Is the oath ceremony required?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

What if one doesn't wish to attend?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You don't become a citizen

[aleful 1,905]

ditto

you aren't a USC until you have the oath ceremony. you will give up your GC, swear to defend and protect this country, become a USC and at the end of the ceremony you will receive your certificate of Naturalization

why wouldn't you want to do that?

[Shub 78]

There's no getting around swearing the oath.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I assume the OP wants to know if there's a way to swear the oath without sitting through the whole ceremony thing/flag waving/photo op.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

ditto

you aren't a USC until you have the oath ceremony. you will give up your GC, swear to defend and protect this country, become a USC and at the end of the ceremony you will receive your certificate of Naturalization

why wouldn't you want to do that?

Because it's rather sentimental muck. Much like a high school graduation.

I assume the OP wants to know if there's a way to swear the oath without sitting through the whole ceremony thing/flag waving/photo op.

Exactly.

I just looked at the Guide to Natz on USCIS and it looks like you can request a same day oath on the day of your interview.

[aleful 1,905]

hi

not all offices have same day oath, it depends on the city and state, and mine was only 45 minutes long, too short for me after having to wait for 5 years

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

hi

not all offices have same day oath, it depends on the city and state, and mine was only 45 minutes long, too short for me after having to wait for 5 years

Yes, I can imagine the same-day oath isn't always an option.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "too short for me after having to wait for 5 years"...........

[aleful 1,905]

I was petitioned by my USC mom so I had to wait 5 years of residency to apply for citizenship. I would have liked for my ceremony to be longer, the opposite of you

I had heard of some places that take 2 or more hours long, but it also depends if there are a lot of people taking the oath at the same time, like hundreds

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I was petitioned by my USC mom so I had to wait 5 years of residency to apply for citizenship. I would have liked for my ceremony to be longer, the opposite of you

I had heard of some places that take 2 or more hours long, but it also depends if there are a lot of people taking the oath at the same time, like hundreds

Ah. Thanks for the explanation.

Just for the record, I am a US citizen. It's my husband who is foreign born. And he's been eligible for citizenship for .......oh two or three years now. When we first entered on his immigration journey, the filing fee for citizenship was only $200. Now it's over $800 with biometrics. Seems to me they should charge less for all that flag waving.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

"Sentimental muck" lol...clever with the words! But seriously...just sit through it...then you can live the rest of your life as a USC.

[aleful 1,905]

hi

the fee is only $680 biometrics included and it's a lot less than the whole GC process

plus it's optional, it's a decision that not everyone makes, you can be a GC holder for the rest of your life if you want to

[aleful 1,905]

but what it really boils down to is being supportive of your husband since you will be sitting on the visitors area for family members, during this milestone event in his life

so it's your prerogative of not attending but I'm sure it would hurt his feelings

[nobbie 105]

I can see exactly where the OP and her hubby are coming from. IF I ever bother with becoming a USC, and it's a long way off, i would do it for the convenience of having 2 passports. I'd be happy enough filling a form out saying yes i swear this and that and not have to bother with any ceremony. As for my wife attending, I doubt she'd want to sit through it and I would not try and persuade her otherwise.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

but what it really boils down to is being supportive of your husband since you will be sitting on the visitors area for family members, during this milestone event in his life

so it's your prerogative of not attending but I'm sure it would hurt his feelings

I think you are reading too much into my question.