About WelcomeOath
You are part of a long American story
WelcomeOath is a place to practice for the US citizenship test. We made it for people who left one home and are working toward another, and we want to say something first: what you are doing takes courage.
Start practicing →It takes courage
To come to a new country, you leave a great deal behind: your family, your language, the streets you know, the work you were proud of. Then you learn a new place one day at a time. New words. New rules. New food. New ways to say hello and to say goodbye.
Some of you came with a plan. Some of you came because you had to. All of you came with hope. And then comes the long road to citizenship: papers, fees, waiting, and a test spoken in a language that is still new to you.
We can only imagine what it feels like. We know it is hard, and that it can sometimes be lonely, and that you are doing it for the people you love and for the life you want to build. Your courage matters, and it is part of this country's story.
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
National Park Service
A long and important story
The people of the United States have many beginnings. Native peoples were here first, for thousands of years. Africans were brought here by force, and they helped build the country. And for more than 400 years, people have chosen to come: from Ireland and Germany, from Italy and Poland, from China and Mexico, from India, Vietnam, Nigeria and Brazil, and from almost every country in the world.
Nearly every family in America, if you look back far enough, has someone who came from somewhere else. Some arrived last year. Some arrived on a ship hundreds of years ago. The story is the same one told many ways: people leaving what they knew to find something better for the people who came after them.
For many people around the world, the United States has been a beacon of hope, a light to steer by. A light stays bright because people come toward it. Newcomers have built railroads and cities, farmed the land, fought in the nation's wars, taught in schools, started businesses, made scientific discoveries, and written the songs people sing. When you become a citizen, you join them, and you help write the next part.
Meet some of them in the history of immigration to the United States and in how immigrants have served in American wars. Learn about the symbols many new citizens come to love in the stories of the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.
The path to citizenship
Becoming a citizen is called naturalization. USCIS, the government agency that handles it, describes citizenship as a bond that unites people around the ideals and rights in the Constitution. The path has many steps. Here they are in plain words:
Become a lawful permanent resident.
Most people live in the United States as a green card holder for five years first, or three years if they are married to a US citizen and living with that person. Some paths are different, such as serving in the military.
Apply.
You file Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, with USCIS.
Give your fingerprints.
USCIS asks you to come to a short appointment for fingerprints and a photo.
Go to your interview.
An officer asks about your application. You take an English test, with speaking, reading and writing, and a civics test. On the 2025 test the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 civics questions out loud, and you need 12 correct answers.
Get your decision.
USCIS tells you in writing whether your application is approved.
Take the Oath of Allegiance.
At a ceremony you raise your right hand, take the Oath, and become a citizen of the United States.
Every case is different, and the rules change. Check USCIS: Citizenship and Naturalization, the 10 steps to naturalization and the Oath of Allegiance. For legal advice about your own case, ask a licensed immigration lawyer or an accredited representative. You can find non-profit help and the laws that protect immigrants on this site.
Why we made WelcomeOath
The civics test is spoken, and it is in English. Many people study it by reading a list of answers and hoping they remember them. We wanted something better: a place to practice out loud, to hear why each answer is right in your own language, and to try again as many times as you need.
Our goal is simple. We want you to go into your interview feeling prepared, and to leave ready to take part in this country's history and culture: to vote, to serve on a jury, to speak up, and to add your own chapter. We cannot promise that you will pass, because no one can. The decision belongs to USCIS. We can promise to help you practice, and to treat your effort with respect.
Meet Franklin
Franklin is the bald eagle who studies with you. You will find him all through WelcomeOath: in the lessons, in the stories of American history, and in the notes he sends when you ask for help. He is here to cheer you on, and to remind you that no one learns this alone.
He is named for Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of the country, and the name comes with a funny piece of history. In 1782 Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States with a bald eagle at its center, holding an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other. Not everyone loved the choice. In a private letter to his daughter in 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote that he wished the bald eagle had not been chosen to represent the country, and he called it “a Bird of bad moral Character.” He joked that the turkey was a more respectable bird, and a true native of America.
It was only a joke in a letter, about a badge made by a group of Revolutionary War officers. He never asked for the turkey to be a national symbol. The eagle stayed on the seal, and in December 2024, more than 240 years later, Congress officially named the bald eagle the national bird. Our Franklin has no complaints. He hopes you will let him prove the old founder wrong.
Sources: Franklin's letter to Sarah Bache, National Archives, the Great Seal, State Department, the Franklin Institute, and Public Law 118-206.
About the site
- What you can do: practice the 128 civics questions of the 2025 test out loud, take mock interviews, and practice the English reading and writing test. The app listens to your answers and explains them. How the 2025 test works.
- Languages: lessons and explanations in 23 languages. Answers are practiced in English, because the real test is in English.
- Cost: the first three lessons are free. After that you pay once for All Access, with no subscription. See the pricing page.
- Not the government: WelcomeOath is not affiliated with USCIS. The questions and accepted answers come from the official USCIS list, and we link to USCIS for every fact about the test.
- Your information: read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
- Questions or problems: write to support@welcomeoath.com, or use Report a problem in the footer.
- Who made it: WelcomeOath is made by Radar Blue.
Questions people ask
What is WelcomeOath?
WelcomeOath is a study aid for the US citizenship civics test. You practice the 128 questions out loud, in your own language and in English, and the app listens, explains each answer and brings back the ones you miss. It also has English reading and writing practice and mock interviews.
Who is Franklin?
Franklin is the bald eagle who studies with you in WelcomeOath. He is named for Benjamin Franklin, who famously joked in 1784 that the bald eagle had bad moral character and that the turkey was more respectable. The eagle stayed, and Congress officially named it the national bird in December 2024.
Is WelcomeOath part of USCIS or the government?
No. WelcomeOath is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. USCIS writes and gives the test. Every question and accepted answer on this site comes from the official USCIS list, and the pages link to USCIS.
Does WelcomeOath guarantee that I will pass?
No, and no one can. The decision is made by a USCIS officer. We can help you practice and feel ready.
How much does WelcomeOath cost?
The first three lessons are free. After that you pay once for All Access, with no subscription. See the pricing page for the current price.
Which languages does WelcomeOath use?
The lessons and explanations are available in 23 languages, and the answers are practiced in English, because the real test is in English.
How can I contact WelcomeOath?
Write to support@welcomeoath.com, or use Report a problem in the footer of any page.
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Let's get you ready
Becoming an American is something to celebrate. Practice out loud, and we will help you feel ready for the interview.
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