What to Expect in a Naturalization Ceremony
One of the more standardized processes involved in becoming a citizen of the United States is going through a naturalization ceremony. The process begins when you apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department with an Application for Naturalization. The Form N-400 needs to be prepared and once completed, you will be scheduled for your naturalization ceremony. What exactly should you expect when going through this type of ceremony?
Notice to Take the Oath of Allegiance
The first thing you can expect when you’re heading towards U.S. citizenship is a notice to take the Oath of Allegiance. If you’re lucky enough, you could have the opportunity to participate in your ceremony on the same day as your interview to become a citizen. The interview is part of the Form N-400 process.When the ceremony isn’t on the same day, you’re going to get a notice in the mail. The notice will give you the date, time and location of the ceremony. The Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony, will let you know all of the details.
Checking In and Returning the Permanent Resident Card
The next two steps come when you get to the day of your naturalization. When you get to the ceremony, the first move is to check in with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department officer. They will go through the Form N-445 you received and get you set up for the ceremony.You need to bring your Permanent Resident Card with you to the office when you’re checking in. If you lost the card or were never granted permanent residence, you need to provide proof of this during the naturalization interview.
The Oath of Allegiance
The biggest part of the naturalization ceremony is the Oath of Allegiance. You’re not an official citizen until you complete this process. Once you take the Oath of Allegiance to the country, you will then receive the Certificate of Naturalization.Before you head home for the day to celebrate, make sure you read over the certificate you’re given. No one is perfect, and there have been plenty of instances where there have been some errors. The Certificate of Naturalization is your official proof that you’re a U.S. citizen.
Rare instances
If you are scheduled for your naturalization ceremony on a day you cannot attend, you can submit a formal request to have the date, time, as well as the location changed. You may also run into a circumstance where you lose the Certificate of Naturalization that you were given. You can request a replacement by filing what is known as Form N-565, which is the Application for Replacement Naturalization / Citizenship Document. Now that you are a citizen of the United States, you can apply for a U.S. Passport and a Passport Card. We highly recommend applying for both because they are powerful identification tools to carry around with you. At Berlin Law, we can help shed light on any mystery that surrounds things like naturalization. The road to citizenship can be complicated and confusing, but we’re here to clarify things and make it easier for you to follow and understand.