Orlando Oath Experience

[*Robert* 2]

Were told to arrive promptly at 0800, according to the Oath Ceremony letter. When we got there at 10 minutes till, there was a line of people, and more arriving, with quite a few already inside in the waiting area. At about 0820 they called up all the people taking the Oath and had them stand in two lines with their GCs and Letter, which should have been filled out, signed, and dated. They asked all the family members to remain where they were, and that they would call us when they were ready.

At about 0845 they called us into the Oath Ceremony room, which is located off the lobby in the same building that they do the interviews and Info Pass appointments. They have two rooms which can handle 100 people taking the Oath, with ample seating on each side for family members. The room was nicely decorated, which nostalgic photos from Elis Island, and flat screen monitors, along with a big screen up on stage.

After they turned in their Oath letter and GC, each of the future citizens was given little flags, a nice small booklet version of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a book called “The Citizen’s Almanac, a voter registration form, and a passport application.

One of the ISOs made some opening comments and told family members they were free to move around the room to take pictures. They had some little girl play the National Anthem on a small organ while everyone stood. After that he then introduced the first speaker, who was a lady from voter registration. Once the ceremony was complete, they could go into the lobby and register to vote right then and there!

Next was a guy from the Post Office, who went over the passport application, the fees, and time frames. Once again, if people had come with money, they could have applied for their passport right after the ceremony. They would have even taken photos if you didn’t have them ($15) and make a copy of your Naturalization Certificate ($.25).

After that, they played a nice video about Elis Island and quotes from various famous immigrants.

Then there was another speaker who was the local USCIS supervisor, and was from the Philippines, who made a short speech.

Following him was the lady who would do the actual Oath Ceremony. She announced there were 99 people becoming citizens from 41 different countries, and had people stand, and remain standing, when their country was read. She then had them raise their right hand and take the Oath. When finished, she had them sit down and showed a video of President Obama congratulating them on becoming US Citizens.

Finally it was time for them to go up and receive their Naturalization Certificates. They did one row at a time, and you were free to go up and take pictures as they received their certificate. After that you were free to go, and we were in the truck heading home at 0930!

Other than the security, it went very smoothly. Though it seemed a little cheesy at times, it certainly made me emotional, and my wife is happy to be a US Citizen!

The best part is: NO MORE USCIS!!!

[raymaga 25]

Congrats and best wishes!!

What a nice thing to do by providing the passport info at the oath ceremony.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations - that sounds like a lovely ceremony. I wish they had had the voter's registration and passport applications at ours.

[*Robert* 2]

Thanks Rayma and Kathryn... I'm at a point now that I don't know what to do since I'm not waiting for anything more from USCIS!!!

[NickD 202]

Congratulations - that sounds like a lovely ceremony. I wish they had had the voter's registration and passport applications at ours.

Someone from the SS office wasn't there? LOL. Voters registration in our state is a county thing, too many different counties in our state, and besides, wife's oath ceremony was in a different state, so that was also out of us.

Would think since the guy from the post office actually witnessed the oath ceremony, would have submitted the copy of the certificate to the DOS and let you take your original home. Guess the DOS doesn't trust him either.

It's strange, even after a year after my wife's oath ceremony, still expecting something from the USCIS, we should be deoriented if there is such a word. Still have that urge to collect evidence even to the point where one begins to believe, he/she is not who they think they are.

[*Robert* 2]

Congratulations - that sounds like a lovely ceremony. I wish they had had the voter's registration and passport applications at ours.

Someone from the SS office wasn't there? LOL. Voters registration in our state is a county thing, too many different counties in our state, and besides, wife's oath ceremony was in a different state, so that was also out of us.

Would think since the guy from the post office actually witnessed the oath ceremony, would have submitted the copy of the certificate to the DOS and let you take your original home. Guess the DOS doesn't trust him either.

It's strange, even after a year after my wife's oath ceremony, still expecting something from the USCIS, we should be deoriented if there is such a word. Still have that urge to collect evidence even to the point where one begins to believe, he/she is not who they think they are.

I can definitely relate to that!

I totaly agree with you on the whole passport thing. It is unbelievable that you have to send in the original certificate when everyone was there to see its real. Oh well. That will be the last hurdle, along with seeing our friends at the SSA.

[antda 13]

Hi Robert,

Congratulations on your wife's oath ceremony experience and thanks for sharing about that experience here on VJ.

Good luck with the rest of her immigration journey too as a US Citizen and in getting her passport.

Ant

P.S. Interesting too, that at your oath ceremony was held at the same place as the interview, that they had the free books to give, voter's registration, and passport applications there too. How nice and convenient, indeed!

Were told to arrive promptly at 0800, according to the Oath Ceremony letter. When we got there at 10 minutes till, there was a line of people, and more arriving, with quite a few already inside in the waiting area. At about 0820 they called up all the people taking the Oath and had them stand in two lines with their GCs and Letter, which should have been filled out, signed, and dated. They asked all the family members to remain where they were, and that they would call us when they were ready.

At about 0845 they called us into the Oath Ceremony room, which is located off the lobby in the same building that they do the interviews and Info Pass appointments. They have two rooms which can handle 100 people taking the Oath, with ample seating on each side for family members. The room was nicely decorated, which nostalgic photos from Elis Island, and flat screen monitors, along with a big screen up on stage.

After they turned in their Oath letter and GC, each of the future citizens was given little flags, a nice small booklet version of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a book called “The Citizen’s Almanac, a voter registration form, and a passport application.

One of the ISOs made some opening comments and told family members they were free to move around the room to take pictures. They had some little girl play the National Anthem on a small organ while everyone stood. After that he then introduced the first speaker, who was a lady from voter registration. Once the ceremony was complete, they could go into the lobby and register to vote right then and there!

Next was a guy from the Post Office, who went over the passport application, the fees, and time frames. Once again, if people had come with money, they could have applied for their passport right after the ceremony. They would have even taken photos if you didn’t have them ($15) and make a copy of your Naturalization Certificate ($.25).

After that, they played a nice video about Elis Island and quotes from various famous immigrants.

Then there was another speaker who was the local USCIS supervisor, and was from the Philippines, who made a short speech.

Following him was the lady who would do the actual Oath Ceremony. She announced there were 99 people becoming citizens from 41 different countries, and had people stand, and remain standing, when their country was read. She then had them raise their right hand and take the Oath. When finished, she had them sit down and showed a video of President Obama congratulating them on becoming US Citizens.

Finally it was time for them to go up and receive their Naturalization Certificates. They did one row at a time, and you were free to go up and take pictures as they received their certificate. After that you were free to go, and we were in the truck heading home at 0930!

Other than the security, it went very smoothly. Though it seemed a little cheesy at times, it certainly made me emotional, and my wife is happy to be a US Citizen!

The best part is: NO MORE USCIS!!!

[Krikit 1,164]

I'll be taking my Oath at Orlando also, so that was good information, Robert. Thank you. Congratulations to you and your wife!

[*Robert* 2]

Thanks Ant and Sister Krikit!

You'll like the place Krikit. It's south of where you go to get biometrics, and is a new building on Lee Vista, not far off of Semoran, just north of SR528. Really big waiting area. If you have your interview after you've been a resident 3 years, they will have you wait about 20 minutes and hand you your Oath Letter that day. They do Oath Ceremonies every Friday, so no long wait to get your certificate! You could have your interview on a Wed and Oath Cermony the same Friday!