hi,
Attended oath ceremony today at Los Angeles Convention Center, 12.30pm. It was a huge crowd- 2976 new US citizens (not sure the exact no..haha) with the oldest being a 97yo elderly from Mexico. Surprisingly the event was running on schedule and in an orderly manner.
I took the Metro Rail Gold Line from Sierra Madre to Union Station, then interchanged to Metro Rail Purple line to 7th St and again interchanged to Metro Rail Expo Line to Pico Blvd. The whole journey took around 50mins to an hour. The LACC is a walking distance from Pico Blvd Expo Line station-reached the LACC around 12.20pm. It's the cheapest travelling fare - $5 for Daily Pass for every Metro Rail and Buses you take till 3am, and the best thing is you wont have to hurdle tru the traffic and pay the parking fees near LACC.[Note : You need the TAP card to load the $5 Daily Pass for ALL Metro Rail and buses. You can get the TAP card when you on board any Metro buses or at any Metro Rail stations. The TAP card costs $1, so total costs = $6 for Daily Pass.]
When I arrived at the LACC, there were already long queues. There was security check before we could enter the hall. This was most probably as a result of the twin bombing in Boston yesterday. Then we were directed to "check-in" at any counters - there were over 60 counters. At the counter, you hand in the Oath Ceremony letter and Green Card. The officer will ask the questions stated at the back of the Oath Ceremony Letter and punched your Green Card. Also, he/she will stamp on the Oath Ceremony Letter and write the "Table No." -the counter where you will get your naturalization certificate after the ceremony.
After that, we were directed to the seats. Each of us was given a package and a flag before we were seated. The package contains a small piece of paper for the Oath (Note: remember to take out this paper as you need it for your Oath), a letter from the President, voter information and certifcate file. During the ceremony, some volunteers handed out the Voter Registration form. Anyway, I did not submit the Voter Registration at the end of the ceremony. Will do it when I have the time.
The judge presided the ceremony was the 1st first Chinese American appointed as a United States District Judge-kinda emotional when he told us his family immigration history. Anyway, just relax and enjoy yourself during the ceremony.
After the Oath Ceremony, we were told to be remain seated. And then we were asked to proceed to the counter to get the naturalization certificate. This was done row-by-row on the first-come first-serve basis. So, whoever comes in 1st will get the naturalization certificate earlier.
Remember to check your name and Date of Birth in your naturalization certificate before you leave the hall. Also, if you petition to name change, please make sure the petition is stapled with your naturalization certificate. You need the petition for name change for your new SSN, passport, new driver license.
By the way, if you want - you can get the certificate holder and passport cover for $10 each. I just bought the certificate holder and passport cover at the hall.There are few mexicans selling at the streets for $5 each. I didn't look at those.
Also, I could not find the USPS booth to apply my passport. Will apply at the local Post Office.
All the best to you all!
Attended oath ceremony today at Los Angeles Convention Center, 12.30pm. It was a huge crowd- 2976 new US citizens (not sure the exact no..haha) with the oldest being a 97yo elderly from Mexico. Surprisingly the event was running on schedule and in an orderly manner.
I took the Metro Rail Gold Line from Sierra Madre to Union Station, then interchanged to Metro Rail Purple line to 7th St and again interchanged to Metro Rail Expo Line to Pico Blvd. The whole journey took around 50mins to an hour. The LACC is a walking distance from Pico Blvd Expo Line station-reached the LACC around 12.20pm. It's the cheapest travelling fare - $5 for Daily Pass for every Metro Rail and Buses you take till 3am, and the best thing is you wont have to hurdle tru the traffic and pay the parking fees near LACC.[Note : You need the TAP card to load the $5 Daily Pass for ALL Metro Rail and buses. You can get the TAP card when you on board any Metro buses or at any Metro Rail stations. The TAP card costs $1, so total costs = $6 for Daily Pass.]
When I arrived at the LACC, there were already long queues. There was security check before we could enter the hall. This was most probably as a result of the twin bombing in Boston yesterday. Then we were directed to "check-in" at any counters - there were over 60 counters. At the counter, you hand in the Oath Ceremony letter and Green Card. The officer will ask the questions stated at the back of the Oath Ceremony Letter and punched your Green Card. Also, he/she will stamp on the Oath Ceremony Letter and write the "Table No." -the counter where you will get your naturalization certificate after the ceremony.
After that, we were directed to the seats. Each of us was given a package and a flag before we were seated. The package contains a small piece of paper for the Oath (Note: remember to take out this paper as you need it for your Oath), a letter from the President, voter information and certifcate file. During the ceremony, some volunteers handed out the Voter Registration form. Anyway, I did not submit the Voter Registration at the end of the ceremony. Will do it when I have the time.
The judge presided the ceremony was the 1st first Chinese American appointed as a United States District Judge-kinda emotional when he told us his family immigration history. Anyway, just relax and enjoy yourself during the ceremony.
After the Oath Ceremony, we were told to be remain seated. And then we were asked to proceed to the counter to get the naturalization certificate. This was done row-by-row on the first-come first-serve basis. So, whoever comes in 1st will get the naturalization certificate earlier.
Remember to check your name and Date of Birth in your naturalization certificate before you leave the hall. Also, if you petition to name change, please make sure the petition is stapled with your naturalization certificate. You need the petition for name change for your new SSN, passport, new driver license.
By the way, if you want - you can get the certificate holder and passport cover for $10 each. I just bought the certificate holder and passport cover at the hall.There are few mexicans selling at the streets for $5 each. I didn't look at those.
Also, I could not find the USPS booth to apply my passport. Will apply at the local Post Office.
All the best to you all!
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