I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3544 
To permit remote oath ceremonies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2023 
Mrs. TORRES of California (for herself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Mr. CORREA) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To permit remote oath ceremonies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Remote Naturalization 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION OATH 
CEREMONIES. 
The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 337 the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘SEC. 337A. REMOTE OATH CEREMONIES. 
‘‘(a) REMOTE OATH CEREMONIES.—Not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish proce-
dures for the administration of the oath of renunciation 
and 
allegiance 
under 
section 
337 
using 
remote 
videoconferencing, or other remote means for individuals 
who cannot reasonably access, understand, or use remote 
videoconferencing, as an alternative to an in-person oath 
ceremony. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 310(b), an individual may complete the naturalization 
process by participating in a remote oath ceremony con-
ducted pursuant to subsection (a) if such individual— 
‘‘(1) has an approved application for naturaliza-
tion; 
‘‘(2) is unable otherwise to complete the natu-
ralization process due to— 
‘‘(A) the cancellation or suspension of in- 
person oath ceremonies during— 
‘‘(i) a national emergency declared by 
the President under the National Emer-
gencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); 
‘‘(ii) an emergency or major disaster 
declared by the President under the Robert 
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T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) a public health emergency de-
clared by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services under section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d); or 
‘‘(iv) any emergency that, in the judg-
ment of the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, is appropriate for the cancellation or 
suspension of such ceremonies; or 
‘‘(B) the inability of the individual to at-
tend the ceremony in person; and 
‘‘(3) elects to participate in a remote oath cere-
mony in lieu of waiting for an in-person ceremony. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—Upon estab-
lishing the procedures described in subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall— 
‘‘(1) without undue delay, provide written no-
tice to individuals described in subsection (b)(1) of 
the option of participating in a remote oath cere-
mony in lieu of a participating in an in-person cere-
mony; 
‘‘(2) to the greatest extent practicable, ensure 
that remote oath ceremonies are administered to in-
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dividuals who elect to participate in such a ceremony 
not later than 30 days after the individual so noti-
fies the Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) administer oath ceremonies to all other eli-
gible individuals as expeditiously as possible after 
the end of the public health emergency referred to 
in subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(d) CLARIFICATION.—Failure to appear for a re-
mote oath ceremony shall not create a presumption that 
the individual has abandoned his or her intent to be natu-
ralized. 
‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, and each year 
thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall sub-
mit a report to Congress that identifies, for each State 
and political subdivision of a State, the number of— 
‘‘(1) individuals who were scheduled for an in- 
person oath ceremony that was cancelled due to an 
emergency described in subsection (b)(2)(A); 
‘‘(2) individuals who elected to participate in a 
remote oath ceremony in lieu of an in-person public 
ceremony; 
‘‘(3) individuals who completed the naturaliza-
tion process by participating in a remote oath cere-
mony; and 
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‘‘(4) remote oath ceremonies that were con-
ducted in the previous year. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—In addition to any funds appro-
priated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Home-
land Security may use funds from the Immigration Ex-
aminations Fee Account under section 286(m) to carry 
out this section.’’. 
Æ 
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