Selecting an Oath Ceremony

[Limey 551]

I've recently filed N400. The USCIS site shows that it should take around 5 months (which seemed surprisingly quick, since previous stages of my immigration journey took much longer).

 

I was wondering how things work with the Oath Ceremony. As far as I understand some states have a same day oath, but in North Carolina where I live it appears that ceremonies are held in various locations periodically throughout the year. Is it usual to be given a choice of locations/dates - or is one allocated for you? I'm in Wilmington NC, and I know they have occasional ceremonies here, but they are held more regularly in Raleigh. I was hoping I'd be given the option of waiting longer and having ceremony in Wilmington (or close by), or waiting shorter time and going to Raleigh. I have travel planned later in the year, so might opt for short wait to get passport in time for that, unless Wilmington dates fit better with my plans.

[arken 4,197]

You will be provided a location to go for oath, no choice.

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

24 minutes ago, Limey said:

Is it usual to be given a choice of locations/dates - or is one allocated for you?

You, usually they will send you a letter that specify what time/date and where you need to go. You will not be offered a choice. 

There are two types of ceremonies: judicial and administrative. Judicial ceremonies are held at a US district courthouse and officiated by a federal Judge. All name changing cases will be held at the judicial ones, plus if there are still spots, non-name-changing cases. Judicial ceremonies are usually less frequent. Administrative ceremonies are usually held at the local USCIS offices or they sometimes rent other venues for special events (for example, sometimes you can hear on the news that ceremonies are being held on board the USS Constitution for the Boston Field Office. I think in Los Angeles, due to sheer numbers, sometimes they have to get an auditorium that could accommodate 800-1000 people, ... )

 

Yes, some states of same day ceremony. I have seen cases where some people were interviewed and just so happened that there was a ceremony that same day in the after noon and they have spots available so they as the newly passed interviewees to join the ceremony right there. 

 

My recommendation is to go to the whatever date they first assign to you, whether it's Raleigh or Wilmington and get it over with. It's not that bad of a drive from Wilmington to Raleigh, I used to make the drive all the time when I used to live in Cary. This is an important enough occasion for that. 

[Limey 551]

11 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

My recommendation is to go to the whatever date they first assign to you, whether it's Raleigh or Wilmington and get it over with. It's not that bad of a drive from Wilmington to Raleigh, I used to make the drive all the time when I used to live in Cary. This is an important enough occasion for that. 

 

Thanks for the info, really useful.

 

I have no problem doing the drive to Raleigh (my biometrics and interview will be there, as were my previous immigration appointments). Like you say, its an important occasion so it would be good to make a day of it - I hated the idea of a quick legal ceremony after the interview, and was happy they don't appear to do that in NC . In Wilmington I have seen that they've done ceremonies on the Battleship, which would be cool. I just wasn't sure whether they'd allocate the first available ceremony (probably Raleigh) or the nearest (Wilmington), even if that requires a few weeks wait.

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

7 minutes ago, Limey said:

In Wilmington I have seen that they've done ceremonies on the Battleship, which would be cool. I just wasn't sure whether they'd allocate the first available ceremony (probably Raleigh) or the nearest (Wilmington), even if that requires a few weeks wait.

Yes! The USS North Carolina. Been there! I would be cool. My ceremony was at a courthouse, boring. 

 

I am not sure how they allocate. It's all from a computer of course. I suspect it would be first available within acceptable driving distance from your address. How they decide "acceptable", no one knows... 

[xyz12345 260]

I asked my IO if I could have my oath in a different city since ours only holds it once every 2 months . Quick answer was NO. I was willing to drive 2 hours or more if I could have my oath much sooner. Good news was that the naturalization calendar was already set for the year so I knew which possible days to block if I wanted to go out of town.

Edited February 29, 2020 by xyz12345

[N400NYC 380]

I'd do an oath ceremony in the desert if they told me. Goal is to become a citizen! 

 

Jokes aside, no choice involved. The letter - when the time comes - will specify where to go.

 

I think if there is a name change though the citizen-to-be has to participate in a court-based ceremony (and those, from what I hear, are much more boring).