Naturalization Oath Ceremony - June 2017 in Chicago

[kpeck 22]

Hi All, 

 

I just wanted to share my husband's Oath Ceremony experience at Chicago for anyone interested! 

 

Date: Monday, June 19th, 2017 

Where: Chicago Field Office | 101 W. Congress Parkway 

Time: 9:00 am

 

He brought: 

• Green Card
• Oath Ceremony Letter - "Questionnaire" on back side completed, signed and dated in black ink

 

Dress:

My husband wore dress pants and a collared shirt. 

 

There was a WIDE range of dress for the people taking the oath - there were people in formal suits to people in shorts and flip flops... they didn't deny anyone participating due to dress, but they do mention on the letter to dress appropriately as it's a solemn occasion. 

 

Quick Background: 

• Husband came to US on K1 Visa in Oct. 2013
• Received first green card in Feb. 2014
• Filed N-400 in Dec. 2016 based on 3 year rule - Marriage to US Citizen 
• Citizenship Interview - Wed., May 31st
• Received Oath Ceremony Letter on Friday, June 9th and his ceremony was scheduled for Monday, June 19th at 9:00 am 

 

We arrived at 8:15 am and passed through Security - we were the only ones in that line, so we passed through speedily. My husband had his lunch packed as he was heading to campus afterwards (he's a grad student) and they made him throw away his fork. He brought in his backpack with his books and folders, etc., so that wasn't an issue (*We probably got there way early, but you never know with Chicago traffic/transportation, even taking the 'L'!) 

 

We went up to the third floor (note: this is the same area you go to for the Citizenship Interview - there were people waiting and being called back for their interviews in the same area) and they had us take a seat in the middle section of seats, leaving the first 3 rows reserved. Family and friends are supposed to sit in the other outside sections, but I just sat with my husband until seats started filling up more, and then I moved. 

 

Around 8:45 or so, a woman came over to announce that they were going to start calling the "oath takers" back by rows to head over to the auditorium, which is across the floor, and then they would come back for friends and family members. She reminded everyone that if they hadn't done so, they needed to fill out the questionnaire on the back of the letter and to have their green cards out and handy. 

 

They called the first two rows back - you could see them checking in at at table before going into the auditorium. (They took their letters and green cards.) They then proceeded to call them back, two rows at a time, until they had everyone accounted for. This took awhile... maybe 30 minutes or so. Then the same woman came back and was calling out some people's names who apparently hadn't shown up yet to make sure they weren't missed. 

 

After a few more minutes, they called back the friends and family - I want to say it was already around 9:45am or so. 

 

When walking in the auditorium, the oath takers were all sitting on one side - my husband said they specified to them where they needed to sit. Friends and family were directed into the rows of chairs on the other side. 

 

The same woman from earlier directed the ceremony - she was some sort of USCIS Officer/Director and wasn't a particularly inspiring speaker, but it was fine. She told us we could take pictures inside the auditorium and downstairs (there were flags on the stage and then more flags downstairs for photo ops). 

 

During the ceremony (this probably not in the right order - I can't remember how everything went): 

• We all sang the Star-Spangled Banner - it was some recording that was played. Some people sang along, but most people didn't. 
• We watched two different videos set to images from around the country - "Faces of Immigrants" (or something like that) which showed a lot of pictures of immigrants starting from the 1800s, arriving on Ellis Island, etc. up to present day (this was cool to see) and then another video showing various Oath Ceremonies around the country with a woman singing a very soulful rendition of "America the Beautiful". 
• The woman talked about what this day meant for people, etc. and then called out the names of the all the countries represented and asked them to remain standing as she was going to administer the oath. She said there were 117 people being naturalized that day. After everyone stood up, she asked them to raise their right hands and then they repeated the Oath after her. Everyone started clapping. 
• She then presented their naturalization certificates to everyone by calling them by name - they went up and shook her hand and accepted their certificates and then sat back down. 
• I think this is when we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. 
• She then wrapped up the ceremony by reminding the newly naturalized citizens to apply for a US Passport, register to vote (there were tables outside with people helping get everyone signed up if they wanted) and to update their status with the Social Security Administration (but to wait to do this with the SSA for at least 10 days)

 

That was it! The ceremony itself wasn't very long - we were done about 10:30 am, maybe. It was crowded as people were trying to take pictures, etc. and the little hallway outside the auditorium was super crowded since people were filling out their paperwork for voter registration. My husband registered to vote and then we ske-daddled! 

