Oath of Allegiance

You are not a citizen until you have taken the Oath of Allegiance. You will take the Oath during the ceremony. An official will read each part of the Oath slowly and ask you to repeat his or her words.

You may take the Oath, without the words "to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law..." if you provide enough evidence that you are opposed to fighting on behalf of the United States because of your religious training and beliefs.

If you provide enough evidence and INS determines that you are opposed to any type of service in the Armed Forces because of your religious training and beliefs, you may omit the words "to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law."

If INS determines you are unable to swear the Oath using the words "on oath," you may replace these words with "and solemnly affirm." Finally, if INS determines you are unable to use the words "so help me God" because of your religious training or beliefs, you may omit these words.

If you believe you qualify for a modified Oath, you should include a letter explaining your situation with your application. INS may also ask you to provide a document from your religious organization explaining its beliefs and stating that you are a member in good standing.

If you have any hereditary titles or positions of nobility, you must give them up at the oath ceremony.

The Oath of Allegiance

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentante, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
that I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law;
that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;

and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.