Our Oath Ceremony Experience !
We had our Oath Ceremony yesterday, 12/14 at the USCIS office, San Jose and it was an adventure !! I had prepared for the interview reading all the experiences on this board and kept all the documents in a folder- Invitation letters and green cards. We planned to apply for SSA change of status and completed the SS-5 forms and also passport for my son as he has a trip in April with his school Band on the same day.
We reached USCIS office 5 minutes to 10:00 and parking was easy. Two of our friends had come as guests and were waiting near the Security. Since we were the last ones, the security guards rushed us thru. When I opened the folder to show the invitation letters, I realized that I had kept my invitation letter and both the green cards on the computer desk at home.
I had taken it out to get a print out of the driving directions and forgot to keep it back in. The security guards did not even see the invitation letters and asked us to rush upstairs to room 219.
This was the same waiting room we had for our interview. All the future citizens were seated and guests were either sitting or standing at the back of the room. Officer P was making an announcement that the Oath ceremony was originally scheduled in an bigger room downstairs but due to another meeting, it has moved to Room 219. This was a last minute change and no videos during this ceremony.
Meanwhile, I talked to an officer who was collecting the applicaton letters and green cards and told him that I do not have my invitation letter with me. I handed my wife's invitation letter to him. He said, that should be fine and asked for Green Cards. I mentioned that I forgot both the greencards at home along with my invitation letter. He looked at me for a second with disbelief and asked us to wait while he checked with his superiors at the Desk in the front. He called us over to the front and Officer P asked if we had any other documents. I gave her our Indian passports. She looked at it and searched for our Certificates from the stack. Then she told us that we can go ahead and take to Oath, but have to come back with our greencard before 11.30 to get our citizenship certificate. Yeah !! We both were estatic !
Since the ceremony was moved to Room 219, there was no particular seating order and we had to look for empty chairs. We found one each on Row 2 and 3.
Distribution of Packet with info, and other materials
Introduction by officer P. - 83 New citizens from 27 different counties.
Oath by Director S.
Pledge of Alligiance by one of the new citizen.
Speech by the Director.
All done by 10.40 am. Officer P announced that we meet her . She gave us two passes and asked us to bring in the greencard in one hour and that she will hold on to our certificates till then. We rushed home and brought in the greencards and received our certificates !!!
Citizens finally !!
Thanks to all the member here in the forum and all the best.
Next steps:
Legal Name changes
N-600 for our son
apply for passports.