rick92
Volunteer Moderator
First of all, let me thank Rajiv S Khanna, our host, for the opportunity and privilege of being a member of this Forum. Also, I want to thank in advance the following members who have already pre-sabotaged my experience in Camp Delta, Guantanamo, Cuba and the "Mojitos" and "cigars" I love the most in company of Fidel Castro alias "The Menace".-
The list is so far short and I know you guys have been here throughout this whole musical show called " Mama-Mia, USCIS, and the Twilight Zone".
In alphabetical order: Thanks to COLORFULMIKE, BARAIDER, BOBSMYTH, BOND, FUNKY BROTHER, GINNU, HBSBOUND, IRFNOR76, JACKOLANTERN, JOHNNYCASH, MR. VERTIGO, NYC NYC NYC, SARREBAL, VITAL2006, VORPAL, VDOSTOI1 AND MANY OTHERS.......
oK Guys, here it goes:
I went to a sort of Infopass Meeting on Thursday March 5th 2009 to 26 Federal Plaza and waited to speak to the officer that had called me. I felt very strange and intimidated by the fact that it would or could create trouble for my N-400. After waiting at the office 700 in Federal Plaza, and after announcing myself to one the counters, I was told to wait by one the doors.
A man in his late 40's came out, called my name, told him to follow him to an office that had no files on the desk, he grabbed one of the folders and handed me a piece of paper that I would later describe as the N-445.
He said they had received my letter, and everything had been already set and programmed for 3/06/09 at 500 Pearl St @ 900 hours. To be present at the Oath Ceremony and that he wished me well as a future USC. He asked me if I had any questions to which I responded NO, thanked him, got up and walked out.
Now, the problem is that I did not believe it, I said to myself, when you see the cert of naturalization, I will believe it. So this morning I got up at 6 am, before waking up at 3 / 4/ 5 am and showed up at 830 am. The entrance was through Worth St, at the Courthouse, I went with my wife, they took our cell phones and we were told to goto room 160 (the Jury Room), a beautiful and peaceful room for about 500 people. I sat down in the front on the left side of the aisle and wife all the way in the back.
Anyway, about 920 am, they (USCIS) calling by rows, we went to two ladies who were asking about the questions asked on the back of the N445, and directed us to another table with two people that had physical posession of the certificates.
And there it was " My certificate with my name on it" ... I could not believe it... she stated to me to sign it ... and to make sure everything was correct and told me that the Judge will hand it to me later. We got a break until 1030 and I went to the cafeteria on the 8th floor. Very nice view of Chinatown. At 1100 am, the Judge showed up, we recited the oath, I wanted to recite it as loud as posible, so that the whole wide world will hear me. Then we sat down, the judge started to talk about her mother being an immigrant from Russia/Poland and how they came through Ellis Island. Very nice story and very moving.
Then we pledged allegiance to the United States Flag and they started calling each name, and the Federal Judge shaked each hand and another lady gave us our certificate. We left and they let us take pictures outside and then I came to work.
To tell you the truth GUYS, I don't believe it yet. Before I had always felt like an American because I grew up accustomed to come to the US and feel at home. Now, this is HOME. Now, I am not only an American, I completed myself with the US Citizenship, and I feel like I finally belong. My house, my home, my country, even though today I hold triple citizenship.
My country, the USA is like a prairie of dreams and hopes for a better future for those who love us and for those we love. We are not perfect but we try to be and that is what's best about us. Beside the material rewards we receive for our jobs, and that is what most everybody else outside the US do not understand about us, that we are always aiming for a better union.
May God bless each one of your journeys and May God bless this country, our country, the United States of America.-
The list is so far short and I know you guys have been here throughout this whole musical show called " Mama-Mia, USCIS, and the Twilight Zone".
In alphabetical order: Thanks to COLORFULMIKE, BARAIDER, BOBSMYTH, BOND, FUNKY BROTHER, GINNU, HBSBOUND, IRFNOR76, JACKOLANTERN, JOHNNYCASH, MR. VERTIGO, NYC NYC NYC, SARREBAL, VITAL2006, VORPAL, VDOSTOI1 AND MANY OTHERS.......
oK Guys, here it goes:
I went to a sort of Infopass Meeting on Thursday March 5th 2009 to 26 Federal Plaza and waited to speak to the officer that had called me. I felt very strange and intimidated by the fact that it would or could create trouble for my N-400. After waiting at the office 700 in Federal Plaza, and after announcing myself to one the counters, I was told to wait by one the doors.
A man in his late 40's came out, called my name, told him to follow him to an office that had no files on the desk, he grabbed one of the folders and handed me a piece of paper that I would later describe as the N-445.
He said they had received my letter, and everything had been already set and programmed for 3/06/09 at 500 Pearl St @ 900 hours. To be present at the Oath Ceremony and that he wished me well as a future USC. He asked me if I had any questions to which I responded NO, thanked him, got up and walked out.
Now, the problem is that I did not believe it, I said to myself, when you see the cert of naturalization, I will believe it. So this morning I got up at 6 am, before waking up at 3 / 4/ 5 am and showed up at 830 am. The entrance was through Worth St, at the Courthouse, I went with my wife, they took our cell phones and we were told to goto room 160 (the Jury Room), a beautiful and peaceful room for about 500 people. I sat down in the front on the left side of the aisle and wife all the way in the back.
Anyway, about 920 am, they (USCIS) calling by rows, we went to two ladies who were asking about the questions asked on the back of the N445, and directed us to another table with two people that had physical posession of the certificates.
And there it was " My certificate with my name on it" ... I could not believe it... she stated to me to sign it ... and to make sure everything was correct and told me that the Judge will hand it to me later. We got a break until 1030 and I went to the cafeteria on the 8th floor. Very nice view of Chinatown. At 1100 am, the Judge showed up, we recited the oath, I wanted to recite it as loud as posible, so that the whole wide world will hear me. Then we sat down, the judge started to talk about her mother being an immigrant from Russia/Poland and how they came through Ellis Island. Very nice story and very moving.
Then we pledged allegiance to the United States Flag and they started calling each name, and the Federal Judge shaked each hand and another lady gave us our certificate. We left and they let us take pictures outside and then I came to work.
To tell you the truth GUYS, I don't believe it yet. Before I had always felt like an American because I grew up accustomed to come to the US and feel at home. Now, this is HOME. Now, I am not only an American, I completed myself with the US Citizenship, and I feel like I finally belong. My house, my home, my country, even though today I hold triple citizenship.
My country, the USA is like a prairie of dreams and hopes for a better future for those who love us and for those we love. We are not perfect but we try to be and that is what's best about us. Beside the material rewards we receive for our jobs, and that is what most everybody else outside the US do not understand about us, that we are always aiming for a better union.
May God bless each one of your journeys and May God bless this country, our country, the United States of America.-
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