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8 U.S.C. § 1448 — Oath of renunciation and allegiance
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Public ceremony** A person who has applied for naturalization shall, in order to be and before being admitted to citizenship, take in a public ceremony before the Attorney General or a court with jurisdiction under [section 1421(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1421/b&num=0&edition=prelim) an oath (1) to support the Constitution of the United States; (2) to 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) to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; (4) to bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and (5)(A) to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law, or (B) to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law, or (C) to perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law. Any such person shall be required to take an oath containing the substance of clauses (1) to (5) of the preceding sentence, except that a person who shows by clear and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that he is opposed to the bearing of arms in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of religious training and belief shall be required to take an oath containing the substance of clauses (1) to (4) and clauses (5)(B) and (5)(C) of this subsection, and a person who shows by clear and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that he is opposed to any type of service in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of religious training and belief shall be req
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-8/section-1448-oath-of-renunciation-and-allegiance--16ad5161ef.md
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Source location: Title 8, Chapter 12, § 1448; chapter-012-immigration-and-nationality.md
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**(a) Public ceremony** A person who has applied for naturalization shall, in order to be and before being admitted to citizenship, take in a public ceremony before the Attorney General or a court with jurisdiction under [section 1421(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1421/b&num=0&edition=prelim) an oath (1) to support the Constitution of the United States; (2) to 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) to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; (4) to bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and (5)(A) to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law, or (B) to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law, or (C) to perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law. Any such person shall be required to take an oath containing the substance of clauses (1) to (5) of the preceding sentence, except that a person who shows by clear and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that he is opposed to the bearing of arms in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of religious training and belief shall be required to take an oath containing the substance of clauses (1) to (4) and clauses (5)(B) and (5)(C) of this subsection, and a person who shows by clear and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that he is opposed to any type of service in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of religious training and belief shall be required to take an oath containing the substance of said clauses (1) to (4) and clause (5)(C). The term “religious training and belief” as used in this section shall mean an individual’s belief in a relation to a Supreme Being involving duties superior to those arising from any human relation, but does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code. In the case of the naturalization of a child under the provisions of [section 1433 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1433&num=0&edition=prelim) the Attorney General may waive the taking of the oath if in the opinion of the Attorney General the child is unable to understand its meaning. The Attorney General may waive the taking of the oath by a person if in the opinion of the Attorney General the person is unable to understand, or to communicate an understanding of, its meaning because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment. If the Attorney General waives the taking of the oath by a person under the preceding sentence, the person shall be considered to have met the requirements of [section 1427(a)(3) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1427/a/3&num=0&edition=prelim) with respect to attachment to the principles of the Constitution and well disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States.
**(b) Hereditary titles or orders of nobility** In case the person applying for naturalization has borne any hereditary title, or has been of any of the orders of nobility in any foreign state, the applicant shall in addition to complying with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, make under oath in the same public ceremony in which the oath of allegiance is administered, an express renunciation of such title or order of nobility, and such renunciation shall be recorded as a part of such proceedings.
**(c) Expedited judicial oath administration ceremony** Notwithstanding [section 1421(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1421/b&num=0&edition=prelim), an individual may be granted an expedited judicial oath administration ceremony or administrative naturalization by the Attorney General upon demonstrating sufficient cause. In determining whether to grant an expedited judicial oath administration ceremony, a court shall consider special circumstances (such as serious illness of the applicant or a member of the applicant’s immediate family, permanent disability sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent the applicant’s personal appearance at the scheduled ceremony, developmental disability or advanced age, or exigent circumstances relating to travel or employment). If an expedited judicial oath administration ceremony is impracticable, the court shall refer such individual to the Attorney General who may provide for immediate administrative naturalization.
**(d) Rules and regulations** The Attorney General shall prescribe rules and procedures to ensure that the ceremonies conducted by the Attorney General for the administration of oaths of allegiance under this section are public, conducted frequently and at regular intervals, and are in keeping with the dignity of the occasion.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
There is created and established in the Department of Justice an Immigration and Naturalization Service.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Application by citizen parents; requirements** A parent who is a citizen of the United States (or, if the citizen parent has died during the preceding 5 years, a citizen grandparent or citizen legal guardian) may apply for naturalization on behalf of a child born outside of the United States who has not acquired citizenship automatically under [section 1431 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1431&num=0&edition=prelim). The Attorney General shall issue a certificate of citizenship to such applicant upon proof, to the satisfaction of the Attorney General, that the following conditions have been fulfilled:
(1) At least one parent (or, at the time of his or her death, was) is 11 So in original. The word “is” probably should appear after “parent”. a citizen of the United States, whether by birth or naturalization.
(2) The United States citizen parent—
(A) has (or, at the time of his or her death, had) been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years; or
(B) has (or, at the time of his or her death, had) a citizen parent who has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years.
(3) The child is under the age of eighteen years.
(4) The child is residing outside of the United States in the legal and physical custody of the applicant (or, if the citizen parent is deceased, an individual who does not object to the application).
