Oath experience in Mall of America
Since there has been no MOA oath ceremony experience posted here, I thought I would post mine here for benefit of others.
Oath letter required that applicants check in "by 8.00 AM". So I reached there at 7.55 AM. The east side enterance to the Mall was closed so I went in from the south side and then internally went to the east side parking. Parked at level 5, and got in to the lift and came to level 1 (Rotunda) as was required. The lights were switched off and there was no one is sight. I went around the various government department exhibition stands and found some one with a batch and asked about the naturalization ceremony. I was told that if I went to the enterance of the building I would see a USCIS officer. Since I had entered from level 5, I missed this on my way in. I found a line of people and with the oath letter in their hands. I joined the line and the line inched its way forward. A USCIS officer was letting 5 people be taken downstairs to an office where they "checked in". The delay I understood later was because a large number of people had not fillled and brought in the forms and some could not read or write English (so much for the English "test"
). Anyway my turn came and I went in a group downstairs handed in my green card, was asked to check my naturalization certificate and was given a seat number and sent upstairs with the same lady that brought us downstairs. After being ushered in to our seats (40 people) and there were around 15 seats for guests. My spouse was in her seat before hand itself because we figured there would be no sitting place for guests. The lights were still not switched on and it was kind of dark.
There were packets for each to be citizen. A lady from the women's league of voters helped people fill the forms and halfway through the process the lights were switched on (!). At 9.05 AM we were all asked to rise and Judge Paul Magnuson came on the dais and declared this a "court" and started the proceedings. He was quite impressive and really gave meaning to what becoming an American was about. Till then the naturalization process was becoming a bit of a mechnical process, but he really brought out peoples emotion. He said if a Frenchman becomes a German citizen, he will always remain a Frenchman in the German's eyes. But he said any one who becomes an American is instantly an American and accepted as such. And then he talked about how immigrants have made American what it is.
Out of the 40 or so people there were around 30 or nationalities and he asked everyone to stand up when their country name was called and to remain standing. My turn was first (Australia), and then followed the rest. I was amazed at the diversity of the people being naturalized. There was even one person from Iraq and everyone strained to seek him out!
We had the usual photographic session with the Judge who was more than happy to stand and oblige every person/family who wanted a photograph with him. All in all a very well managed and solemn ceremony by USCIS officers. The USCIS officer who interviewed me was there too and all of them very polite and professional.
Good luck to everyone waiting for their naturalization.