 

Whew! Now just need to get his Passport (going to the post office tomorrow) and then will head to the SSA in a few weeks to update his status... 

 

Good-bye USCIS!

 

Edited June 20, 2017 by kpeck

[nooha 16]

Congratulations,  i have a question for you , 

there were nobody with missing green card at the oath ? 

don't your husband have to wait for 10 days before he apply for US passport ?

[NDB052714 122]

21 minutes ago, kpeck said:

Hi All, 

 

I just wanted to share my husband's Oath Ceremony experience at Chicago for anyone interested! 

 

Date: Monday, June 19th, 2017 

Where: Chicago Field Office | 101 W. Congress Parkway 

Time: 9:00 am

 

He brought: 

• Green Card
• Oath Ceremony Letter - "Questionnaire" on back side completed, signed and dated in black ink

 

Dress:

My husband wore dress pants and a collared shirt. 

 

There was a WIDE range of dress for the people taking the oath - there were people in formal suits to people in shorts and flip flops... they didn't deny anyone participating due to dress, but they do mention on the letter to dress appropriately as it's a solemn occasion. 

 

Quick Background: 

• Husband came to US on K1 Visa in Oct. 2013
• Received first green card in Feb. 2014
• Filed N-400 in Dec. 2016 based on 3 year rule - Marriage to US Citizen 
• Citizenship Interview - Wed., May 31st
• Received Oath Ceremony Letter on Friday, June 9th and his ceremony was scheduled for Monday, June 19th at 9:00 am 

 

We arrived at 8:15 am and passed through Security - we were the only ones in that line, so we passed through speedily. My husband had his lunch packed as he was heading to campus afterwards (he's a grad student) and they made him throw away his fork. He brought in his backpack with his books and folders, etc., so that wasn't an issue (*We probably got there way early, but you never know with Chicago traffic/transportation, even taking the 'L'!) 

 

We went up to the third floor (note: this is the same area you go to for the Citizenship Interview - there were people waiting and being called back for their interviews in the same area) and they had us take a seat in the middle section of seats, leaving the first 3 rows reserved. Family and friends are supposed to sit in the other outside sections, but I just sat with my husband until seats started filling up more, and then I moved. 

 

Around 8:45 or so, a woman came over to announce that they were going to start calling the "oath takers" back by rows to head over to the auditorium, which is across the floor, and then they would come back for friends and family members. She reminded everyone that if they hadn't done so, they needed to fill out the questionnaire on the back of the letter and to have their green cards out and handy. 

 

They called the first two rows back - you could see them checking in at at table before going into the auditorium. (They took their letters and green cards.) They then proceeded to call them back, two rows at a time, until they had everyone accounted for. This took awhile... maybe 30 minutes or so. Then the same woman came back and was calling out some people's names who apparently hadn't shown up yet to make sure they weren't missed. 

 

After a few more minutes, they called back the friends and family - I want to say it was already around 9:45am or so. 

 

When walking in the auditorium, the oath takers were all sitting on one side - my husband said they specified to them where they needed to sit. Friends and family were directed into the rows of chairs on the other side. 

 

The same woman from earlier directed the ceremony - she was some sort of USCIS Officer/Director and wasn't a particularly inspiring speaker, but it was fine. She told us we could take pictures inside the auditorium and downstairs (there were flags on the stage and then more flags downstairs for photo ops). 

