Took Oath in Charlotte 09/01/2010

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

I decided to go forward with my oath ceremony this week. I was debating whether to put it off due to my father's illness (he lives in Canada). He assured me it was OK for me to put off my trip to see him.

Those of us being naturalized and those who were observing the ceremony first gathered in a holding room. A woman wearing some kind of uniform finally asked the soon-to-be-citizens to move to a different room. As God is my witness the woman said, "Dose of you who be natralizin' today...I ax you to line up against the wall." My husband and I looked at each other and smiled. And I was the one taking the English test? Before we sat down in the ceremony room we turned in our resident cards and received our naturalization certificates. Then the guests were seated. I would estimate there were about a hundred new citizens and a couple of hundred guests. We watched a few videos, sang the anthem, recited the oath and pledge, had the rollcall of countries (only 4 Canadians!), and the director (with whom I've exchanged a few heated letters) spoke. When he said "....I'm sure you're all happy you'll never have to deal with the USCIS again", more than a few of us actually clapped. I don't think it was rude; it was like a joke and he was inviting us to react. Most of us hung around for a few minutes to take pictures and then it was adios muchachos! I went directly to the passport office only to find the person who had been standing next to me at the oath ceremony there too. No flies on us! (BTW, we both had our certificates photocopied on the way to the office.)

At this oath ceremony, there were no representatives from the passport office or Social Security. Perhaps that's reserved for big cities like New York and LA.

One last thing, as much as I begged the IO who interviewed me, I was unable to get the hyphen in my first name included on the certificate. I asked again with certificate in hand while at the ceremony and they told me to put it in myself. I didn't feel comfortable with that but hell, it's my name so I did it in front of them. So then at the passport office, they looked at it and said, 'we can't put a hyphen in a name'. Agh!!!

Hasn't sunk in yet...maybe when the passport comes. I filled out my voter registration today and had to check the box that said "US Citizen". Weird.

[v333k 59]

congratulations!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations! Hope your passport arrives quickly so you can stop worrying about your Dad . That is also very weird that they can't do hyphenated names - what on earth to the Symington-Jones do?

[Kimbear 53]

Congratulations!

[antda 13]

Hi CanAmCharlotte,

Congratulations on being a US Citizen and thanks for sharing/updating your situation here in VJ!

Lol...I bet you were happy when they said..."You never have to deal with the USCIS again!"

Now you can put your mis-adventures with the USCIS behind you and relax and finally enjoy being a citizen!

(lol..the only other reason you would have to deal with the USCIS again is if you lose your certificate...but that won't happen and since you are applying for a passport the passport is extra proof to show your citizenship)

Too bad though they couldn't do the hyphenated name thing on the certificate, despite you telling them about such beforehand

Lol...Might as well write it in, I suppose....(though I'm not sure if that makes the certificate voided in any way, but the IO said to you in-person that it was ok..so you might as well take their word on it and do that anyways..)

As long as your other ID (driver's license, SSN, etc.) show your hyphenated name, then more likely than not it shouldn't cause any other additional problems...

Good luck in getting your passport too and good luck in visiting your Dad in Canada soon.

Congrats again. It's all with the USCIS over now!

Enjoy being a dual American/Canadian citizen!

Ant

I decided to go forward with my oath ceremony this week. I was debating whether to put it off due to my father's illness (he lives in Canada). He assured me it was OK for me to put off my trip to see him.

Those of us being naturalized and those who were observing the ceremony first gathered in a holding room. A woman wearing some kind of uniform finally asked the soon-to-be-citizens to move to a different room. As God is my witness the woman said, "Dose of you who be natralizin' today...I ax you to line up against the wall." My husband and I looked at each other and smiled. And I was the one taking the English test? Before we sat down in the ceremony room we turned in our resident cards and received our naturalization certificates. Then the guests were seated. I would estimate there were about a hundred new citizens and a couple of hundred guests. We watched a few videos, sang the anthem, recited the oath and pledge, had the rollcall of countries (only 4 Canadians!), and the director (with whom I've exchanged a few heated letters) spoke. When he said "....I'm sure you're all happy you'll never have to deal with the USCIS again", more than a few of us actually clapped. I don't think it was rude; it was like a joke and he was inviting us to react. Most of us hung around for a few minutes to take pictures and then it was adios muchachos! I went directly to the passport office only to find the person who had been standing next to me at the oath ceremony there too. No flies on us! (BTW, we both had our certificates photocopied on the way to the office.)

