Pras' oath-ceremony done

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I had brought our camera along to take photos (as had been taken for my own oath-ceremony at Hopkins Plaza in Balto) but was told at the door "no cameras, cellphones, ipods, ...by order of judge...". Not sure if if is due to integrated name-change petition (I didn't petition to change name--as it would mean much change in bank, credit-card, ...) or different in MD vs VA.

[ziia 9]

I had brought our camera along to take photos (as had been taken for my own oath-ceremony at Hopkins Plaza in Balto) but was told at the door "no cameras, cellphones, ipods, ...by order of judge...". Not sure if if is due to integrated name-change petition (I didn't petition to change name--as it would mean much change in bank, credit-card, ...) or different in MD vs VA.

Sorry to hear that. The name change has nothing to do with taking pictures. When I took my Oath they said the same thing, no videotaping, cellphones need to be off but they were ok with us taking pictures as long as we didn't photograph the US Seal(The Eagle) and the flash of the camera had to be set on off.So no one took pictures at your Ceremony? That's strange.

[antda 13]

Hi SaddleBronc,

Congrats on your wife's oath ceremony and thanks for sharing about that here on VJ!

Odd though, that you were not allowed to take photos at her ceremony, but yet it was at yours, years before..

Was it some new policy or something? By the way, were there a lot of people during your ceremony too, or was it a private one (since it was a name change)?

Good luck with both of your journeys as naturalized USCs, and good luck with the passport applications too.

Ant

P.S. I updated your timeline on the N-400 September 2009 filers thread too....

I had brought our camera along to take photos (as had been taken for my own oath-ceremony at Hopkins Plaza in Balto) but was told at the door "no cameras, cellphones, ipods, ...by order of judge...". Not sure if if is due to integrated name-change petition (I didn't petition to change name--as it would mean much change in bank, credit-card, ...) or different in MD vs VA.

[NickD 203]

I managed to get one good photo of the office manager of our field office handing the certificate to my wife. Wife doesn't even want me to print it out, just as soon forget about those years with our relationship with the USCIS. Wondering if the USCIS would even get married and live together as husband and wife, stay married with the I-751, granted, USC wasn't to bad, but another 1,350 miles of long drives in mostly winter weather to get to that stage. For me, stating at that portrait of GWB for hours as the USCIS can't seem to keep their appointment times, but don't dare be a second late.

We do enjoy reading our first chats and e-mails when we first met, definitely our first meeting and wedding and reception, our honeymoon, all happy times. USCIS was a burden that is finally lifted after years, just as soon take photos of us waiting in those long airport lines.

Don't feel bad that you don't have a photo, just be thankful you can start leading a normal life.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I managed to get one good photo of the office manager of our field office handing the certificate to my wife. Wife doesn't even want me to print it out, just as soon forget about those years with our relationship with the USCIS. Wondering if the USCIS would even get married and live together as husband and wife, stay married with the I-751, granted, USC wasn't to bad, but another 1,350 miles of long drives in mostly winter weather to get to that stage. For me, stating at that portrait of GWB

I guess that changes noiw for those still in process--in an "out with old, in with old" way--with GWB's portrait replaced by that of current-POTUS BH0

for hours as the USCIS can't seem to keep their appointment times, but don't dare be a second late.

That too I've experienced more than once at USCIS and consulates.

We do enjoy reading our first chats and e-mails when we first met, definitely our first meeting and wedding and reception, our honeymoon, all happy times. USCIS was a burden that is finally lifted after years, just as soon take photos of us waiting in those long airport lines.

Don't feel bad that you don't have a photo, just be thankful you can start leading a normal life.

I can top the "burden" part--as I personally had to wait for two years in one-step-before-final stage of GC processing (I-140 approved).