Finally a Citizen

[CVB 18]

Today I had to be presence for a naturalization interview at 1pm at the local USCIS office in the Rodino Federal Building located in Broad Street in Newark (NJ).

I showed up at 12:30pm, and went up to the 15th floor, and was escorted into a huge waiting room filled with other candidates, morally supported by their family members who had came along with them. My beautiful wife was with me. As told, I went to the box by window 1 to show my interview notice, they took it and I had to wait, as instructed, for my name to be called. Every so often, one of the Immigration Officers would show up and call out a name through the microphone, instructing that person to go to either one of the three doors where the officer would meet them for the naturalization interview.

After waiting for more than an hour or so and watching NJ News 12, I was finally called to door 2 and followed the officer, M. Gold, to his office. I asked if my wife was allowed to come in. A short NO...She wasn't... I was sworn to tell the whole truth, and then was asked questions about my background and other basic information that was already in the application form. He proceeded with the basic civics and history test, I had studied the questions over and over during the last month, and while the answers seemed straightforward, I was still a bit anxious. Officer Gold proceeded to ask me the following questions:

1. What is an amendment?

Answer: A change or addition to the Constitution.

2. Who vetoes bills?

Answer: the President

3. What is the capital of New Jersey?

Answer: Trenton

4. What is the supreme law of the land?

Answer: The Constitution

5. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Answer: The United States

6. In what month do we vote for President?

Answer: in November

Fortunately, my time spent studying proved effective and I was able to answer all six questions correctly. The next part was the reading part. He showed me a page, with big letters written on it: "There is the White House." That was simple. Then the written English exam. He dictated a sentence in English slowly and clearly, and showed me the spot on the examination sheet where I was supposed to write it down. "Freedom of speech is one right", Officer Gold repeated it again. I was a bit nervous when putting that in writing, although I tried to write it as good as possible - he reviewed what I wrote and declared that I had passed the exam.

Officer Gold congratulated me on my naturalization, and showed me out into the waiting room, where I was expected to wait for the oath ceremony. Officer Gold told me that there was an Oath ceremony at 2:30pm but that it was highly doubtful that I would make it. I had to wait for the next one. Given the number of people still waiting to be called, that would be at least a couple of hours away. The next and last one was planned at 4:40 pm. Good thing I had my wife with me .

Finally, at around 4:45pm, with all the would-be citizens interviewed, all of us were asked to walk to the oath taking ceremony site down the hall. We were put in two rows. Those with a white envelope and the families. Someone came in to put on the flat screen television, showing old pictures of immigrants. Thereafter another officer gave a brief talk on the benefits of citizenship, how to go about getting a passport and the benefits thereof, and other matters in the same vein. Another lady came in and she recited the oath of allegiance, which we all duly had to repeat. She warned us that we had to say it out-loud, otherwise she would withhold the certificate. Of course, that's what we did and once that was concluded loud cheering and applause ensued. And just like that, I'm now officially an American. We had to wait for our names to be called to get the Certificates of Citizenship. We could take pictures next to the flag, a Christmas tree or a two cardboard life size pictures of President Obama and his wife Michelle. Of course we did all that. Tomorrow of for my passport. I have an appointment at the Passport Center at 8am.

[jkelly07 120]

finally your journey is over CONGRAULATIONS, good news, great,happy for you,

[LADYDARE 28]

Congratulations

[dannyh86 3]

congrats

[Sand 5]

Congratulations !

[OBX 51]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience.

[NickD 202]

Same day oath? I am envious, congratulations.

[v333k 59]

congratulations!

[JeanneVictoria 55]

:dance: Congratulations!!

[canuck_girl 1]

Thank you sharing, Congratulations!!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Excellent write-up by the way!

One question: did you get the old-style or the new-style Certificate of Citizenship? Did you have a choice to use a passport-sized photo that you brought with you to the interview or was using the digital image they took at Biometrics the default. (Okay, those were two questions, total.)

I wonder . . . because if you have your interview and Oath so close together, when and where are they printing the Certificates? I am having a hard time believing that the Certificates are already printed by the time the applicant is being interviewed . . .

