1485waiter
Registered Users (C)
Sorry to open a new thread, but I hope you will understand once u read.
I became an US Citizen y'day @ LA Sports Arena. The ceremony as such went without hiccups. Had to show the 445 before enetering the arena, then check-in in any one of the 70 tables, surrendered my GC and 445(did not show my DL), office wrote OK and a table # to pickup certificate on return. Once inside the area, the court came into session around 4p (supposed to be @ 3:30p). Judge apologised for arriving late, but organisers started letting in people only around 3:30p. It took a while for 5000+ people to get in.
Jusge swore us in with Oath of allegiance, gave a speech. USCIS official did our Pledge of allegiance. We were waving flags and shouting frequently. Then a video was shown. USPS official made an announcement for Passport, then swore-in the applicants who were to apply for Passport right-after. Then we were let out, after the visitors were let out.
I was content about this experience, the one that matters most. Everything else that happened y'day made it one of the worst days in US for me. I left 12:30 (in San Fernando Valley, 30 miles from the arena) the traffic in downtown LA came to a crawl. It took almost an hour between the MLK exit (for arena) and Exposition Blvd on 110S and still couldnt get out. So, I had to walk (yes, walked on freeway-shoulder) the last mile alongwith atleast around 50 others who were stuck in the Freeway. A few just parked the car on the freeway shoulder, disregarding the consequence. (so what would've happened, if they got a ticket officially before swearing-in, but were unaware???)
I entered the compound around 3:15p, around 3500+ people were standing in line outside arena waiting to be let in and steadily pouring in. Luckily it wasnt hot yday, but my last-mile irritated me only more, but atleast I was happy, I was there. Around 3:25p line started moving. Directions weren't clear for visitors. Once inside, everything went smoothly.
Getting out to gather the certificate was another big mess. It reminded me of the Cinema Halls in India (atleast the way I remeber from 15 yrs ago), where people were herded, literally, like cattles. I perhaps am not describing the disappointment and emotional trauma very well and in detail, but it was. And that robbed most of the anticipated excitement. I am leaving few other personal-minor miseries like, I forogt my brand-new sportcoat in the car, and my wife had to drive the car, who never drove in a freeway, let alone in bumper-to-bumper traffic, which was bothering me all the time, until she was safe. She couldnt meet me before I entered the arena.
On the surface its not USCIS fault, but I am going to send in a recommendation to split the ceremony in other locations (like SFV). Its not convenient for people who dont have good commuting infrastrucutre from their home to downtown and thats a good enough number, here in LA. Like the FP facility, they have to split the 18,000 new citizens and the visitors into more than one facility for swearing-in or interview. What happened to a bunch of us yday is no way for USA to welcome new citizens. LA cant collect tax from 1.5million SFV residents and treat us this way. After yday, I am a firm believer, for SFV to break-away from LA.
Anyway, my piece of advise, if you happen to go to LA Sports Arena for Oath, please dont underestimate traffic.
And, this forum is magnificent for immigrants. Honestly, there were only a few tips I actually used in my case, since mine was quite straight-forward, but the information I gathered here gave me tremendous confidence and I have passed the knowledge on to my friends occasionally. I am sure, it would help plenty of people to avoid making silly mistakes and also help many in critical scenarios. Also, the forums empowered me to know what to expect and that many a times helped me to handle the process in a relatively calm-manner.
With the forum handling Passport, OCI and GC-4-relatives discussions, I dont think, I will be away from here for a while, though. Thank you so much, everyone. What makes it classy is, none of you really expect anything in return!!!
I became an US Citizen y'day @ LA Sports Arena. The ceremony as such went without hiccups. Had to show the 445 before enetering the arena, then check-in in any one of the 70 tables, surrendered my GC and 445(did not show my DL), office wrote OK and a table # to pickup certificate on return. Once inside the area, the court came into session around 4p (supposed to be @ 3:30p). Judge apologised for arriving late, but organisers started letting in people only around 3:30p. It took a while for 5000+ people to get in.
Jusge swore us in with Oath of allegiance, gave a speech. USCIS official did our Pledge of allegiance. We were waving flags and shouting frequently. Then a video was shown. USPS official made an announcement for Passport, then swore-in the applicants who were to apply for Passport right-after. Then we were let out, after the visitors were let out.
I was content about this experience, the one that matters most. Everything else that happened y'day made it one of the worst days in US for me. I left 12:30 (in San Fernando Valley, 30 miles from the arena) the traffic in downtown LA came to a crawl. It took almost an hour between the MLK exit (for arena) and Exposition Blvd on 110S and still couldnt get out. So, I had to walk (yes, walked on freeway-shoulder) the last mile alongwith atleast around 50 others who were stuck in the Freeway. A few just parked the car on the freeway shoulder, disregarding the consequence. (so what would've happened, if they got a ticket officially before swearing-in, but were unaware???)
I entered the compound around 3:15p, around 3500+ people were standing in line outside arena waiting to be let in and steadily pouring in. Luckily it wasnt hot yday, but my last-mile irritated me only more, but atleast I was happy, I was there. Around 3:25p line started moving. Directions weren't clear for visitors. Once inside, everything went smoothly.
Getting out to gather the certificate was another big mess. It reminded me of the Cinema Halls in India (atleast the way I remeber from 15 yrs ago), where people were herded, literally, like cattles. I perhaps am not describing the disappointment and emotional trauma very well and in detail, but it was. And that robbed most of the anticipated excitement. I am leaving few other personal-minor miseries like, I forogt my brand-new sportcoat in the car, and my wife had to drive the car, who never drove in a freeway, let alone in bumper-to-bumper traffic, which was bothering me all the time, until she was safe. She couldnt meet me before I entered the arena.
On the surface its not USCIS fault, but I am going to send in a recommendation to split the ceremony in other locations (like SFV). Its not convenient for people who dont have good commuting infrastrucutre from their home to downtown and thats a good enough number, here in LA. Like the FP facility, they have to split the 18,000 new citizens and the visitors into more than one facility for swearing-in or interview. What happened to a bunch of us yday is no way for USA to welcome new citizens. LA cant collect tax from 1.5million SFV residents and treat us this way. After yday, I am a firm believer, for SFV to break-away from LA.
Anyway, my piece of advise, if you happen to go to LA Sports Arena for Oath, please dont underestimate traffic.
And, this forum is magnificent for immigrants. Honestly, there were only a few tips I actually used in my case, since mine was quite straight-forward, but the information I gathered here gave me tremendous confidence and I have passed the knowledge on to my friends occasionally. I am sure, it would help plenty of people to avoid making silly mistakes and also help many in critical scenarios. Also, the forums empowered me to know what to expect and that many a times helped me to handle the process in a relatively calm-manner.
With the forum handling Passport, OCI and GC-4-relatives discussions, I dont think, I will be away from here for a while, though. Thank you so much, everyone. What makes it classy is, none of you really expect anything in return!!!
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M eventually.