It was my privilege to accompany a family member through the citizenship process this month. It is an amazing and emotional experience.

The First Step of the Journey

The naturalization application is now available on the Internet which simplifies the long paper trail challenge. You may begin the process by going to the US Citizenship site. Original documents received when entering this country are a must. The online process can easily take nearly two hours if you need to find documents, ID numbers and dates. Once submitted, a hard copy receipt does come in a few weeks announcing when you are expected to come for an interview to a regional INS center.

Time Line

Aliens can expect to wait up to a year for the process to be complete. If all paperwork is in order, that is. And, there is a mountain of paperwork. If there is something "out of order" in the paperwork, it could take years. In our case, we got lucky. The process took five months.

The Big Day

The security is higher than at an airport. We entered the building and the first people we saw were armed guards. We were told that cameras, cell phones or camera cell phones would not be allowed so we went back out to the car, placed our contraband in the trunk and returned. We removed all watches and belts to pass through the metal detector which we were told was set at more than twice the sensitivity at an airport. An ID was mandatory and all purses went through an X-ray machine.

Papers are requested, inspected and we are told to go to a waiting area. We place our papers in a bin to await our appointment time. The interview and swearing in do not usually occur on the same day. But, again, we got lucky.

Our name was called and the alien was allowed to have only one person with them, an interpreter. On our way to the interview room, doors locked behind us. We were both sworn in to tell the truth during the interview. Our identifications were now being verified. All documentation that was stated online had to now be produced. Passport, green card, etc.

Questions

After the identification checks out, the questions begin:

• Are you a member of a terrorist organization?
• Have you ever been convicted of selling or using illegal drugs?
• Have you ever tried to smuggle someone into the country illegally?
• Have you ever committed a felony?
• Were you a Nazi sympathizer during World War II?

Children

One question that received unusual importance was, "How many children do you have? On the original form submitted, three were listed and we were asked two or three times if this was the entire family. The reason? Once you become a citizen, you may reunify with your family and begin bringing your children to the United States. It is at this time that several more children appear out of the woodwork. So, this was made quite clear that only the "named children" would be able to enter the U.S.

The Test

Now, it is time for the dreaded test. The application form has a study guide with sample test questions available for aliens to study. The questions deal with current government leaders, past history, amendments and past national leaders. There are approximately 12 questions to answer. It was our experience that they were quite lenient in accepting the answers. If a question was answered in a general fashion, a more specific answer was not demanded if the interviewer felt the person understood the concept. The interviewer was very respectful and was not out to get anyone or trip them up.

You Made It!

Without too much fanfare, we were told that we could attend the swearing in ceremony that afternoon at 3:00. Of course, we received yet another document stating we had passed the test. It was a very pleasant congratulations with instructions to fill out yet another form and turn in the green card that afternoon. More paperwork. Seemed impossible, but there was yet more to do.

3:00 p.m.

We returned and went through security but this time we could have cameras. We were taken into a waiting room where we saw people of different color, age, size be seated. Then, the names began to be called. Instructions were to rise when your name was called and line up with your green card and paperwork. Do not get out of order. #1--was us. Name and country were announced. We heard names from the following countries:

• Poland
• Ukraine
• Columbia
• Sudan
• India
• Pakistan
• England
• Lithuania
• Argentina
• Mexico

Family remained seated awaiting entry to the ceremony.

The Ceremony

We enter to see all future Americans seated in order on one side of the room and family members are asked to sit on the opposite side. The aliens gave up their green cards in lieu of their certificates stating they were now legal, American citizens. The judge enters and asks everyone to raise their right hand. All are asked to pledge allegiance to the United States of America and renounce all other nations. Everyone was then asked to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank You for Becoming an American

On a huge screen, three very short videos are shown.

1. While a patriotic song is played, immigrants of the past are shown as they enter from ships with one suitcase with hope for a new life. Everyone looks exhausted after their long journey by sea. The Statue of Liberty is prominent with quotes from the past. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my flame beside the golden door."
2. President George W. Bush is now congratulating the newest Americans and welcoming them to live the American Dream. He reminds us that this is a nation of immigrants where we all live together in peace.
3. Lee Greenwood now begins singing, "I'm Proud To Be An American" as scenes of this beautiful country appear. The Pacific Ocean waves splashing onto rocks, large cities, forests, mountain ranges, prairies, farmland of the Midwest, and rivers. And, when Greenwood sings, "stand up", the scene goes to soon to be naturalized citizens standing to take their oath.

The End

We are now free to go, take pictures, or stay and visit. Everyone leaving is now a citizen. The joy in everyone's faces is amazing. And, the process continues that has been ongoing for hundreds of years. Citizens of enemy nations can live beside each other in peace. We learn one language and have the same rights as those that were born here. Truly amazing.

As I held back tears on what an incredible nation this is allowing opportunity to individuals from all over the world, I felt so fortunate to have witnessed this event. We all could use a reminder in how lucky we are to live here.

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Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.