At this oath ceremony, there were no representatives from the passport office or Social Security. Perhaps that's reserved for big cities like New York and LA.

One last thing, as much as I begged the IO who interviewed me, I was unable to get the hyphen in my first name included on the certificate. I asked again with certificate in hand while at the ceremony and they told me to put it in myself. I didn't feel comfortable with that but hell, it's my name so I did it in front of them. So then at the passport office, they looked at it and said, 'we can't put a hyphen in a name'. Agh!!!

Hasn't sunk in yet...maybe when the passport comes. I filled out my voter registration today and had to check the box that said "US Citizen". Weird.

Edited September 4, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[antda 13]

what on earth to the Symington-Jones do?

Hmmm...What an interesting question....

What does the USCIS do with hyphenated names on naturalization certificate...

I would think that these would be the options for 'Symington-Jones', if the hyphenated option was not available, and

if the hyphenated name were acquired by marriage.....

1) Go by the maiden last name of "Symington" only

2) Go by the married last name of "Jones" only

3) Go by both the maiden last name and married last name....But have it spelt out completely as one name, without the hyphen...."Symingtonjones" (this looks weird...)

4) Go by both the maiden last name and the married last name...But have it as two different names...With the first part being the middle name, and the second part being the last name...Last name: "Jones", Middle name: "Symington", First name "Jane"

5) Or do what CanAmCharlotte did...Put the hyphen in herself, regardless.....Now that's one way of getting even with the USCIS!...lol....

Lol..There are so many variations when it comes to names. No wonder it is confusing for everyone (and especially with the USCIS)!....

Either way, I'm sure "Sumington-Jones" (or others like her) can figure out what to do.....

Ant

P.S. I personally prefer option 2)....Go by the married last name...

It's so much simplier that way for government folk, and for everyone else.....

As well, it's 'traditional' here in the USA to have a married woman use her married last name..

Also, why bother messing with tradition and the importance of marriage through one's married name?....

Just a thought....

Edited September 4, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

I think they can include a hyphen in a surname, just not a given name. I was told it throws their computer system off and it's not just a hyphen, same thing goes for an apostrophe. Social Security and the DMV can't include it either. I do have the hyphen on all my credit cards but that's about it for "American" things. Funny, all my Canadian ID (birth certificate, passport, driver's licence, SIN card, Canada Health card) has the hyphen. I was always worried about it going through this process because half of my documents have it and the other half does not. Thankfully, it never came up as an issue.

[lissa04 3]

Congrats on taking your oath and becoming a US Citizen. I remember from some of your posts the hell you were going through with USCIS. Congrats once again. I will be done with them as well on the 17th. I can't wait!!!

[Tick Tock 3]

As another individual who has a hyphenated first name, my reaction to this is as follows...

I hate hyphens.

Beyond that, a hyphenated first name, without the hyphen on a legal document, is a typographical error. It's like someone named "Tommy" having their name spelled "Tomy".

Laziness on part of USCIS. Brilliant. :\

Edited September 4, 2010 by Tick Tock

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

As another individual who has a hyphenated first name, my reaction to this is as follows...

I hate hyphens.

Beyond that, a hyphenated first name, without the hyphen on a legal document, is a typographical error. It's like someone named "Tommy" having their name spelled "Tomy".

Laziness on part of USCIS. Brilliant. :\

Perhaps you'll be lucky and it's the just my local USCIS office that is lazy about the hyphen. I told the DMV, the SSA, and the USCIS that without the hyphen, I consider my name to be spelled incorrectly. They didn't have much sympathy. Strange how there was absolutely no problem with it in Canada. Go figure. I still sign my name with the hyphen and will continue to do so.

[Tick Tock 3]

Since I'm in WNC, I believe I will be dealing with the same USCIS offices that you have been through. I have only had a potential issue with my hyphen in regards to my marriage certificate so far (in regards to US documents) and even then, I was suggested to not be concerned unless USCIS had a problem. I want to work in such a zero-accountability office one day!

