After 8 years, my immigration journey ends...

[ahm78 17]

It all started one day in 2011 when clicked the "submit" button to send my online application for the annual diversity lottery. Little did I know then that this simple clock was going to change my life fundamentally. I lived in the middle-east back then, in a very wealthy family, and I did have everything I could ever wish for. I was not happy though. I never felt really at "home". They say home is where the heart is, and my heart belonged to America for as far as I can remember. I was fascinated its the culture, its freedoms, its innovation, and everywhere I looked around me I could see something that originated in America that made my life better.

You can then understand how I felt when I saw that my entry was selected. I had only a 1 in 100 chance, yet luck smiled at me and I was picked. My elation disappeared shortly though and it was replaced with immense worry. What if for some reason the following steps in my immigration were not successful? What if after the medical and X rays they tell me that I have 5 kidneys or something similarly weird? What if I freeze and can't speak a single word during the embassy interview and they kick me out? What if my nervousness makes me throw up on the consular officer? But it all went well, and in less than a year I was on the flight heading to America.  If you've never been to America, there is simply no way for me to describe to you just how beautiful it is. Walking the streets I used to see in sitcoms and looking at the iconic buildings and monuments I saw in movies I felt I was dreaming. I loved this country before I was there, but now I was madly "in love" with everything about it. From that moment on every time I referenced "home" my friends and family knew I meant the USA.

 

Over the next few years I got to learn about the American people first hand. They are patriotic, family oriented, and God loving people. They believe in communal work and do what they can to make life good for everyone around them, and they are as honest as they get. Yes, you'll meet the occasional liar or cheat, particularly when you interact with car rental counters or used cars sales people, but they remain the absolute minority. The vast majority of the American people are kind, fair, polite, and have a great sense of humor. No matter what was going on in my life, every day I woke up and remembered that I'm in the United States I smiled and carried on with my day in an excellent mood. Not sure if that's a normal way to feel or of it's just me because on my crazy love of this country, but that's how I felt anyway.

Fast forward, it was time for me to apply for citizenship. Being a middle eastern man with an ethic name I perfectly expected that my application would take years of scrutiny and security checks and that I'll not get an interview in the foreseeable future, but I could not have been more mistaken. America came through once again, and I was treated exactly like everyone else, and my processing time matched that of others in my field office. I was extremely nervous during the interview, considering how it was the most meaningful thing that has ever happened in my life. My ultimate dream was so close yet so far, and time seemed to come to a halt as we went through the interview. Near the end he asked me the application's yes or no questions, and while I answered a simple yes or no to every question I gave a different answer to one question. He asked me if I was willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States, and the answer came directly from my heart "ABSOLUTELY YES", while struggling to hold back my tears. This country has given me too much and generously brought me over to live under its magnificent bill of rights, so the least I could do to repay its kindness is to spill my blood for its protection if it's ever needed. He gave me the piece of paper with the box next to the recommendation for approval checked, and I felt that I was reborn at this moment. Decades ago when I was born for the first time the stupid roulette ball of life threw me in a random place that I did not choose, like, or ever really belonged to, but now this mistake was about to be corrected and I was closer than ever to becoming an integral part of the land and the people I adore. I wished dad was still alive  so I could have phoned him and gave him the eagerly anticipated news, but sadly he died earlier this year and I'll never get to tell him. Hope he's watching from somewhere and smiling though.  

Over the years I read immigration forums and extensively searched their topics for advice and information. Now that I'm days away from my oath and about to delete the immigration related bookmarks from my browser I decided to offer a big thank you to everyone who spent even a few seconds helping others and sharing information. Also want to tell those who are still in earlier stages of the journey to hang in there, because it's well worth every bit of your effort to become a part of this most magnificent country on earth. Just do it right, act honest, and give America every bit of love and hard work you have because in doing so you are creating an even greater place for your children and grandchildren to live in. Thank you and good luck to everyone.

[bestluck 71]

25 minutes ago, ahm78 said:

It all started one day in 2011 when clicked the "submit" button to send my online application for the annual diversity lottery. Little did I know then that this simple clock was going to change my life fundamentally. I lived in the middle-east back then, in a very wealthy family, and I did have everything I could ever wish for. I was not happy though. I never felt really at "home". They say home is where the heart is, and my heart belonged to America for as far as I can remember. I was fascinated its the culture, its freedoms, its innovation, and everywhere I looked around me I could see something that originated in America that made my life better.