(5) The child is temporarily present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admis
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** As used in this chapter—
(1) The term “administrator” means the official designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to [section 1104(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1104/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) The term “advocates” includes, but is not limited to, advises, recommends, furthers by overt act, and admits belief in.
(3) The term “alien” means any person not a citizen or national of the United States.
(4) The term “application for admission” has reference to the application for admission into the United States and not to the application for the issuance of an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa.
(5) The term “Attorney General” means the Attorney General of the United States.
(6) The term “border crossing identification card” means a document of identity bearing that designation issued to an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or to an alien who is a resident in foreign contiguous territory, by a consular officer or an immigration officer for the purpose of crossing over the borders between the United States and foreign contiguous territory in accordance with such conditions for its issuance and use as may be prescribed by regulations. Such regulations shall provide that (A) each such document include a biometric identifier (such as the fingerprint or handprint of the alien) that is machine readable and (B) an alien presenting a border crossing identification card is not permitted to cross over the border into the United States unless the biometric identifier contained on the card matches the appropriate biometric characteristic of the alien.
(7) The term “clerk of court” means a clerk of a naturalization court.
(8) The terms “Commissioner” and “Deputy Commissioner” mean the Co
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Authority in Attorney General** The sole authority to naturalize persons as citizens of the United States is conferred upon the Attorney General.
**(b) Court authority to administer oaths**
(1) **Jurisdiction** — Subject to [section 1448(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448/c&num=0&edition=prelim)—
(A) *General jurisdiction* — Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each applicant for naturalization may choose to have the oath of allegiance under [section 1448(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448/a&num=0&edition=prelim) administered by the Attorney General or by an eligible court described in paragraph (5). Each such eligible court shall have authority to administer such oath of allegiance to persons residing within the jurisdiction of the court.
(B) *Exclusive authority* — An eligible court described in paragraph (5) that wishes to have exclusive authority to administer the oath of allegiance under [section 1448(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448/a&num=0&edition=prelim) to persons residing within the jurisdiction of the court during the period described in paragraph (3)(A)(i) shall notify the Attorney General of such wish and, subject to this subsection, shall have such exclusive authority with respect to such persons during such period.
(2) **Information**
(A) *General information* — In the case of a court exercising authority under paragraph (1), in accordance with procedures established by the Attorney General—
(i) the applicant for naturalization shall notify the Attorney General of the intent to be naturalized before the court, and
(ii) the Attorney Gener
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Requirements** Any person formerly a citizen of the United States who (1) prior to September 22, 1922, lost United States citizenship by marriage to an alien, or by the loss of United States citizenship of such person’s spouse, or (2) on or after September 22, 1922, lost United States citizenship by marriage to an alien ineligible to citizenship, may if no other nationality was acquired by an affirmative act of such person other than by marriage be naturalized upon compliance with all requirements of this subchapter, except—
(1) no period of residence or specified period of physical presence within the United States or within the State or district of the Service in the United States where the application is filed shall be required; and
(2) the application need not set forth that it is the intention of the applicant to reside permanently within the United States.
Such person, or any person who was naturalized in accordance with the provisions of section 317(a) of the Nationality Act of 1940, shall have, from and after her naturalization, the status of a native-born or naturalized citizen of the United States, whichever status existed in the case of such person prior to the loss of citizenship: Provided, That nothing contained herein or in any other provision of law shall be construed as conferring United States citizenship retroactively upon such person, or upon any person who was naturalized in accordance with the provisions of section 317(a) of the Nationality Act of 1940, during any period in which such person was not a citizen.
**(b) Additional requirements** No person who is otherwise eligible for naturalization in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be naturalized unless such person shall establish to the satisfaction of
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Requirements; oath; certified copies of oath** Any person who, (1) during World War II and while a citizen of the United States, served in the military, air, or naval forces of any country at war with a country with which the United States was at war after December 7, 1941, and before September 2, 1945, and (2) has lost United States citizenship by reason of entering or serving in such forces, or taking an oath or obligation for the purpose of entering such forces, may, upon compliance with all the provisions of subchapter III of this chapter, except [section 1427(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1427/a&num=0&edition=prelim), and except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), be naturalized by taking before the Attorney General or before a court described in [section 1421(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1421/b&num=0&edition=prelim) the oath required by [section 1448 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448&num=0&edition=prelim). Certified copies of such oath shall be sent by such court to the Department of State and to the Department of Justice and by the Attorney General to the Secretary of State.
