Hello everyone
I just became a US citizen! My PD was 7/27/07 so it took about 8.5 months from start to finish. I went to the courthouse @ 500 Pearl Street about 20 minutes before the appointed time, which was 9am. At the security checkpoint, which is similar to the airport security check (shoes off, bags and briefcases through the x ray machine), I had to hand over my cell phone and received a claim "token" with a number on it. I actually forgot to collect my cell on my way out and had to return 10 blocks for it.
The room was a "jury room" on the first floor. It is apparently large enough to seat 300 people. They seat you sequentially in rows on a first-come-first- served basis. I did not realize this at first but you do get "processed" in the seating order. In the end though, it seems to make very little difference in terms of how long you will spend at the oath ceremony. When they call your name to hand the certificate, it did not seem that they were consistently doing so in the order of seating arrangement.
People were still filing in well past 9am; I'd say they were still seating people through 9:20 or so. I was a bit surprised to see so many folks in jeans and t-shirts (though the letter specifically states "no jeans or flip flops"). No food or drink (other than water) was allowed. Processing entails lining up once to submit the oath letter and green card to a processing agent and then again (in a separate line) to sign the certificate of naturalization. This went on till about 10:30 or so. We were allowed to leave the room after being processed but were told to return by 11am.
At a little after 11am, we went through the following: singing Star Spangled Banner; reciting the oath; and listening to the judge speak. This was followed by our names being called one by one to collect the certificates we signed earlier.
There were two marshals who kept us entertained with jokes. While we were awaiting the judge to appear, one of them told us how many "citizens-to-be" were represented from some of the countries. Apparently the largest group on this particular day came from Dominican Republic (119). Among the others that I could recall, there were 3 from the UK, I believe 4 from India, 5 from Mexico and 1 from Spain. This is out of a group of approximately 300. I myself am originally from Japan.
I believe most people were done between 11:30 am to 12pm.
I just became a US citizen! My PD was 7/27/07 so it took about 8.5 months from start to finish. I went to the courthouse @ 500 Pearl Street about 20 minutes before the appointed time, which was 9am. At the security checkpoint, which is similar to the airport security check (shoes off, bags and briefcases through the x ray machine), I had to hand over my cell phone and received a claim "token" with a number on it. I actually forgot to collect my cell on my way out and had to return 10 blocks for it.
The room was a "jury room" on the first floor. It is apparently large enough to seat 300 people. They seat you sequentially in rows on a first-come-first- served basis. I did not realize this at first but you do get "processed" in the seating order. In the end though, it seems to make very little difference in terms of how long you will spend at the oath ceremony. When they call your name to hand the certificate, it did not seem that they were consistently doing so in the order of seating arrangement.
People were still filing in well past 9am; I'd say they were still seating people through 9:20 or so. I was a bit surprised to see so many folks in jeans and t-shirts (though the letter specifically states "no jeans or flip flops"). No food or drink (other than water) was allowed. Processing entails lining up once to submit the oath letter and green card to a processing agent and then again (in a separate line) to sign the certificate of naturalization. This went on till about 10:30 or so. We were allowed to leave the room after being processed but were told to return by 11am.
At a little after 11am, we went through the following: singing Star Spangled Banner; reciting the oath; and listening to the judge speak. This was followed by our names being called one by one to collect the certificates we signed earlier.
There were two marshals who kept us entertained with jokes. While we were awaiting the judge to appear, one of them told us how many "citizens-to-be" were represented from some of the countries. Apparently the largest group on this particular day came from Dominican Republic (119). Among the others that I could recall, there were 3 from the UK, I believe 4 from India, 5 from Mexico and 1 from Spain. This is out of a group of approximately 300. I myself am originally from Japan.
I believe most people were done between 11:30 am to 12pm.