You can then understand how I felt when I saw that my entry was selected. I had only a 1 in 100 chance, yet luck smiled at me and I was picked. My elation disappeared shortly though and it was replaced with immense worry. What if for some reason the following steps in my immigration were not successful? What if after the medical and X rays they tell me that I have 5 kidneys or something similarly weird? What if I freeze and can't speak a single word during the embassy interview and they kick me out? What if my nervousness makes me throw up on the consular officer? But it all went well, and in less than a year I was on the flight heading to America.  If you've never been to America, there is simply no way for me to describe to you just how beautiful it is. Walking the streets I used to see in sitcoms and looking at the iconic buildings and monuments I saw in movies I felt I was dreaming. I loved this country before I was there, but now I was madly "in love" with everything about it. From that moment on every time I referenced "home" my friends and family knew I meant the USA.

 

Over the next few years I got to learn about the American people first hand. They are patriotic, family oriented, and God loving people. They believe in communal work and do what they can to make life good for everyone around them, and they are as honest as they get. Yes, you'll meet the occasional liar or cheat, particularly when you interact with car rental counters or used cars sales people, but they remain the absolute minority. The vast majority of the American people are kind, fair, polite, and have a great sense of humor. No matter what was going on in my life, every day I woke up and remembered that I'm in the United States I smiled and carried on with my day in an excellent mood. Not sure if that's a normal way to feel or of it's just me because on my crazy love of this country, but that's how I felt anyway.

Fast forward, it was time for me to apply for citizenship. Being a middle eastern man with an ethic name I perfectly expected that my application would take years of scrutiny and security checks and that I'll not get an interview in the foreseeable future, but I could not have been more mistaken. America came through once again, and I was treated exactly like everyone else, and my processing time matched that of others in my field office. I was extremely nervous during the interview, considering how it was the most meaningful thing that has ever happened in my life. My ultimate dream was so close yet so far, and time seemed to come to a halt as we went through the interview. Near the end he asked me the application's yes or no questions, and while I answered a simple yes or no to every question I gave a different answer to one question. He asked me if I was willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States, and the answer came directly from my heart "ABSOLUTELY YES", while struggling to hold back my tears. This country has given me too much and generously brought me over to live under its magnificent bill of rights, so the least I could do to repay its kindness is to spill my blood for its protection if it's ever needed. He gave me the piece of paper with the box next to the recommendation for approval checked, and I felt that I was reborn at this moment. Decades ago when I was born for the first time the stupid roulette ball of life threw me in a random place that I did not choose, like, or ever really belonged to, but now this mistake was about to be corrected and I was closer than ever to becoming an integral part of the land and the people I adore. I wished dad was still alive  so I could have phoned him and gave him the eagerly anticipated news, but sadly he died earlier this year and I'll never get to tell him. Hope he's watching from somewhere and smiling though.  

Over the years I read immigration forums and extensively searched their topics for advice and information. Now that I'm days away from my oath and about to delete the immigration related bookmarks from my browser I decided to offer a big thank you to everyone who spent even a few seconds helping others and sharing information. Also want to tell those who are still in earlier stages of the journey to hang in there, because it's well worth every bit of your effort to become a part of this most magnificent country on earth. Just do it right, act honest, and give America every bit of love and hard work you have because in doing so you are creating an even greater place for your children and grandchildren to live in. Thank you and good luck to everyone.

Wonderful Story congratulation pass the interview , Thank you for share this whole wonderful Story .

[Going through 5,668]

30 minutes ago, ahm78 said:

I wished dad was still alive  so I could have phoned him and gave him the eagerly anticipated news, but sadly he died earlier this year and I'll never get to tell him. Hope he's watching from somewhere and smiling though.  

Your dad will be right beside you while you're reciting your oath.  Feel that.  Believe in that.  

 

All  the best to you.

[TBoneTX 43,048]

Beautiful, inspiring story is moved from the US Citizenship main forum to the Case Progress subforum.  

[Meisha&Jake 869]

What a lovely read, congratulations & enjoy the rest of your happy life

[Unlockable 7,306]

Congrats!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

That was such a great read and congratulations on become a fellow citizen!