Finally I'm a USC!

[mooninlove 1]

So I went to my Oath ceremony this morning @ 10:30 in Montebello Ca. As usual traffic along LA but we get there around 9:45. There's a long line already, about a mile. There were 2 ceremonies that day, one is for 8am. They ushered the guests to a different area as we went up to the building & proceeded to a room where they checked the notice, labeled ok with table # on it where we will get our certificate later. He took my PR card and handed me my notice.. We went to the function room, gave us a flag with "made in USA" printed on it and I seated couple of rows from the stage. It was 11am and there were 908 would be citizens. All the guests were seated at the back.There were no mentions of our former nationalities..

When everyone was seated, the guy on the stage informed us what to do from SSA-passport and we filled-up the voter's registration form except the signature line. Then the judge asked all of the would be citizens to raise our right hand and recite the Naturalization Oath. After which he congratulated us as a newly minted US Citizens! We raised all our tiny flags while they're taking video of us all..

We seated again and watched a video. Then after that we recited our Pledge of Allegiance and we're done! The ceremony is over by 11:30. Then we fall in line again to get our certificates. I went to the table#10 that was written on my oath notice. I gave it to the lady, check it one more time then gave me my precious certificate. She told me that when I get home that I sign it and make a copy before I apply for my passport. Stapled at the back of my Naturalization Certificate is my Petition for Name Change which I signed during my interview.

Whew! I'm over with USCIS for now. My 5 yrs. old daughter even encouraged me to recite the Pledge of Allegiance the night before the ceremony which I obliged to her excitement! Thanks to all of you VJers..

[MaryandMian 1]

Congratulations

[TimandJoyce 1]

That's great!! Congratulations!!

[KyngSilva 0]

Congrats Moon =)

[walls1010 3]

Congratulations

[John24689 0]

Congratulations. Another US Citizen. Welcome.

[dalegg 143]

Actually, there were 3 ceremonies for the day, so we were right behind you! My wife had her Oath Ceremony at 1:00 pm (2ish really) in Montebello. In case any of you are wondering, the Oath ceremony is all about lines. From the time we arrived, we could already see the zoo of cars, and we immediately got into a line of about 1000 people-

I walked with her all the way up the hill to be told once I got almost to the doorway that visitors had to go to the other side of the building. So, I walk to the other side of the building and get in the back of an equally long line and waited again. They let all of the new citizens in first. So then we stand in the autotorium-

If you look really close in the middle of the picture you can see my wife looking at the camera in the white jacket.

Then a couple speakers, national anthem, long oath pledge, "proud to be an american" video, dozens of loudly screaming babies and bada-bing, bada-bang-citizen!

Then all of the visitors have to go outside - BUT NOT IN THE STREET! and wait for the long line of new citizens to exit.

We went and applied for the Passport which again is a long line. This was cool, because one line is checks and the other is cash, but they didn't tell me the line I was in was cash until I got almost to the front, at which point I was sent to the back of the checks line.

But-finally- it is done! :dance: :dance: :dance:

Edited March 13, 2009 by dalegg

[mooninlove 1]

Actually, there were 3 ceremonies for the day, so we were right behind you! My wife had her Oath Ceremony at 1:00 pm (2ish really) in Montebello. In case any of you are wondering, the Oath ceremony is all about lines. From the time we arrived, we could already see the zoo of cars, and we immediately got into a line of about 1000 people-

I walked with her all the way up the hill to be told once I got almost to the doorway that visitors had to go to the other side of the building. So, I walk to the other side of the building and get in the back of an equally long line and waited again. They let all of the new citizens in first. So then we stand in the autotorium-

If you look really close in the middle of the picture you can see my wife looking at the camera in the white jacket.

Then a couple speakers, national anthem, long oath pledge, "proud to be an american" video, dozens of loudly screaming babies and bada-bing, bada-bang-citizen!

Then all of the visitors have to go outside - BUT NOT IN THE STREET! and wait for the long line of new citizens to exit.

We went and applied for the Passport which again is a long line. This was cool, because one line is checks and the other is cash, but they didn't tell me the line I was in was cash until I got almost to the front, at which point I was sent to the back of the checks line.

But-finally- it is done! :dance: :dance: :dance:

You were there too??! wow congratulations to your wife! It was posted in the building that there was 8 & 10:30. Didn't know there was 1 more ceremony. Btw, yeah the line going to the court was LOOONG starting from the entrance. And the parking fee was $10 yet it's hard to find one. We were instructed that guests will be separated from the citizens so when we get there we already know what's going on.. Did not apply for a passport yet..

Well Dalegg Congratulations!! woohoo we're done!

[PrinceandPrincess 0]

mooninlove and dalegg congratulations!!! So happy for you guys!

Cheers!

[mattr 0]

Congratulations to you both!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aussielad 37]

congratulations to both of you!, especially mooninlove. You've come a loooooooooooong way on your journey!.

[jasminelily 1]

Congratulations everyone!

[Bulanglang 1]

Congratulations!!! I'm happy for you... I hope I could get mine done before my son turn 18 but seems like it's not going to happen that way. Oh well, the good Lord knows

[mooninlove 1]

congratulations to both of you!, especially mooninlove. You've come a loooooooooooong way on your journey!.

Thanks to all fo you here! It was really a looooong journey for me. Glad I'm done for now. I just have a question to all of you, did you sign the right side of your photo on your certificate or just the area where you sign your full name?? I'm gonna make a copy of it so i wanna know before I do it.. Thanks!

[virginian 0]

Congratulations