Naturalization is the process by which United States citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Title 8, United States Code.

The bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes all naturalization applications and provides the Court with a list of the candidates selected to be naturalized.

To Apply for Naturalization / Schedule an Appointment

Applicants for citizenship must file an Application for Naturalization (Form-400) with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To obtain application forms, naturalization information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center, Phone: 1-800-375-5283, or visit their website at www.uscis.gov

When the USCIS determines that an applicant has met the requirements for citizenship, they will schedule the applicant for a public oath ceremony. (The Court does not schedule applicants for oath ceremonies.)

The Naturalization Ceremony

Citizenship Ceremonies Calendar

The culmination of the Naturalization process is the administration of the Oath of Citizenship. In the Eastern District of Washington, approximately 1,000 petitioners take the oath of citizenship in a formal ceremony every year. Judicial ceremonies are usualy held in a courthouse in the Spokane, Yakima and Richland divisions, although offsite locations are occassionally used. Naturalization ceremonies are scheduled at the request of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The current schedule is provided (note: dates and times are subject to change).

If the ceremony is held in the courthouse, all individuals must present valid, government issued ID, such as a driver's license or state ID.  Upon entering the building, individuals will pass through a screening station staffed by Court Security Officers (CSO's).  The CSO's will check the contents of all bags, packages, briefcases and other containers by passing them through an X-ray machine.  You will be required to walk through a metal detector. Individuals with pacemakers or cochlear implants may request screening via a handheld wand. Firearms, Dangerous Weapons and Controlled Substances (i.e. marijuana) are PROHIBITED in Federal Courthouses. Typically cameras are not allowed in the courthouse, however, the judges have authorized the use of cameras during the ceremony and the reception. When reporting for a naturalization ceremony, please plan your arrival time accordingly.

Candidates for Citizenship are to appear in advance of the ceremony for check-in and should bring photo identification, your permanent resident card, any travel documents, and your Appointment Letter (N-445). If you plan to invite guests to attend the ceremony, ceremonies will begin at the time stated on the naturalization ceremony calendar, which is usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours later than the check-in time stated on the Appointment Letter. Please refer to your Appointment Letter for the check-in time and the ceremony start time so your guests can plan accordingly. Applicants and guests are separated during the check-in process. Guest and family seating may be limited depending on the number of naturalization applicants as well as limited seating in the courtroom. If a school or other large group is interested in attending a Naturalization Ceremony, please contact the court at 509-458-3400 to make arrangements so there is sufficient seating available.

Replacing a Certificate of Naturalization

The Court is unable to provide a copy of your naturalization certificate. To obtain a replacement of your naturalization certificate, please follow the instructions found here: www.uscis.gov/n-565 or contact USCIS National Customer Service Center, Phone: 1-800-375-5283.

Obtaining a Copy of Name Change Form

To obtain a record verifying that a name change was granted during a naturalization ceremony after 2010, you may send an email to laurie_whitcomb@waed.uscourts.gov with the following information:

• Previous Name
• New Name
• Date of Birth
• Alien Registration #
• Date of Naturalization
• Location of Naturalization
• Email
• Phone Number

If your name change petition is on file with the Clerks Office, you may purchase as many "true copy" certified copies as desired. When you place your order, you will receive a copy with the court's seal on the certification embossed (raised), which requires the copies to be mailed or picked up in person. Please view the current fees and rates for costs of copies and document certifications.

Name change records prior to 2010 may be requested from USCIS by contacting the USCIS National Customer Service Center, Phone: 1-800-375-5283, or visiting their website at www.uscis.gov

Additional Resources