8 U.s.c. 1421

8 U.S.C. 1421

PART II—NATIONALITY THROUGH NATURALIZATION

§ 1421. Naturalization authority

(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—

(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 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 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 General—

(I) shall forward to the court (not later

than 10 days after the date of approval of

an application for naturalization in the

case of a court which has provided notice

under paragraph (1)(B)) such information

as may be necessary to administer the

oath of allegiance under section 1448(a)

of this title, and

(II) shall promptly forward to the

court a certificate of naturalization (prepared

by the Attorney General).