| Names |
 Service Center  |
CIS Office |
Filed |
NOA |
Bio. Appt. |
Interview |
Approved ? |
Oath |
Comments |
Updated Last |
  Rochelle & Ryan
|
Online |
Wichita KS |
2024-01-20 |
2024-01-20 |
|
2024-04-30 |
Yes |
|
|
2024-04-30 |
 Sam & Dee
|
Phoenix AZ Lockbox |
Wichita KS |
2014-05-03 |
2014-05-08 |
2014-05-29 |
2014-01-13 |
Yes |
2015-01-31 |
|
2016-07-23 |
 Not Prince Charming & Alli
|
Online |
Wichita KS |
2018-10-24 |
2018-10-24 |
2018-11-13 |
2019-03-12 |
Yes |
2019-04-19 |
It was my oath ceremony yesterday, in Wichita Kansas. Everyone was invited to arrive at 12pm, so we (me and my husband) got there at 11:15pm only to discover it didn’t start until 1:30pm.
I was expecting a lot of people as it was held in a theatre, and there were around 150 immigrants, plus lots of family and friends. The place was packed.
About 12pm, we were organised into lines by the local director of USCIS – 2 lines of immigrants with family and friends quickly separated from us. I stood in line for over an hour before I got to the check-in desk where for the first of numerous times that day, I had to show my appointment letter. That became the document the IO officers wanted to see the most. I also had to hand in my 2-year and 10-year green card.
Then we had to line up again to get into the theatre. There were two guys dressed in colonial outfits who gave us a pamphlet on the American flag and a program for the ceremony. We were led onto the stage and had to show the invitation letter again, and then go to a table to sign our naturalisation certificate which the IO took back straight away. We were also given a large white envelope with a certificate holder and various booklets on being an American citizen.
By this point friends and family had been seated at the back and we were directed to sit in the first five rows. They were very clear that we couldn’t sit anywhere else. A senior IO took to the stage to announce what would be happening – a judge would be preceding over the ceremony, and when she arrived the theatre would become a federal court, and all the doors would be locked. Then we got a short bathroom break before the ceremony got underway.
We were told we had to say the oath out loud unless you’d been given permission (on religious grounds) not to, and the IOs dotted around the theatre would be watching us – if they suspected anyone wasn’t saying it, you’d be asked to stay behind and your certificate may not be issued.
Around 1:30pm the ceremony started, and the judge welcomed us – she was friendly. Some kids in guard uniform from a local school marched out and put up the flag, and we stood to sing the anthem. Then a local attorney gave an emotional speech about what she went through to adopt her daughter from Vietnam (her kid was on stage looking embarrassed) and then another attorney led us through the oath and then the pledge.
Another IO took the stage and called out each of the 39 countries in attendance. When your country was called you had to stand up for a second then sit down. Everyone got a generous round of applause. I was the only person from the UK. Some people had dressed in ballgowns and black tie, one guy from Cambodia wore his national dress, some went down the ripped jeans and t-shirt route, but most were smart-casual.
Now it was the turn of another attorney, who had a guitar and explained he wanted to sign a song about being American that wasn’t about battle, and invited us to join in with John Cougar Mellencamp’s ‘Ain't That America’. Everyone was clapping along and singing the chorus.
The judge closed proceedings by thanking everyone who’d made the ceremony possible. The senior IO said we would be called row-by-row onto the stage to get our certificates (again had to show the invitation letter) and said we could have our picture taken with the local USCIS director after.
On the way out there were voting registration stations (just one easy to fill out form) and a lot of people (including me) stopped to do that.
We were out by 3pm, so it took nearly 4 hours in total. Much longer than I’d expected. I raced to the local Post Office, stood in line, only to be told passports were by appointment. LOL. I’ll do it Monday.
So my passport and social security update to do, and then I’ll be done.
Yesterday marked the end of my immigration journey – four years in total. Visa Journey was a massively important part of my story, and I’m very grateful for all the support, help and great advice.
Good luck to everyone still on this ride and many thanks. You guys rock. 😊
|
2019-08-29 |
 Wife & Husband
|
Online |
Wichita KS |
2023-06-20 |
2023-06-20 |
2023-06-20 |
|
|
|
|
2023-07-04 |
 Raquel & Sherwin
|
Nebraska Service Center (Military Filing) |
Wichita KS |
2014-04-01 |
2014-04-07 |
2014-05-02 |
2014-06-30 |
Yes |
2014-09-19 |
This is it! The last step towards being a US citizen! Although it took 7 years when it should have only taken 3, this Visa Journey is finally at the end. A new chapter in our lives begins. For those who have helped us along the way, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! Your experiences have helped calmed many nerves and now we can pay it forward! Those of you still on your journey, HAVE patience and be brutally honest in your correspondence. No shortcuts! Best wishes to all!!! |
2014-09-17 |
 Yi & Steve
|
Online |
Wichita KS |
2018-07-17 |
2018-07-18 |
2018-08-07 |
2019-01-14 |
Yes |
2019-02-15 |
Finally Complete
|
2019-02-17 |
 NHB & MLN
|
Online |
Wichita KS |
2018-07-29 |
2018-07-29 |
2018-08-22 |
2019-01-15 |
Yes |
2019-02-15 |
|
2019-01-15 |
 Tamari & Benjamin
|
Phoenix AZ Lockbox |
Wichita KS |
2016-10-27 |
2016-11-07 |
2016-11-17 |
2017-04-17 |
Yes |
2017-04-28 |
|
2017-05-28 |
 Pascal & Pamela
|
Nebraska Service Center |
Wichita KS |
2007-07-26 |
2007-11-09 |
2007-12-03 |
2008-05-07 |
|
|
|
2008-03-05 |
 Tammy & Aaron
|
Phoenix AZ Lockbox |
Wichita KS |
2014-04-22 |
2014-04-25 |
2014-05-07 |
2014-07-02 |
Yes |
2014-09-19 |
Received passport on October 8 with standard processing. |
2014-10-09 |
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