I got my US citizenship yesterday. I must say this was the least painful immigration process that I have been through in the last 13 years of being in the US.
1. Started with a Student Visa in 1996
2. EAD in 1999
3. H1-B in 2000
4. Green card application in 2002 and subsequent EAD’s till 2004
5. Green card in 2004
6. US Citizenship in 2009
I applied on 5/11, a day after I crossed the 5 year mark on the green card. Within 3 weeks, I was called for the fingerprinting. Another 5 weeks later the interview and yesterday was the Oath ceremony.
The Oath Ceremony is a fairly elaborate deal. 2312 people took the oath with me in the LA Sports Arena. The area was designated a district court with a US judge presiding over the session.
The Oath process is as follows
1. Reach the arena and park 20 bucks to park
2. Stand in a short line to register – basically turn in your green card and review the N-445
3. Take the oath – this includes actually taking the oath, hear a coiuple short speeches, a couple videos (incl. one from President Obama) and then the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem (no you don’t have to sing it)
4. If you want to get your passport made the same day, you take that oath right there
Once you are done with this, you form lines again to pick up your Certificate of Naturalization. They had also setup a passport office so you could apply for your passport right there – they do take your ORIGINAL certificate. They did offer photo services too.
Overall a really well organized and good event to welcome you to US Citizenship….
Good luck on your citizenship. Well..My immigration is the most painful thing I have ever faced. After 7 years on H1, atlast I am on EAD phase.