Atlanta Interview and Oath Cermony

[DavetheScot 0]

Well the journey is over. Traveled to Atlanta the day before and stayed at one of the many hotels next door to the USCIS Center for a 7.15am interview. Went through an airport type entry system then booked in at reception and was told to go to the 2nd floor to wait for my Interviewing Officer (IO). I was called by my Korean, I think, IO at around 8am and was relieved of my appointment slip. He took me to his office, asked for my drivers license, green card and passport then he got me to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth; he then asked me what the truth meant to which I replied that it meant that I would not lie. He then went through my N-400 for accuracy, asking various questions in each section like, when did you arrive in the US, when did you get married, what are the names of your children, are they here with you, what is your wife's name, how did you meet her, what was the last date you entered the US, etc, etc. When I told him I did not remember the exact date I re-entered the US and that it was already documented in the N-400, he insisted that I tell him so that he could verify what I had written - basically know your dates and entries from the N-400 because they will check what you had written. I then was asked the civics questions, I got the first 6 correct so he stopped there, he got me to read a statement in English the write a sentence in English. Then he went out to the waiting room and brought my wife into his office and asked her a number of questions that he had already asked me. Once he had done this he advised me that he was approving my citizenship and taped my green card to my file. He then asked me how long it had taken for me to get to Atlanta from my home town. I told him that it had taken over 5 1/2 hours the previous day - he then checked the time to drive the route using Mapquest on his computer and said that I should have been able to do it in 4 hours . Nevertheless, because I was over 4 hours from Atlanta, he advised me that he was scheduling me for the same day oath ceremony that would be held at 1pm . I was instructed to go back into the waiting room and wait for one of the administrators to call my name to confirm the appointment before we were allowed to leave the building for lunch. The hardest part of the interview was understanding the IO's English! We left the building at around 10am and visited the local mall and had lunch, returning to the USCIS, going through the airport style security point again, for 1pm. My wife was then told that she would need to wait on the 3rd floor with all other relatives and that they would be called forward at the time of the ceremony. Then it was the waiting game. At around 1.45 we were led into the ceremony room, about 125 of us, and waited again. We were then filed in front of 2 administrators to check that the spelling and dates on our naturalization certificates were correct and then handed a seat number to go to, on which there was a flag and a USCIS envelope containing a passport application, the oath of alliegance, the national anthem and a couple of "welcome" papers. After the relatives were called down, the ceremony began, albeit with a number of technical hitches with the video projectors. We were shown a film of the US showing loads of different lifestyles and scenery then we were told to stand and raise our right hand. We were then sworn in as US citizens . Much applaud followed. We were then shown a video of the President addressing us as new citizens and finally swore alliegance to the flag. We then collected our certificates and took lots of pictures. Unfortunately, because the ceremony slipped in time, I did not get a chance to visit the passport office in Atlanta so I will need to submit my application through the local post office. Well that's it folks - best of luck to those that still have to go through these final steps - it's worth it!!

[bsd058 296]

Congratulations! I can't wait to be a citizen! I love America!

[Grashoppr 14]

Congratulations! Looking at your timeline, things went quickly for you through Atlanta. I filed here in late June... still waiting for interview. I'm a bit envious

I'm glad you were able to get a same-day oath, it would have been a pain to have to come all the way back again - you were wise to come the night before, particularly with how Atlanta traffic can be - it's very unforgiving.

Again, congratulations!