 

During the ceremony (this probably not in the right order - I can't remember how everything went): 

• We all sang the Star-Spangled Banner - it was some recording that was played. Some people sang along, but most people didn't. 
• We watched two different videos set to images from around the country - "Faces of Immigrants" (or something like that) which showed a lot of pictures of immigrants starting from the 1800s, arriving on Ellis Island, etc. up to present day (this was cool to see) and then another video showing various Oath Ceremonies around the country with a woman singing a very soulful rendition of "America the Beautiful". 
• The woman talked about what this day meant for people, etc. and then called out the names of the all the countries represented and asked them to remain standing as she was going to administer the oath. She said there were 117 people being naturalized that day. After everyone stood up, she asked them to raise their right hands and then they repeated the Oath after her. Everyone started clapping. 
• She then presented their naturalization certificates to everyone by calling them by name - they went up and shook her hand and accepted their certificates and then sat back down. 
• I think this is when we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. 
• She then wrapped up the ceremony by reminding the newly naturalized citizens to apply for a US Passport, register to vote (there were tables outside with people helping get everyone signed up if they wanted) and to update their status with the Social Security Administration (but to wait to do this with the SSA for at least 10 days)

 

That was it! The ceremony itself wasn't very long - we were done about 10:30 am, maybe. It was crowded as people were trying to take pictures, etc. and the little hallway outside the auditorium was super crowded since people were filling out their paperwork for voter registration. My husband registered to vote and then we ske-daddled! 

 

Whew! Now just need to get his Passport (going to the post office tomorrow) and then will head to the SSA in a few weeks to update his status... 

 

Good-bye USCIS!

 

So beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing! And congratulations to both of you. 

 

~David & Noom

[kpeck 22]

9 minutes ago, nooha said:

Congratulations,  i have a question for you , 

there were nobody with missing green card at the oath ? 

don't your husband have to wait for 10 days before he apply for US passport ?

Thank you! 

 

There was nobody there with a missing green card that I was aware of (or my husband)- that could have been the case, but not that we saw/heard. 

 

You can apply for a Passport right away (in fact, they told us during the ceremony that if someone needed one right away to go downstairs to the Passport Agency, although you need an appointment...) It's the Social Security Administration that they advise you to wait for 10 days before updating status. 

3 minutes ago, NDB052714 said:

So beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing! And congratulations to both of you. 

 

~David & Noom

Thank you!  

 

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

[WandY 430]

Awesome! The kind of immigrants that we need and want (people that are proud to be taking the oath). I wish both of you the greatest joy in this land of opportunity.

 

[lucybelle 453]

Great report!  Thanks! And Congrats!!!

[kpeck 22]

1 hour ago, lucybelle said:

Great report!  Thanks! And Congrats!!!

Thank you!

1 hour ago, WandY said:

Awesome! The kind of immigrants that we need and want (people that are proud to be taking the oath). I wish both of you the greatest joy in this land of opportunity.

 

Thank you!  

[Waitinggame16 91]

What a fabulous account of the ceremony. Made me even more excited to do it myself in Chicago. Thank you so much for your detailed Posts! Enjoy your USCIS freedom!

[nooha 16]

12 hours ago, kpeck said:

Thank you! 

 

There was nobody there with a missing green card that I was aware of (or my husband)- that could have been the case, but not that we saw/heard. 

 

You can apply for a Passport right away (in fact, they told us during the ceremony that if someone needed one right away to go downstairs to the Passport Agency, although you need an appointment...) It's the Social Security Administration that they advise you to wait for 10 days before updating status. 

Thank you!  

 

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

Thank you, Happy for you both 

[Diamond507 10]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing!  

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

Congrats !!! 

 

Thanks for for sharing your experience. I have my interview on July 26 so reading this post about your husbands Oath Cerimony and your post about his interview helps us all prepare

[AK_2014 113]

On 6/20/2017 at 0:10 PM, kpeck said:

After a few more minutes, they called back the friends and family - I want to say it was already around 9:45am or so. 

Thanks for your great description of your husband's ceremony here in Chicago!

 

Did the instructions specify a number of guests allowed per person?

[kpeck 22]

On 7/2/2017 at 9:15 AM, AK_2014 said:

Thanks for your great description of your husband's ceremony here in Chicago!

 

Did the instructions specify a number of guests allowed per person?

No problem! 

 

No, there were no limitations on guests - some people had their whole families and some just had one or two people present, it seemed like. 

[AK_2014 113]

15 minutes ago, kpeck said:

No problem! 

 

No, there were no limitations on guests - some people had their whole families and some just had one or two people present, it seemed like. 

Great! That's helpful to know. Just planning ahead for next year... 

[soq 9]

Now at Boston office they specify one guest for oath taking at faneuil hall