My husband is no longer married to an alien

[-B&T- 1]

Congratulations!

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

Wow, I'm late......but a BIG congrats to you!!

[NickD 203]

Heard the DOS uses the term, a non-immigrant visitor, so were you an immigrate visitor or maybe even a LPR? Trying to feel out a I-130 for my wife's son, she like you is a naturalized USC, that asked for her USC certificate number, but also for an alien number. Does that alien number stick with you for the rest of your life?

She was told she is a USC just like she was born here, I was born here, and I don't have an alien number, but I do have a telephone number, can I use that instead?

The latest version of the I-130 is Acrobat ver. 7, I have version 6 on my computer, won't load it, using the free reader, it only lets me type in courier print. While I have an earlier version of that form on my computer, can select both the font and its size, can't do that with the reader. Step son doesn't have an address like we do here, he has a book to type in that small space. Adobe wants another couple of hundred dollars to stick with the Pro version. Maybe I will use a separate piece of paper.

I don't know, seems like if you are a USC, you are no longer an alien, so that number should disappear. I see her alien number is on her certificate they want copies of, is it okay to copy it? Or will we end up in jail?

LOL, you think it's all over with USC, still questions and problems. But congratulations? Are you still normal, or did you crack up in the process? Think I have cracked up.

I see you are a mod, are you going to hang around this board?

[DARUMA07 25]

Congratulations!

[lykatodd 0]

Congrats Kathryn...

[R de la R 2]

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!

congratulations, very happy for you.

[BishopMnA 0]

Thanks everyone:-). It does feel good.- not only to be done with USCIS but also to be to participate fully in the American experience. Voter registration, here I come

Dearest Sister Kathryn,

I've had the great chance to watch your progress over the past few years...

Its great to see you fully make all the steps and receive your citizenship!

You set a great example for all of us, my fellow American (AAm and I ROC on Monday!)

Congrats!

MarkNAAm

[Dave and Helena 0]

Congratulations! And thanks for sharing your experience as I too will be going through the ceremony in Atlanta in a couple of years. It's always nice to know what to expect.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Congrats!

[Chocolot 0]

Congratulations, Kathryn

reading your experiences does help, but I'm still nervous, I will be glad when tomorrow is over

[jeangab75 0]

Congrats ! I have a question, even if the citizenship stuff won't be for me before 3 years. Can I apply to become an american citizen and keep my french citizenship ? I heard that I would have to choose and even if I would love to be American there is no way I give up my french citizenship. Thanks

No you can keep both - technically when you take the oath you kinda swear to forget any previous citizenship I think, but in reality the US never make you abandon your former citizenship - and since France accepts dual citizen with the US - we are good to go

Am I wrong? Any French in this situation?

This is correct. You abandon your previous nationality not citizenship.

Edited August 27, 2009 by jeangab75

[jeangab75 0]

Voici la reponse en francais (plus facile pour moi): pour les US tu ne peux plus arguer de ta nationalite francaise. Tu as prete serment d'allegance aux US et repudie tout lien avec ton ancien pays. C'est pour cela que tu dois voyager avec un passeport US quand tu rentres ou sort des US.

Pour la France, la situation est differente. Il faut se porter vers les articles 23-5, 26 et 27 du code civil. (visible ici http://legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexteArtic...=cid)  En gros, tu ne perd pas ta nationalite francaise a moins d'etablir les demarches prevues dans ces articles au pres du tribunal d'instance ou du consul.

Le seul cas de perte automatique de la nationalite francaise est prevu a l'article 23-8: "Perd la nationalité française le Français qui, occupant un emploi dans une armée ou un service public étranger ou dans une organisation internationale dont la France ne fait pas partie ou plus généralement leur apportant son concours, n'a pas résigné son emploi ou cessé son concours nonobstant l'injonction qui lui en aura été faite par le

Gouvernement. L'intéressé sera, par décret en Conseil d'Etat, déclaré avoir perdu la nationalité française si, dans le délai fixé par l'injonction,

délai qui ne peut être inférieur à quinze jours et supérieur à deux mois, il n'a pas mis fin à son activité. Lorsque l'avis du Conseil d'Etat est défavorable, la mesure prévue à l'alinéa précédent ne peut être prise que par décret en conseil des ministres." Il faut que tu recoives une injonction du gvt.

Le seul point a prendre en consideration: c'est qu'il ne s'agit que de lois et donc elles peuvent etre modifiees facilement.; Par exemple il y a peu la France ne reconnaissait pas les double nationalites.

Edited August 27, 2009 by jeangab75

[firdaus 0]

congrats !!!

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Many congratulations Kathryn. I think a good many of us here yearn for the day when we can put the immigration process down to a past and long forgotten experience...and stories like this give us all hope.

Congratulations on no longer being an alien!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Heard the DOS uses the term, a non-immigrant visitor, so were you an immigrate visitor or maybe even a LPR?

LPR - US resident of alien origens

Trying to feel out a I-130 for my wife's son, she like you is a naturalized USC, that asked for her USC certificate number, but also for an alien number. Does that alien number stick with you for the rest of your life?

Well, the A number is also on my Citizenship certificates so I guess it is with me for the rest of my life.

She was told she is a USC just like she was born here, I was born here, and I don't have an alien number, but I do have a telephone number, can I use that instead?

Sure, give it a shot! Or you could use the certificate number from your birth certificate. Or you could make up a favourite number - works for me!

The latest version of the I-130 is Acrobat ver. 7, I have version 6 on my computer, won't load it, using the free reader, it only lets me type in courier print. While I have an earlier version of that form on my computer, can select both the font and its size, can't do that with the reader. Step son doesn't have an address like we do here, he has a book to type in that small space. Adobe wants another couple of hundred dollars to stick with the Pro version. Maybe I will use a separate piece of paper.

That sucks. Why not download ver. 7 instead of the Pro version? Separate piece of paper should work.

I don't know, seems like if you are a USC, you are no longer an alien, so that number should disappear. I see her alien number is on her certificate they want copies of, is it okay to copy it? Or will we end up in jail?

We were told at the ceremony that we definitely SHOULD copy it and she officially gave us authorized permission to copy. I made 3 colour copies today and will send off the original tomorrow for a US passport. The Director of the Atlanta USCIS admitted that original certificates sometimes do go missing when they are submitted for passports so definitely make sure you copy it before sending it off.

LOL, you think it's all over with USC, still questions and problems. But congratulations? Are you still normal, or did you crack up in the process? Think I have cracked up.

Hehehe, there were times I sure felt I was cracking up! This is not a process for the faint of heart. Interestingly, I no longer feel like a visitor to the US today as I had up until now, even with my PR. I hadn't expected that.

I see you are a mod, are you going to hang around this board?

Yeah, I don't see myself leaving very soon. I really appreciated the help VJ gave me during the process even though I didn't find VJ until near the end of waiting for my AOS. I enjoy being able to help/reassure others who are still in the process and if my experiences and knowledge can be of use to someone else, I am happy to share. I really do believe in what VJ is about and being a mod is a way for me to give back to the VJ community and to help keep it as helpful and supportive for others as it has been for me.

Good luck with the I-130 for your stepson.