Query about naturalization ceremony - can others with you come later?

[bluebulb 3]

Hi,

I have my ceremony scheduled for June 24th in Houston (NE Houston).

Since the ceremony is at around 9:30am with a reporting time of 7am for applicants, I was wondering if I can ask my wife and daughter to come by later, closer to 9am? Will they have a separate entrance? Can I save them a seat or will they be asked to sit in a different area? Will it be difficult to save a seat?

Thanks.

[JimmyHou 610]

Hi,

I have my ceremony scheduled for June 24th in Houston (NE Houston).

Since the ceremony is at around 9:30am with a reporting time of 7am for applicants, I was wondering if I can ask my wife and daughter to come by later, closer to 9am? Will they have a separate entrance? Can I save them a seat or will they be asked to sit in a different area? Will it be difficult to save a seat?

Thanks.

Use the search tool in the top right corner to search for Houston oath ceremonies... there should be two or three descriptions. From what I remember reading, guests and applicants can sit together during the ceremony in Houston. However, it's held at small arena where local highs cools play basketball so it's a big venue. There are usually 1500-2500 applicants not counting their guests there so finding each other and saving seats may be hard. From what I've read, the event can go on until 12:00 or 12:30 (in some cases the judge actually arrive a at 11:00) so if you have young children with you they may be in for a wait. I'm not 100% sure but I never read anything about guests needing to be accompanied by the applicant in Houston. Edited June 5, 2015 by JimmyHou

[TBoneTX 43,017]

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[JimmyHou 610]

This is what the Houston venue looks like.

[Ontarkie 13,902]

~~Inappropriate post removed. Post constructively or do not post.~~

[bluebulb 3]

Thanks for the responses people! And mods, thanks for removing the nonsense posts.

I did do a lot of research about the Houston ceremony before asking. I even watched videos of the oath ceremony there, but it looked like all the people there were raising their hands, which makes it look like all those people there were the applicants rather than any people with family members. I wasn't entirely clear on these finer details, which is why I was asking.

In particular since my wife works in the Med Center and our kid's daycare is near the Galleria and doesn't open till 6:30 am, we have to solve some logistical puzzles if we are to make it. That's why I was trying out figure out the best way.

[JimmyHou 610]

Thanks for the responses people! And mods, thanks for removing the nonsense posts.

I did do a lot of research about the Houston ceremony before asking. I even watched videos of the oath ceremony there, but it looked like all the people there were raising their hands, which makes it look like all those people there were the applicants rather than any people with family members. I wasn't entirely clear on these finer details, which is why I was asking.

In particular since my wife works in the Med Center and our kid's daycare is near the Galleria and doesn't open till 6:30 am, we have to solve some logistical puzzles if we are to make it. That's why I was trying out figure out the best way.

You could go at 7:00, have your wife drop the kid off at daycare, and then join you around eight or nine. When she gets there you can get up and meet her at the door outside or in the lobby. You may lose your original seat but at least you'll be sitting together.

Houston applicants keep arriving until about 10 am. The later you arrive, the later you'll get your certificate because they handout certificates according to colors that you are assigned when you check-in.