My husband is no longer married to an alien

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Well, I just got back from my oath ceremony this afternoon in Atlanta and I am officially a US citizen.

We were told to arrive at 1 pm and when we got there at 12:45, the line was already down the sidewalk and around the corner! We made our way in, through security, then upstairs to the Ceremony waiting room. My husband who was with me wasn't allowed into that waiting room and he along with all family members of other applicants were directed to a waiting room on the 3rd floor. We were 'assigned' the next seat available in the rows and as the rows filled up, USCIS Immigration Officers started going down each row asking for the oath letters, reviewing all of the questions on the back one by one, verifying names and addresses, then checking them off. For those who had travelled since their interview, they made notations of the dates out of the country on the forms. Just down from me was a little girl about 3 years old with her mother. The IO knelt down in front of her and smiled at her and said 'do you want to answer my questions too?'. The little girl nodded her head up and down vigorously, smiling really wide. So the IO asked, 'so, did you get married since you were last here?' and the little girl nodded her head up and down again. everyone laughed and the IO smiled and said "So, you are married now?' and the little girl smiled back and nodded. Anyway, it was really cute.

We waited for quite some time as the room filled to capacity. At about 2 oclock they started moving people into the ceremony room one row at a time. When it was our turn I found out they were having every individual check over their citizenship certificate for accuracy and then turning in their green cards. We each received a number and if we needed to leave the room (ie go to the restroom, etc. ) the number let us back in. Finally, the room was full so they then let all of the family members who had been waiting upstairs into the room. There were almost no seats left so everyone stood around the outside of the room. It was packed. On each seat was a package that contained a small flag, the oath, information about what to do next (re passport, SSN, etc.), a small booklet containing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and a really nice book containing excerpts of famous American speeches, documents and information about American symbols.

The Head of the Atlanta USCIS office then welcomed us, said a few words about the importance of immigration. She said that there were 190 people from 70 countries receiving their citizenship today, then alphabetically called out each country and asked its citizens to stand. There were 2 other Canadians along with me. While standing we then recited the oath and pledged allegiance to the flag. After the Oath we then watched a video on the Faces of America, a welcome video from President Obama, and a video entitled "Proud to be an American'.

Family members were then asked to leave again, and the rest of us filed out row by row, receiving our citizenship certificates as we left. We were advised that if they needed any corrections try to do those today but that our files would remain at the Atlanta office for 30 days so corrections could still be made then. The Director also said to make a good copy of the certificate even though it says on it not to copy it - she said we were authorized to make a copy to keep safe so we would be able to send off the original for the passport and such.

She also gave information about children under 18 who would receive derivative citizenship through their parents - and I found this information very useful and wanted to share it here. For such children, the parents need to file an N600 form with the necessary documents and fee. For children 13 years and under, their certificates would be mailed to them. For children 14 to 17, they would need to appear in person at the USCIS office to actually take the oath.

So that was it. They said to allow 3 hours and that was about right what with all of the waiting and such.

So, tomorrow I'm off to SSA and the Post Office to apply for my passport - after I make a copy of my certificate. Now we're going to go out to dinner and celebrate!

Edited August 26, 2009 by Kathryn41

[NArocks 13]

Congrats Sister

:dance: :dance:

She also gave information about children under 18 who would receive derivative citizenship through their parents - and I found this information very useful and wanted to share it here. For such children, the parents need to file an N600 form with the necessary documents and fee. For children 13 years and under, their certificates would be mailed to them. For children 14 to 17, they would need to appear in person at the USCIS office to actually take the oath.

Good to know beccuase I thought that you only needed to apply for the N600 if you wanted the certificate. I thought by the fahter being a citizen and the Child already in the US all that would be needed is the parent certificate

[Calypso 464]

Congratulations Kathryn! Thank you for the additional information.

[cookiee 0]

Congrats Kathryn!!

you got in at 12.45, what time was it over ?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It finished about 4 o'clock- I don't know for sure because I didn't look at my watch until we were driving home:-)

[Nagishkaw 510]

:dance: A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you, Kathryn!!!!!!!!! :dance:

[NArocks 13]

SO will we lose another Mod??

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Congratulations!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

SO will we lose another Mod??

Well, I'm planning on staying - I'm now an American mod as well as a Canadian mod - dual citizenship, you know. Two for the price of one!

[MsAnn 0]

Hurray, congrats Kathryn!!!

[k.loveh 0]

Happy day!!!

That's great news! Congratulations Kathryn! And thank you for telling us the details, now those who have yet to get there will not feel so nervous, thanks to your sharing this with us.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

OH NOES!!!

Congrats Kathryn

[wifey246 0]

Congrats, Kathryn!

Thanks for the info on children's citizenship. The N600 is optional. We can apply for our children's US passport using our certificates, then the US passport can serve as the children's proof of citizenship. The importance of N600 has been discussed so many times in this forum. My take on this is that it is a nice thing to have but if you want to spare the expense, you can live without it for now until some circumstance in the future will make it absolutely necessary to get one. There is no time limit in applying for the certificate.

I wasn't going to apply for a N600 for my daughter but after learning from your post that children 14 years old and above get to say the oath in a USCIS office, I figured she will get a kick out of it. I want her to have that experience so she can appreciate its meaning.

[missmissy 38]

Congratulations!

[Otto 83]

Congratulations... Canadian & U.S./American... thank god you're not an alien anymore..