What happens at a naturalization ceremony?

When the day finally comes for you to officially become a citizen of the United States, it is very exciting but it is also important that you have an idea of what to expect. There are two different types of ceremonies, a judicial ceremony and an administrative ceremony. The only thing that separates the two are that the “Oath of Allegiance” are administered by different parties. The court will administer the oath in a judicial ceremony and the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services will administer it during an administrative ceremony.

Once you arrive at your ceremony, whether it is judicial or administrative, you should come prepared with the completed questionnaire you were previously issued and you will hand that in to be reviewed. In addition, you will be required to hand in your permanent residency card when you check in for the ceremony. Don’t worry too much if you have lost your card and can’t hand it in, because if you proved you lost it during your interview, they won’t ask you to hand it in at this time.

Finally, you will take the Oath of Allegiance. This is your official transition into becoming a United States Citizen. The naturalization officers will provide you with a Certificate of Naturalization after this Oath is recited. It is important that before you leave the ceremony, you make sure all of the information on the Certificate is correct so the USCIS can correct any inaccuracies that may be present.

If you have any further questions about the naturalization process to become a United States citizen, it may be a good idea to speak with an experienced immigration attorney who can help you through the process.

If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for matters regarding immigration, please contact the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC and we would be happy to provide you with assistance.