N652 Naturalization Interview Results

How to use the results facts

1. Read the guide text for the question you came with.
2. Use the table of USCIS statements under the tool: each row gives the statement, a link to the USCIS page it comes from, and the date we checked it.
3. Open the link when a number matters to your case, such as a pass mark, a deadline or an exception.
4. Use the related tools to practise the part you need.
5. Check the source page again close to your interview, because USCIS can update its pages.

Statements are quoted from USCIS pages and the Policy Manual and kept short; the explanations around them are ours. The page is information and not legal advice.

Rows in the table are quoted statements, kept short. When a page below the table explains a rule in our own words, the matching row shows the exact USCIS wording so that you can compare the two. USCIS updates these pages from time to time, which is why each row carries a checked date. Say each answer aloud once. Check the source link when a number matters to your case. Come back to anything you were unsure about the next day. Nothing you do here is sent to a server. Keep a note of any question you have to look up twice.

What are the results of the N-652 naturalization interview?

After the interview the officer may approve, continue or deny the application, and the notice of results addresses the outcome. Each one leads to a different next step, as shown below.

What happens after the naturalization interview?

Your next steps depend on the result in your notice. Start by reading the notice before you leave the interview.

1. If you are approved, wait for USCIS to re-verify your information and schedule your oath ceremony.
2. If your case is continued, respond to any Form N-14 within the time it gives you, normally 30 days.
3. If you failed a test portion, prepare for a retest on that portion only.
4. If you are denied, read the written notice carefully and follow its instructions on requesting a hearing, including the form and deadline it gives, if you want to contest it.

You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, so an approval is not the final step.

What happens when USCIS requests evidence (N-14)?

A Request for Evidence on Form N-14 means your application is continued while USCIS waits for more documents. Send exactly what the request lists, and send it before the deadline, which is normally 30 days. USCIS then reviews your response and decides your case. The 120-day clock from your interview still applies to the overall decision, so respond promptly.

What happens if you fail the citizenship test?

If you fail the English or civics test, you have two attempts at the test. A continued case is retested on the portion you failed within 60 to 90 days. You only retake the failed part, not the whole test. If you fail again after your second attempt, the result is a denial, and the written notice explains how to request a hearing.

How long does USCIS have to decide after the interview?

USCIS has 120 days from the date of the initial naturalization interview to issue a decision. If the decision is not issued within 120 days, the applicant may request judicial review in district court. A written denial notice must also be issued no later than 120 days after the initial interview. These deadlines come from the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12 Part B Chapter 4, checked on 2026-10-26. A continued case that needs a retest is not decided until after the re-examination, which takes place 60 to 90 days after the first interview.

What do the two USCIS names for the form mean?

Policy Manual Vol. 12 Part E says officers must use “Naturalization Interview Results (Form N-652)”. Part B Chapter 4 calls the notice “Notice of Examination Results (Form N-652)”. Both names refer to the same form number, so you may see either on USCIS pages.