My Oath Experience - Cadman Plaza Brooklyn NYC - 5162018

[ksp9 19]

Oath Experience Cadman Plaza Brooklyn 5/16/2018:

 

I left home early and reached the venue by 7:30 AM as I have decided to drive and park in the near by parking. Found many and parked at 111 livingstone icon parking garage that has $20 if you park anytime between 5 AM to 10 AM and can take out any number of hours. I booked my spot from 6 AM to 2 PM just in case and it still costed me 20 bucks. Left my phone in the car itself. It was a short and scenic walk from livingstone street to Cadman Plaza E court building. By the time I reach there was a line formed. Contrary to some vj'ers here, it was more blessing in disguise and you will know what I mean shortly. Anyways, just like any airport security you go through like removing belts / no cameras / no phones / etc... Once through you are asked to get to 2nd floor while your family members are requested to get to 3rd floor. Today there were about 261 becoming new citizens. So the room was jam packed and there was hardly room for family members, so it's luck and depends on the day. Today no family members. Once inside FIFO (first in first out method is adopted). So they make you seated in a kind of order. The first 30 members get a chance to sit on cushioned chairs with arm rest. So if you reach early you might end up being in those chairs and instead of being stacked along on those long bench tables. Since you will probably end up sitting there for at least 4 hrs or so, the cushion chairs made it more comfortable.

 

You have to fill the back portion of the oath letter there itself and enter the city / state as "brooklyn , new york". once done, that's it. There were no one from voter registration since there are no elections around the corner I guess. Now time is about 9 AM. Still all the people are being filled up slowly in an orderly form. Once all the candidates are seated (or so), they will call people with special cases like name changes or picture issue. Then about 9:30 AM or so, from row 1 (the first set of candidates who came in first) are called to hand over their filled out form along with green card (s) if you more than one and any other documents like EAD, Travel Documents, Refugee , I94 etc. They will write the last 3 digits on to your form and hand over an envelop that contains Oath / Pledge and passport application and voter information flyer and a hard case for keeping your certificate later. Once you collect your enevelop after handing over the GC etc.. you are directed to another table where they will have you verify your naturalization certificate for any errors and then if all ok, then you are asked to sign in front of them (the same signature that you have done during your interview). That's it. You are sent back to your seat and you wait and wait until all the remaining fellow would be citizens are taken care of as well. Once the process is complete, including name changes / picture issue folks, they will formally make a phone call to request the judge to join us all. This was about 11:20 AM or so. Until this process you are free to go to the rest room as well. There are drinking water fountains available as well just in case you need to drink some water near the rest room corridor. But once they make the judge to come, that's a hint that you are not supposed to be outside since if you miss the oath / pledge then you are not naturalized yet.. it's that simple. So guys understand when they say not to leave the room, they make sense because we have come to this point after lot of hurdles hence, don't miss this out.

 

Judge walks in at 11:40  and we all rise welcoming her and in turn today the judge was a women, who was very jovial and pleasant. Made our day more memorable. She complimented all of us and also apologized related to how hard it is to come into this building going through security etc and all other formalities etc... but nevertheless she said first let's have our citizens , and so immediately did the oath / pledge with that done, we were officially citizens at that precise moment. Then she congratulated all of us and then she read out all the countries and we all supported each other with this great achievement. There were about 65 countries or so. It was an emotional farewell to motherland but judge made it clear that even though you have renounced all ties but don't renounce your love to your own country and culture. Please carry on the legacy of it. America is built on freedom and it's "WE THE PEOPLE" that makes it proud.  Then she left at 12 Noon or so, now again the first row is called upon to submit our oath letter and then collect our certificates and we are on our own once outside that building and disappear in world that is now painted "RED" "BLUE" and "WHITE" by 12:20 PM.

 

I have my passport appointment scheduled for Friday and got to my car and headed back home driving for the very first time as an american citizen.

 

Thanks to some of the folks here who were sharing their experiences.. like @Going through@vkhutchings@anu19@lela and many others...

 

Some pointers to remember:

1. it's always FIFO (so if you come early you will leave early as well)

2. Status updates (Might happen or might not happen - so don't depend and be anxious and above all STOP Comparing with others statuses)

3. Attire - I have noticed that some were too casual but nevertheless this is one of the most important event of your life, so I would suggest go in your formal (suits for men and ladies to be business). that gives the event the dignity and respect (not that this is mandatory but will be great to have these worn)

4. Eat something in the morning if possible, I was really hungry as I could not eat anything in the morning. By the time you are done, you feel exhausted at some level even though you are very happy.

[cdneh 3,112]

Congratulations ksp9 ! 

[Janeg120 9]

Congratulations and what a great report on the whole day. My ceremony is this Thursday  in San Antonio. I'm excited the day is (almost) finally here!

 

[ksp9 19]

2 hours ago, Janeg120 said:

Congratulations and what a great report on the whole day. My ceremony is this Thursday  in San Antonio. I'm excited the day is (almost) finally here!

 

Congrats! Good luck and enjoy the special moment and day in your life.