[Sand 5]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Excellent write-up by the way!

One question: did you get the old-style or the new-style Certificate of Citizenship? Did you have a choice to use a passport-sized photo that you brought with you to the interview or was using the digital image they took at Biometrics the default. (Okay, those were two questions, total.)

I wonder . . . because if you have your interview and Oath so close together, when and where are they printing the Certificates? I am having a hard time believing that the Certificates are already printed by the time the applicant is being interviewed . . .

Hey Bob. he answered the question regarding the old-style of the certificate of the citizenship, u will fine it on my old topic.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/284030-2-questions-please/page__gopid__4310244

[CVB 18]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Excellent write-up by the way!

One question: did you get the old-style or the new-style Certificate of Citizenship? Did you have a choice to use a passport-sized photo that you brought with you to the interview or was using the digital image they took at Biometrics the default. (Okay, those were two questions, total.)

I wonder . . . because if you have your interview and Oath so close together, when and where are they printing the Certificates? I am having a hard time believing that the Certificates are already printed by the time the applicant is being interviewed . . .

Bob, I forgot to include all this but here is how it works in Newark. The waiting room has place for at least 200 people. There are 8 windows where all kind of stuff happens that the IO's have to do. They have 3 or 4 Oath Ceremonies a day. When you come in you have to leave your interview letter at window 1. They call your name to go into 1 of the 3 doors. You have several IO's in several offices behind each door. After so may interviews are done the IO starts to prepare and finalize your file. They had a special office there that get the total file and makes the certificates. At the interview the IO let me sign the pics I sent originally with the file, at the front. I was happy with these pics so I didn't ask to change them. It could easily have been done though. I had some spare pics with me just in case but I used these for my passport, I got today BTW. More about that later. Every so often, one of the 4 or 5 officers behind the windows go to the office where they make the certificates and come back carrying 5 files or so. They go trough all the files one by one and call the owner of the file to the window. The IO has given you a form at the interview that you have to hand over at the window, together with your GC. You have to read your certificate and sign it. Then they take it back. At that point you have NO Green Card and NO Certificate. In return they give you a white envelope with all kind of stuff, like the oath, the constitution, passport information, etc... and a white folder with gold letters mentioning Certificate of Citizenship. Nothing in it though... LOL. You get the Certificate after the saying the Oath out-load with your lips clearly moving. Several officers are watching this. Honestly...

When I came back home round 7pm, we went for Greek with the kids to celebrate the event. When I came home I ordered a ticket to Belgium with Continental. With this eticket I went this morning to the Passport Center in Philadelphia, PA. (you have to make an appointment first, which you can do in advance). I had to be there at 8am. After going trough a severe security check, I had to show all the documents needed, my certificate, the filled out passport request form, two photos. They checked everything, asked me how I wanted to pay. After I paid, they gave me a receipt with some information about me and the message that I could come pick up my passport at 12:30pm. After having something for breakfast and visiting the Museum of Liberty close by, I went in at 12. I was still waiting to get in when I heard calling a bunch of names, under which mine. At 12:05pm I was out and owner of an American Passport. Also did I receive back my Certificate, brand new.

With my new passport I went to Motor Vehicles and it is amazing how smooth everything goes with a passport. I now have a new Driver's License too. From there I drove to the Social Services Office. Very smooth there too. I get a new ss card in the mail on Monday. Now I'm done... no not true... I canceled my Continental ticket for personal reasons. No charge when done within 24 hours. Smooth ride all together. Now I'm a real and official Citizen. I have to say... for me it was my new passport that made me feel a Citizen... not so much the Certificate. That is in a safe place now. No more USCIS

[CVB 18]

One question: did you get the old-style or the new-style Certificate of Citizenship?

I didn't see any other certificate other than mine but, I guess it's old style since the picture is put on it, glued I guess. Digital pictures would be a part of the document I presume.

The IO never mentioned the digital procedure and to be honest, I wasn't thinking straight when I sat there. The IO was very, very to the point and not the most social guy. He meant business.

[ELW 5]

Congrats!! :dance: You even got the passport and SSC done next day, so efficient!