Re-schedule Oath date or Not?

[Gumbolette 58]

I'm already anticipating that I won't be able to attend the Oath taking if its scheduled before Dec 8th. I've missed too many days already (biometrics,including interview) allowable in nursing program for my continuing education or else I'll be dropped out of the program.

So, has anybody tried to re-scheduled the oath date here? if so.. how long did it take you to have a new Oath Sched?

Will it cost me me a significant delay? How long?

Edited October 26, 2012 by Cutie_Patootie

[NickD 202]

Always thought the oath ceremony was a bad joke, my gals already read and signed the oath at their interview. Just a lip sync service, you receive your certificate and don't even sign it in front of an officer, just receive it and walk out. Also have to fill out a form to make sure you were not naughty between the time you had your interview and oath ceremony. Wouldn't need that if you had the same day oath.

Stepdaughter had to work with her college professors and burn the midnight oil to make up that missed time. Wife's hospital realized the importance as did my stepdaughter's professors of getting their US citizenship, something that has to be done so you are here permanently. Wife's hospital rescheduled her so she could make her oath ceremony, she only got about two hours sleep that day. But then it was over, a once in a lifetime deal.

How far to you live from her oath ceremony? At this time of the year, also concerned about severe snow storms if you have a great distance to travel.

Oath ceremonies are at the discretion of the office manager, some are reasonable and have same day oaths. Others want several thousand people all jammed together for a very long ceremony where really no one cares that you received your certificate except you and your family.

I would make an effort to try to get it over with.

[warlord 73]

I'm already anticipating that I won't be able to attend the Oath taking if its scheduled before Dec 8th. I've missed too many days already (biometrics,including interview) allowable in nursing program for my continuing education or else I'll be dropped out of the program.

So, has anybody tried to re-scheduled the oath date here? if so.. how long did it take you to have a new Oath Sched?

Will it cost me me a significant delay? How long?

Unless it's a life or death situation, the rule is to never ever attempt to postpone the ceremony. Remember if you do, you get put back into the system and many people have waiting a very long time or got lost in the system all together by doing it. It's a big gamble and most will suggest, only do it if absolutely necessary (death in the family, emergency overseas issue. etc)

Edited October 26, 2012 by warlord

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Since you haven;t had your Naturalization interview yet, the easiest thing would be to tell the officer at your interview that you would like to have a ceremony date either the same day as your interview (some sites do same day ceremonies) or after December 8th due to your class schedule. They will try to accommodate your request.

The Citizenship Oath ceremony isn't quite as critical as some of the other immigration interviews which really cannot be rescheduled. You should certainly do your best to try and attend the date it is scheduled, although you are allowed to request a reschedule, but the easiest thing is just to request a ceremony date for when you know you can be available. USCIS seems to be a lot more accommodating when dealing with future citizens than when dealing with permanent residents.

Good luck.

[Gumbolette 58]

I hope I can do my oath all at one day. Maybe a letter from my school saying that I can't miss any more days from the clinical part will help.

Thanks for yall reply.

[NickD 202]

Some planning is required when applying for US citizenship with some knowledge of how the next six months or so will be in your life.

With my stepdaughter, well, you can't tell kids anything, especially when they are over 18, but that is when I back off anyway. She could have applied in April and had it done before her next semester started. But procrastinated, then learned when the new fall semester started, learned she could study in the UK if she had a US passport. So then the process started, had to take a day off during school for biometrics, another for her interview, and a third for her oath ceremony. St. Paul doesn't have same day oaths.

Compounded by delays over both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, then always a panic about severe snow storms during the winter months. It was clear for her interview that day, but really a miracle for her oath ceremony. Both the day before and after her oath date, we had major snow storms, but was clear the day of her oath ceremony.. That was pure luck on her part, she managed to get her US passport in time to apply for the UK study. But it did cause stress.

When you apply for US citizen, have to plan six months ahead, because you will be tied up. Plus all of her studies, had that civics test also to memorize, that was even more stress. Universities are crazy anyway with those short 3 1/2 month long semesters, then with Thanksgiving and Spring breaks in the middle. Cram like crazy, forget everything the next day, then cram again. Her oath ceremony occurred right during her mid-terms, but her professor was kind enough to let her take a test the next day. What a mess that was, if she only listened to her stepdad, but she does now.

[Gumbolette 58]

Indeed. I am a great procrastinator myself. However, the way we planned this citizenship is when I thought it'll take 5 months, that by the time I have my interview, and oath I should be finished, but they have moved faster than I am predicted (which is a good thing I guess), then now Im screwed.

What I'll do now is hopefully try to get a letter from my D.o.N that so I can show it to the interviewer and hopefully I get to have my Oath the same day..

If I call the 1-800 number, will they be able to tell me if they do a same day oath?