[JeanneSs 72]

On 5/20/2018 at 7:56 AM, ksp9 said:

Oath Experience Cadman Plaza Brooklyn 5/16/2018:

 

I left home early and reached the venue by 7:30 AM as I have decided to drive and park in the near by parking. Found many and parked at 111 livingstone icon parking garage that has $20 if you park anytime between 5 AM to 10 AM and can take out any number of hours. I booked my spot from 6 AM to 2 PM just in case and it still costed me 20 bucks. Left my phone in the car itself. It was a short and scenic walk from livingstone street to Cadman Plaza E court building. By the time I reach there was a line formed. Contrary to some vj'ers here, it was more blessing in disguise and you will know what I mean shortly. Anyways, just like any airport security you go through like removing belts / no cameras / no phones / etc... Once through you are asked to get to 2nd floor while your family members are requested to get to 3rd floor. Today there were about 261 becoming new citizens. So the room was jam packed and there was hardly room for family members, so it's luck and depends on the day. Today no family members. Once inside FIFO (first in first out method is adopted). So they make you seated in a kind of order. The first 30 members get a chance to sit on cushioned chairs with arm rest. So if you reach early you might end up being in those chairs and instead of being stacked along on those long bench tables. Since you will probably end up sitting there for at least 4 hrs or so, the cushion chairs made it more comfortable.

 

You have to fill the back portion of the oath letter there itself and enter the city / state as "brooklyn , new york". once done, that's it. There were no one from voter registration since there are no elections around the corner I guess. Now time is about 9 AM. Still all the people are being filled up slowly in an orderly form. Once all the candidates are seated (or so), they will call people with special cases like name changes or picture issue. Then about 9:30 AM or so, from row 1 (the first set of candidates who came in first) are called to hand over their filled out form along with green card (s) if you more than one and any other documents like EAD, Travel Documents, Refugee , I94 etc. They will write the last 3 digits on to your form and hand over an envelop that contains Oath / Pledge and passport application and voter information flyer and a hard case for keeping your certificate later. Once you collect your enevelop after handing over the GC etc.. you are directed to another table where they will have you verify your naturalization certificate for any errors and then if all ok, then you are asked to sign in front of them (the same signature that you have done during your interview). That's it. You are sent back to your seat and you wait and wait until all the remaining fellow would be citizens are taken care of as well. Once the process is complete, including name changes / picture issue folks, they will formally make a phone call to request the judge to join us all. This was about 11:20 AM or so. Until this process you are free to go to the rest room as well. There are drinking water fountains available as well just in case you need to drink some water near the rest room corridor. But once they make the judge to come, that's a hint that you are not supposed to be outside since if you miss the oath / pledge then you are not naturalized yet.. it's that simple. So guys understand when they say not to leave the room, they make sense because we have come to this point after lot of hurdles hence, don't miss this out.

 

Judge walks in at 11:40  and we all rise welcoming her and in turn today the judge was a women, who was very jovial and pleasant. Made our day more memorable. She complimented all of us and also apologized related to how hard it is to come into this building going through security etc and all other formalities etc... but nevertheless she said first let's have our citizens , and so immediately did the oath / pledge with that done, we were officially citizens at that precise moment. Then she congratulated all of us and then she read out all the countries and we all supported each other with this great achievement. There were about 65 countries or so. It was an emotional farewell to motherland but judge made it clear that even though you have renounced all ties but don't renounce your love to your own country and culture. Please carry on the legacy of it. America is built on freedom and it's "WE THE PEOPLE" that makes it proud.  Then she left at 12 Noon or so, now again the first row is called upon to submit our oath letter and then collect our certificates and we are on our own once outside that building and disappear in world that is now painted "RED" "BLUE" and "WHITE" by 12:20 PM.

 

I have my passport appointment scheduled for Friday and got to my car and headed back home driving for the very first time as an american citizen.

 

Thanks to some of the folks here who were sharing their experiences.. like @Going through@vkhutchings@anu19@lela and many others...

 

Some pointers to remember:

1. it's always FIFO (so if you come early you will leave early as well)

2. Status updates (Might happen or might not happen - so don't depend and be anxious and above all STOP Comparing with others statuses)

3. Attire - I have noticed that some were too casual but nevertheless this is one of the most important event of your life, so I would suggest go in your formal (suits for men and ladies to be business). that gives the event the dignity and respect (not that this is mandatory but will be great to have these worn)

4. Eat something in the morning if possible, I was really hungry as I could not eat anything in the morning. By the time you are done, you feel exhausted at some level even though you are very happy.

I’m  trying to fill form N-455. Should I put my address or address where the oath ceremony will be taken place? Thanks 

[ksp9 19]

13 hours ago, JeanneSs said:

I’m  trying to fill form N-455. Should I put my address or address where the oath ceremony will be taken place? Thanks 

Your current home address where you received your oath letter. But "Signed at" City and State shall be the oath location "city" and "state". For example mine was in Brooklyn,  New York .

 

Hope this helps.