To those born outside the US and became citizens, what were your naturalization ceremonies like? What was the mood in the room?

10 comments

1. Me and my wife naturalized in August this year.
   My naturalization ceremony was in the USCIS offices. The ceremony was extremely … efficient. There were probably around 100 of us, we checked in (five USCIS officers in five windows), surrendered our green cards, got our naturalization certificates. They gave us a few minutes to make sure that everything in the certificates is accurate. A USCIS officer gave a short speech about how solemn this day is, and how we should be sure to vote, recited the Oath of Allegiance with us, and that was it. She said that we can take pictures with the big flag on the wall, but they need the room soon, so we shouldn’t linger. The entire process took maybe 40 minutes from start to finish.
   My wife’s ceremony was in the court house, I went as a guest. Much more people (maybe 200-300 new citizens). They called everybody in the order of seating to verify the certificate, but didn’t give it to them. It took couple hours. Then we stood up for the judge. The judge remarked how happy she is to be here, because last time she conducted a naturalization ceremony was during covid. She recited the oath with the new citizens, and then said that she would like to offer her remarks, mostly about how important the immigrants are to the US. It took another hour. Then they called all new citizens one-by-one (200-300 foreign names, it went just as well as it sounds), handed them the certificates, the judge personally shook every person’s hand. The entire thing took from 8am to around 1pm.
   Overall, my wife’s experience felt much more meaningful.

2. It wasn’t earthshaking when my wife became a citizen, no crying or anything, but it did feel meaningful. The local mayor, herself an immigrant long ago, got up and gave a speech which seemed reasonably heartfelt. I kept the program as a momento.

3. It took 3 years and 8 months from my first arrival in the US to when I was naturalized so it felt very quick for me.

   As to the mood, most people were attentive, but it wasn’t as solemn as how my friends experienced theirs where they were sworn in with less than five people in the room. My ceremony had over 700 attendees.

   I was elated because:

   I no longer needed to keep all those documents and proof of this, proof of that, and communications with the USCIS.

   I was eight weeks pregnant with my eldest son at that time. I could say I got to share with him a personal milestone.

   I was really glad to finally be able to officially call the US home.

   Side note: It has been a decade since the ceremony, and I haven’t decided whether I want to be a dual citizen or not. I only have a US passport presently.

4. I’m in a relatively small town with a Federal courthouse. They do a group naturalization every so often. [It’s a very happy event!](https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/new-citizens-celebrated-in-naturalization-ceremony/article_0656ba2e-b591-5003-9cf4-64bfc23ea28f.html)

5. I was there when my wife naturalized. It was just at a USCIS field office, so nothing special. The main thing I remember is that the USCIS officer stressed that everyone had to say the oath out loud and if they thought you were just mouthing the words they’d make you do it over. Everyone was absolutely belting out all the words.

6. I don’t remember. I was a baby when it happened.

7. It happened in court with many other new American. We took oath to protect constitution of USA.

8. It was in the basement of the Federal Building in my state, there was a court room. The judge was really nice. Shook the hands of every person then swore us in. She or someone else asked me if I wanted to change anything like my name or adjust anything on my Naturalization certificate. I liked Psyrus just fine so that it stayed. When she swore us in, I felt happy and honestly relieved that I was done dealing with US Immigration.

   There were only about 20 people there, not my family everyone was excited and smiling or chatting to each other. Some of the people just looked happy to be done. I wore a suit, some people were in work clothes, others in Jeans and nice shirts or dresses.

   My family did not attend the ceremony they set up the house and threw an America day party. Invited a couple of my roommates from college. Good times… I’d do everything again except the excruciating immigration process.

   About 10 years from the day I touch the soil to full citizen…

9. From what I heard after you past your test a bald eagle is presented to you. If he bites you must be deported immediately but he lifts his foot you must kiss it and then you are granted your citizenship.

10. Mine ceremony was at the courthouse, where about 100 of us from all over the world gathered to become the citizen of this great country. I felt very happy and proud. I was welcomed by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the judge. We had a short video message played on the screen from the President of the United States. Afterwards, we pledge oath and had our certificate handed over. I was glad to be officially an American citizen.