Chicago Oath ceremony and kids
- Thread starter danp
- Start date
homeschoolmum
Registered Users (C)
Children at oath ceremony
Hello!
I had my oath ceremony on October 18 in Columbus, Ohio. I was concerned about the same thing, as I have five children, and I wanted them to be able to witness the ceremony.
Firstly, I was concerned because the letter I received stated that everyone, including guests, had to have a photo ID. (My younger children don't have one, being so young.)
Secondly, I wanted to make sure that children were indeed permitted.
I found the telephone number for the U.S. District Courthouse where the oath ceremony was going to be held, and I called them. The first person I spoke with wasn't able to answer my questions, so she put me through to someone else. The person I spoke with said that no, it was not necessary for the children to have a photo ID. She said that children are welcome. That same person, as it turned out, was the person who welcomed us to the oath ceremony, and dealt with the paperwork, etc on that day.
Before the ceremony, the guests are separated from the naturalization petitioners. My husband took the children into the cafeteria, which was just down the hall from the large room the petitioners were in. There was a really nice woman from Jordan who was sitting behind me during the proceedings. She is a single mother who had her five year old son with her. He was a little rambunctious, and she was trying very hard to keep him quiet. I turned around and befriended them. We had a short break before we had to return to the room, so I introduced the woman and her son to my husband and family in the cafeteria, and the little boy began to play with my children. The woman left her son with my husband and children, and we returned to the room. Just after we filed into the grand courtroom for the ceremony, the guests were ushered in, and my husband and kids brought the little boy to his mother.
I would suggest calling the courthouse, and speaking with the clerk of courts to ask any questions you might have. From what I've gathered, different courthouses might have slightly different rules of etiquette.
Hope you have a wonderful, memorable oath ceremony!
Hello!
I had my oath ceremony on October 18 in Columbus, Ohio. I was concerned about the same thing, as I have five children, and I wanted them to be able to witness the ceremony.
Firstly, I was concerned because the letter I received stated that everyone, including guests, had to have a photo ID. (My younger children don't have one, being so young.)
Secondly, I wanted to make sure that children were indeed permitted.
I found the telephone number for the U.S. District Courthouse where the oath ceremony was going to be held, and I called them. The first person I spoke with wasn't able to answer my questions, so she put me through to someone else. The person I spoke with said that no, it was not necessary for the children to have a photo ID. She said that children are welcome. That same person, as it turned out, was the person who welcomed us to the oath ceremony, and dealt with the paperwork, etc on that day.
Before the ceremony, the guests are separated from the naturalization petitioners. My husband took the children into the cafeteria, which was just down the hall from the large room the petitioners were in. There was a really nice woman from Jordan who was sitting behind me during the proceedings. She is a single mother who had her five year old son with her. He was a little rambunctious, and she was trying very hard to keep him quiet. I turned around and befriended them. We had a short break before we had to return to the room, so I introduced the woman and her son to my husband and family in the cafeteria, and the little boy began to play with my children. The woman left her son with my husband and children, and we returned to the room. Just after we filed into the grand courtroom for the ceremony, the guests were ushered in, and my husband and kids brought the little boy to his mother.
I would suggest calling the courthouse, and speaking with the clerk of courts to ask any questions you might have. From what I've gathered, different courthouses might have slightly different rules of etiquette.
Hope you have a wonderful, memorable oath ceremony!