**(b) Exceptions** No person shall be naturalized under subsection (a) of this section unless he—
(1) is, and has been for a period of at least five years immediately preceding taking the oath required in subsection (a), a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States; and
(2) has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence and intends to reside pe
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The clerk of each court that administers oaths of allegiance under [section 1448 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448&num=0&edition=prelim) shall—
(1) deliver to each person administered the oath of allegiance by the court pursuant to [section 1448(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1448/a&num=0&edition=prelim) the certificate of naturalization prepared by the Attorney General pursuant to [section 1421(b)(2)(A)(ii) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1421/b/2/A/ii&num=0&edition=prelim),
(2) forward to the Attorney General a list of applicants actually taking the oath at each scheduled ceremony and information concerning each person to whom such an oath is administered by the court, within 30 days after the close of the month in which the oath was administered,
(3) forward to the Attorney General certified copies of such other proceedings and orders instituted in or issued out of the court affecting or relating to the naturalization of persons as may be required from time to time by the Attorney General, and
(4) be responsible for all blank certificates of naturalization received by them from time to time from the Attorney General and shall account to the Attorney General for them whenever required to do so.
No certificate of naturalization received by any clerk of court which may be defaced or injured in such manner as to prevent its use as herein provided shall in any case be destroyed, but such certificates shall be returned to the Attorney General.
**(b)** Each district office of the Service in the United States shall maintain, in chronological order, indexed, and consecutively numbered,
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
These sections, relating to naturalization, were in large degree affected by the Nationality Act of 1940, former section 501 et seq. of this title. That act was passed on Oct. 14, 1940, to consolidate and restate the laws of the United States regarding citizenship, naturalization, and expatriation, and, in addition to certain specific repeals thereby, all acts or parts of acts in conflict with its provisions were repealed by former [section 904 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section904&num=0&edition=prelim). See notes below for history of individual sections.
Sections 351 to 354, relating to Bureau of Naturalization, were repealed by act Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subch. V, 54 Stat. 1172. Sections 351 to 353 were from act June 29, 1906, ch. 3592, § 1, 34 Stat. 596, and section 354 was from act May 9, 1918, ch. 69, § 1, 40 Stat. 544. See [section 1443 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1443&num=0&edition=prelim). See also section 1551 et seq. of this title for general provisions relating to Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Section 355, relating to reports of expenditures of Bureau of Naturalization, was repealed by act May 29, 1928, ch. 901, § 1, 45 Stat. 994. It was from act Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 299, § 1, 35 Stat. 982.
Sections 356 to 358a were repealed by act Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subch. V, § 504, 54 Stat. 1172. Section 356, relating to regulations for execution of naturalization laws and use of copies of papers in evidence, was from acts June 29, 1906, ch. 3592, § 28, 34 Stat. 606, and Mar. 2, 1929, ch. 536, § 8, 45 Stat. 1515; see [section 1443 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-preli
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section 728, act Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 328, 54 Stat. 1151, related to registration of aliens. See sections 1230 and 1259 of this title.
Section 729, acts Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 329, 54 Stat. 1152; Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 1024, title I, § 27, 64 Stat. 1015, related to certificate of arrival. See [section 1429 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1429&num=0&edition=prelim).
Section 730, act Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 330, 54 Stat. 1152, related to photographs. See [section 1444 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1444&num=0&edition=prelim).
Section 731, acts Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 331, 54 Stat. 1153; May 31, 1947, ch. 87, § 1, 61 Stat. 121, related to declaration of intention. See [section 1445(f) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1445/f&num=0&edition=prelim).
Section 732, acts Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 332, 54 Stat. 1154; May 31, 1947, ch. 87, § 2, 61 Stat. 122; June 25, 1948, ch. 656, 62 Stat. 1026, related to petition for naturalization. See section 1445(a)–(d) of this title.
Section 732a, act May 31, 1947, ch. 87, § 5, 61 Stat. 122, related to waiver of appearance or petition for naturalization. See [section 1445(e) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1445/e&num=0&edition=prelim).
Section 733, acts Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 333, 54 Stat. 1156; Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 1024, title I, § 28(a), 64 Stat. 1016, related to hearings on petitions. See section 1446(a)–(e) of this title.
Section 734, a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 516
TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
§ 1448
§ 1448. Oath of renunciation and allegiance
(a) Public ceremony
A person who has applied for naturalization
shall, in order to be and before being admitted
to citizenship, take in a public ceremony before
the Attorney General or a court with jurisdic-
tion under section 1421(b) of this title an oath (1)
to support the Constitution of the United
States; (2) to 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) to support and defend the
Constitution and the laws of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic; (4) to
bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and
(5)(A) to bear arms on behalf of the United
States when required by the law, or (B) to per-
form noncombatant service in the Armed Forces
of the United States when required by the law,
or (C) to perform work of national importance
under civilian direction when required by the
law. Any such person shall be required to take
an oath containing the substance of clauses (1)
to (5) of the preceding sentence, except that a
person who shows by clear and convincing evi-
dence to the satisfaction of the Attorney Gen-
eral that he is opposed to the bearing of arms in
the Armed Forces of the United States by reason
of religious training and belief shall be required
to take an oath containing the substance of
clauses (1) to (4) and clauses (5)(B) and (5)(C) of
this subsection, and a person who shows by clear
and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of
the Attorney General that he is opposed to any
type of service in the Armed Forces of the
United States by reason of religious training
a
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