11. What Should the Applicant Do if They Cannot Go to their Oath Ceremony?
If applicants cannot go to their oath ceremony, they should return the “Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) that they received to their local USCIS office. They must include a letter explaining why they cannot go to the ceremony. Their local USCIS office will reschedule the oath ceremony and send a new “Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) to tell the applicant when his or her oath ceremony will be.
12. What Can the Applicant Do if USCIS Denies His or Her Application?
If applicants think that USCIS wrongly denied the naturalization application, they may request a hearing with an immigration officer. Their denial letter will explain how to request a hearing and will include the form they need. The form for filing an appeal is the “Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings under Section 336 of the INA” (Form N-336). The applicant must file the form, including the correct fee, within 30 days after they receive a denial letter.
If after an appeal hearing with USCIS the case is still denied, the applicant may file a petition for a new review of the application in U.S. District Court.
13. Can Applicants Reapply for Naturalization if Their Application Has Been Denied?
In many cases, applicants may reapply. If they reapply, they will need to complete and resubmit a new Form N-400 and pay the fee again. They will also need to have their fingerprints and photographs taken again. If their application is denied, the denial letter should indicate the date they may reapply for US citizenship.
If applicants are denied because they failed the English or civics test, they may reapply for naturalization as soon as they want. They should reapply whenever they believe they have learned enough English or civics to pass the tests.
14. What Happens if the Applicant Loses His or Her Certificate of Naturalization?
Applicants who lose their Certificate of Naturalization may get a new Certificate of Naturalization by submitting an “Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document” (Form N-565) to USCIS. There is a fee to request a replacement document.