You can ask USCIS to reschedule a citizenship interview, but you should act promptly and follow the interview notice’s instructions. Explain why you cannot attend and request another date. A request does not automatically mean the appointment has been cancelled or that the case will keep its original completion schedule.
Request the change before the appointment
USCIS’s naturalization guide instructs applicants who cannot attend to write to the office scheduling the interview as soon as possible, explain the circumstances, and ask for rescheduling. Keep the notice, request, supporting evidence, and proof of delivery. [2]
Include your name, A-number, receipt number, appointment date, current contact information, and a clear request. A medical emergency, unavoidable conflict, or other serious circumstance should be described accurately. Do not submit invented documentation or assume a personal travel preference guarantees approval.
If you already missed it
The regulation states that failing to appear and failing to notify USCIS in writing of the reason within 30 days can lead to administrative closure for abandonment. It also provides a process to request reopening within one year after administrative closure, with consequences for the filing date used to assess eligibility. [1]
Those provisions are not a reason to wait. A missed reexamination, a denial already issued, or another notice can require different action. Read the actual notice and identify whether the application remains pending, was closed, or was denied.
What rescheduling can change
A new appointment depends on the office’s availability. There is no guaranteed delay of a fixed number of weeks. Continued eligibility, address updates, travel history, and any new events still require review before the interview.
- Monitor mail and the authorized online account for a replacement notice.
- Keep USCIS informed of an address change.
- Update travel and other answers accurately at the interview.
- Bring the original and rescheduling notices and requested documents.
See rescheduling an oath ceremony if the interview is already completed and the conflict concerns the ceremony instead. naturalization English-test exceptions addresses a different issue that should be prepared before the examination. Asking for another date does not automatically resolve testing, eligibility, or accommodation needs.
Primary sources
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.