U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony - The Pivotal Moment

arc707.org: U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony - The Pivotal Moment

U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony = The Transition From Legal Permanent Residents to New Americans.

USCIS.gov: Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America

"I hereby declare, on oath, 

that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; 

that I will support and defend the Constitution and 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 the 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."

Note: In certain circumstances there can be a modification or waiver of the Oath of Allegiance. Read Chapter 5 of A Guide to Naturalization for more information.

The principles embodied in the Oath are codified in Section 337(a) in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which provides that all applicants shall take an oath that incorporates the substance of the following:

1. Support the Constitution;
2. Renounce and abjure absolutely and entirely all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was before a subject or citizen;
3. Support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
4. Bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and
5. A. Bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; or
   B. Perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; or
   C. Perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law.

The language of the current Oath is found in the Code of Federal Regulations Section 337.1 and is closely based upon the statutory elements in Section 337(a) of the INA.