comments, and share that information with their legal representative to respond or complain as needed.
- Some NAC partners have created intentional feedback loops, inviting those who have completed their interviews to share about their experiences and incorporating those insights into their interview prep efforts. As with all evolving practices, it is also beneficial to communicate with other service providers in your area to gain insights into trends in your local field offices.
Policy and Practice Updates
Proposed Naturalization Fee Increases
USCIS has proposed increasing the N-400 filing fee to $1330 for paper filing (up from $760) and $1280 for online filing (up from $710) and eliminating the fee waiver and reduced fee options for naturalization. This is a proposed rule, meaning it does not go into effect immediately. Public comments are due by August 24, 2026. We are working on resources to support comments, and we will share more in the coming weeks. Here is a basic overview of the proposed changes.
Birthright Citizenship Update
On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s executive order that would have restricted birthright citizenship. Read the ILRC’s statement here.
USCIS Adjudications Pause Lifted
On June 5, a federal judge vacated four USCIS policies impacting nationals of the 39 travel ban countries, including the pause on adjudication of immigration benefits (learn more about the decision here). On June 12, USCIS announced that they will follow the terms of this decision, pending further litigation. They have filed an appeal in the case, but in the meantime, they should start adjudicating the applications that have been on pause. Please let us know if your clients impacted by this policy start to receive decisions or see other movement on their applications.
USCIS Naturalization Data
USCIS has published data on N-400s received, approved, and denied through April 2026, showing a steep decrease in applications and adjudications. In recent months, USCIS has received around half the number of N-400s compared to the same time last year, which matches the decreased number of applications completed by NAC partners. Despite low numbers, it is important to remember that people are still naturalizing, and the work of NAC partners continues to be essential in helping eligible LPRs become citizens.
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