If I do make it through this process, I may just change my first name altogether. I do sign official documents with my full name (hyphen included) but I pretty much gave up caring what people called me when I hit gradeschool. I am tired of spelling my name slowly, having to stress "hyphen... hyphen... it's a dash, darnit!"

I salute you for your endurance.

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

If I do make it through this process, I may just change my first name altogether. I do sign official documents with my full name (hyphen included) but I pretty much gave up caring what people called me when I hit gradeschool. I am tired of spelling my name slowly, having to stress "hyphen... hyphen... it's a dash, darnit!"

I salute you for your endurance.

Hey, nice to 'meet' a fellow hyphenated Canadian! Funny, when I spell my name and get a blank stare when saying the word 'hyphen', I actually make a finger motion in the air and say 'dash'. Having a hypenated name is a bt of a headache (thanks a bunch Mom and Dad). Still, it makes us a little unusual I suppose. Just because Charlotte USCIS didn't let me have it on my certificate, doesn't mean you won't. I don't have a lot of faith in the consistency of that office. I think the director is a an idiot and one of the IO's that I had contact with was recently demoted.

Cheers and good luck eh?

[Tick Tock 3]

Indeed - nice to "meet" you as well, haha. My original birth certificate didn't have a hyphen but my mother later decided to have it changed - gee, thanks mom. My brother's first name is also hyphenated. We were named after our grandmothers and grandfathers (respectively) and I guess putting a grandparent's name as a middle name just didn't show enough respect or something.

I'll hope for the best and expect the worst with USCIS. I'm not surprised to hear that IO was demoted.

Thanks, hopefully this will all end in some form of success.

Best wishes to you and your husband.

[w8inglongtime 29]

I decided to go forward with my oath ceremony this week. I was debating whether to put it off due to my father's illness (he lives in Canada). He assured me it was OK for me to put off my trip to see him.

Those of us being naturalized and those who were observing the ceremony first gathered in a holding room. A woman wearing some kind of uniform finally asked the soon-to-be-citizens to move to a different room. As God is my witness the woman said, "Dose of you who be natralizin' today...I ax you to line up against the wall." My husband and I looked at each other and smiled. And I was the one taking the English test? Before we sat down in the ceremony room we turned in our resident cards and received our naturalization certificates. Then the guests were seated. I would estimate there were about a hundred new citizens and a couple of hundred guests. We watched a few videos, sang the anthem, recited the oath and pledge, had the rollcall of countries (only 4 Canadians!), and the director (with whom I've exchanged a few heated letters) spoke. When he said "....I'm sure you're all happy you'll never have to deal with the USCIS again", more than a few of us actually clapped. I don't think it was rude; it was like a joke and he was inviting us to react. Most of us hung around for a few minutes to take pictures and then it was adios muchachos! I went directly to the passport office only to find the person who had been standing next to me at the oath ceremony there too. No flies on us! (BTW, we both had our certificates photocopied on the way to the office.)

At this oath ceremony, there were no representatives from the passport office or Social Security. Perhaps that's reserved for big cities like New York and LA.

One last thing, as much as I begged the IO who interviewed me, I was unable to get the hyphen in my first name included on the certificate. I asked again with certificate in hand while at the ceremony and they told me to put it in myself. I didn't feel comfortable with that but hell, it's my name so I did it in front of them. So then at the passport office, they looked at it and said, 'we can't put a hyphen in a name'. Agh!!!

Hasn't sunk in yet...maybe when the passport comes. I filled out my voter registration today and had to check the box that said "US Citizen". Weird.

"Dose of you who be natralizin' today...I ax you to line up against the wall." My husband and I looked at each other and smiled. CLASSIC...

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[Captain Oates 911]

Hasn't sunk in yet...maybe when the passport comes. I filled out my voter registration today and had to check the box that said "US Citizen". Weird.

Well done Jo-Anne !

So you got your certificate before the oath eh...

You should have gone to the ladies and climbed out of the window...

Anyway you can relax now..

congrats indeed