Worcester, MA Naturalization Ceremony

[NickangeL2008 0]

There isn't a lot of information about naturalization ceremony in Worcester, MA, so I thought I'd write my experience to share.

My Naturalization Ceremony was held in Worcester, MA at the Mechanics Hall on July 25th, 2012. My registration time was 9.15am and the form stated that the judge will come at 12.30pm. So, a long waiting period was expected.

My husband and I got there at 9am, we ate a good breakfast and I made sure I had my coffee. Parked at a nearby lot ($20!! But at least no risk of getting towed, etc.). The line was long (expected), but as soon as they started to letting people in (maybe 9.30 or 9.45am), the line went by fast.

Got to my seat around 10.15am or so. Books or music is recommended if you don't feel like talking to the person next to you, note: the place is a little dark to read. I played Sudoku on my phone, texted my family members and briefly chat with the guy next to me.

The judge arrived at 12.27pm. The ceremony was about half an hour, consist of (not in particular order): video, national anthem, pledge, message from the President, voting registration information, etc. I got out from the building at around 1.15.

My husband and I went to the nearby Imperial Buffet to celebrate

[Caroline and Phil 14]

Congratulations!!!

[NickangeL2008 0]

Congratulations!!!

Aww... thank you :)

[naksah 1]

Congratulations.

Thanks for the info, i am probably going to be going to that same location.

[RussianGirl 0]

Congratulations! I'm in the Boston area, too

[Jenn! 918]

Congrats!

My husband will be sworn in at the ceremony in Lowell this month. Why do we have to get there so early and sit around? I don't understand. The letter said we should be there by 9:45 and expect it to take 5 hours. I was shocked.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Congrats!

My husband will be sworn in at the ceremony in Lowell this month. Why do we have to get there so early and sit around? I don't understand. The letter said we should be there by 9:45 and expect it to take 5 hours. I was shocked.

Because they need to take care of the last processing for each person in the ceremony. You hand in old greencards etc, you sign a certificate that they keep for their purposes and then you wait to be ushered into the ceremony. Depending on how many people are in your ceremony it could take several hours top get through everybody. It's honestly a little boring but cannot be helped. Bring snacks!

PS - once they've taken your GC you're basically sitting there waiting for the ceremony with no id at all so you can't leave the room for a smoke or to go out for lunch or anything

Edited August 2, 2012 by Udella&Wiz

[NickangeL2008 0]

Congratulations.

Thanks for the info, i am probably going to be going to that same location.

Thank you Naksah! Please send me a private message if you have a particular question in mind. I'll definitely help you out if I can.

--Angel

Congratulations! I'm in the Boston area, too

Thank you! Boston is great!

[NickangeL2008 0]

Congrats!

My husband will be sworn in at the ceremony in Lowell this month. Why do we have to get there so early and sit around? I don't understand. The letter said we should be there by 9:45 and expect it to take 5 hours. I was shocked.

Lowell is closer to where I lived, but I got to go to the Worcester one

I believe they needed the time because they have 700 or could be 1000 people in Lowell to be signed in individually. So, while you sit, people are still signing in. Around 11.30am they announced that they are all set, and they are waiting for the judge. The paper says that the judge will come at 12.30pm, but if they are not busy, they may come earlier. I have read some posts that says the judge came an hour late because they got caught up to do something else. The good news is, as soon as the judge arrived, the ceremony doesn't take very long.

By the way, in Worcester, they separate the family members to sit in the balcony so my husband couldn't sit next to me.