Naturalization

The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is honored to take part in the naturalization process.

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). The bureau of U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes all naturalization applications.  Once the application has been processed, a list of the candidates selected to be naturalized is provided to the court.

The court is not involved in any other immigration processes.   For all information on immigration and naturalization issues, to include scheduling a new date if you are unable to appear for your scheduled ceremony, please visit the www.uscis.gov or call 1-800-375-5283.

Naturalization ceremonies in the Western District of Virginia are held in the courthouses of Abingdon, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke.  *Additional ceremonies are held at Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial, Museum of American Frontier Culture, Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, and Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Videos
Naturalization Ceremony during Constitution Day in 2016
Naturalization Ceremony during Constitution Day in 2015
Naturalization Ceremony during Constitution Day in 2014

Pursuant to Thirteenth Amended Standing Order No. 2020-3, the court is limiting the routine scheduling of in-person  naturalization ceremonies. During this period, the Attorney General of the United States, acting through the USCIS, may administer the Oath of Allegiance for any non-name-change applicants for naturalization residing in the Western District of Virginia that chose to do so. See 8 U.S.C. § 1421.

Candidates who elect to change their name via the naturalization process and require a judicial ceremony, or those who elect to be naturalized through judicial ceremony, will be scheduled to appear in person at the Western District court at or near their residence and be sworn in by the Judges of the Court.  The schedule per division is listed below. 

Please note that due to scheduling requirements, a ceremony may be cancelled.

Court Naturalization Schedule for 2024

You must arrive at the location of your ceremony at the date and time listed in the notification letter sent to you by the USCIS.  Upon entering the courthouse, everyone is required to pass through a security screening.  Please allow extra time for the screening process.

Court ceremonies begin at 11:00 a.m. except for the ceremony held at Monticello scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.  Petitioners should report early to check-in, complete paperwork and review completed paperwork with the USCIS Officers.   A petitioner who is not fluent in English, but who is age 55 or older and has a U.S. permanent residency status of more that 20 years, may be accompanied by someone who can interpret in the petitioner's native language.

For directions and additional information about the location of your ceremony, please click on the appropriate link:

• Divisional Offices
  • Abingdon
  • Charlottesville
  • Harrisonburg
  • Lynchburg
  • Roanoke
• Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial (Directions)
• Frontier Culture Museum (Directions)
• Monticello (Directions)
• Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest (Directions)
• Appomattox Court House Historical National Park (Directions)

To view a sample of the Oath of Allegiance, click here. 

To view the Pledge of Allegiance, click here. 

Everyone is expected to comply with court rules.  Please remain quiet during the proceedings and stand when the judge enters or leaves the courtroom.

This is an important day for all the petitioners and their families.  We invite you to come and take part in this uniquely American experience.