A citizen at last

[annelizabeth 1]

Well, at long last, I am done with USCIS (unless I decide to bring over any family members). Last Thursday we got up early and drove 2 hours to Indianapolis to the Court House to arrive at 9am. When we found the right room there was already a long queue of people clutching their oath letters. Most of us stood and answered the questionnaire while we were waiting in line. The instructions said to wait until the day of the oath before answering. One lady had done it at home that very morning and had signed it and put her home town as the place of signing, but the officials crossed it out and wrote Indianapolis instead.

Hubby got bored with waiting and went to find a seat at the back of the courtroom, since the front part was obviously reserved for the new citizens with copies of the citizens almanac and the declaration of independence on each seat.

Eventually I got to the front of the line and the guy went over the questionnaire. He asked me if, since the date of my interview, I had .... married, divorced, left the country etc. When he got to the part about being arrested I said that I had driven particularly carefully on my way here to avoid any traffic violations and he laughed. He asked me for my green card and then told me to go find a seat in the front section.

Just after 10am the judge came in and introduced herself. There were 77 of us from many different countries. They called our names out one by one and we had to stand up and say where we were from. I agonized for ages trying to decide whether to say England, Great Britain or the United Kingdom and finally decided on Great Britain. India was the most common country of origin at that ceremony. After that, the judge invited any friends or family members who wished to take a photo to come right to the front, which was a right mad scramble! We all stood up, raised our right hands and repeated the oath line by line together. Next we all faced the flag and recited the pledge of allegiance. Oops I wish I had learned it off by heart!

The ceremony was then followed by a few speeches from various people: a message from ####### Lugar; one of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented flags to the youngest and oldest of the new citizens; the Indiana bar association; the county clerk urged us to register to vote and goodness knows who else. No film or message from Obama.

After that we all sat down again and waited to be called out one by one to receive our certificates, a little flag and some other bits and pieces before exiting the courtroom. The whole thing lasted 2 hours from arrival at 9am.

Hubby and I then went to get some celebratory lunch before driving to the airport to fly off to New Orleans for the weekend. Had a great time there! We spent several hours in Pat O'Briens piano bar where you could write requests on a napkin for the pianist to play (accompanied by some monetary reward!). Hubby kept getting his request ignored, but I wrote down that I was a brand new citizen and would she play something patriotic. My request was played right away! Everyone cheered and I had to stand up while the pianist played America the Beautiful. It was almost more special than the actual oath ceremony!

On Monday when we got home I went straight to the Post Office to put in my passport application. Ahh back to the waiting game!

Thank you all so much for your help and support over the years. We couldn't have done it without you. xxxx

[NickD 203]

Great Britain was a good choice, if you said the United Kingdom would be like calling Texas the United States.

So Pat O'Brien is still there, eh. Still serving hurricanes, couple of those would have put you in a spin.

Wife is getting close to the one year mark for her USC, we are still married, do you still want proof of that, USCIS?

Congratulations. How can your husband get bored with USCIS affairs? One of the most interesting places I have ever visited. But have to confess, really only visited the inside of a sewer pipe.

[walls1010 3]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your wonderful experienced.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations, what a great review! I love the story of playing America the Beautiful for you in the bar in New Orleans - yes, I can see that would be a very special moment.

[l.j./1999 1]

Congrats annelizabeth! Nice end to a long journey (I see your citizenship process took close to a year!) Since my husband just took his oath today, I found it really interesting to compare how the oath ceremonies are organized in different places!

[Donna A 4]

congratulations....now take him for half of everything....just joking.

[FormerBrit 0]

Congrats to you!

[annelizabeth 1]

congratulations....now take him for half of everything....just joking.

I really should stop saying things like that - I think hubby is beginning to get a complex LOL!

[Mountain Climber 186]

Fantastic news!!!!

[PrinceandPrincess 0]

Congratulations!

[TracyTN 237]

YAY congratulations!!! Sounds like the trip to NOLA was the perfect ending to the story. We'll have to consider something like that when hubby's time comes!

[bislig2alabama 1]

Now America is more beautiful