Sigrid's Naturalization Ceremony - January 19, 2012

We have mentioned in previous posts that Sigrid was working on becoming a US citizen. This past Thursday was the big day.....the final review by US Immigration officials, taking the Oath of Allegiance and, picking up the Certificate of Naturalization.

Our appointment was for 8:30 am but we were in the downtown Kansas City parking lot by 7:30 am. We didn't want to risk being late due to traffic congestion during morning rush hour. It was a short but cold walk to the Federal Courthouse. The temperature was 22 deg with a stiff breeze. Edel was going to join us but she has a bad case of sciatica and would be in too much pain to enjoy the day. We really wanted her to come since she went through the same process years ago when she immigrated from Germany. Scott did join us and really had a good time.

We got through security and checked in about 8:00 am and then sat in the gathering room until things got under way just before 9:00 am.

Sigrid turned in her Green Card and did a little more paperwork and then returned to the gathering room with a program of the ceremony events. The ceremony didn't start until 10:00 am so we had another hour to wait before the real fun got underway.

Sigrid was one of 60 people from 33 different countries gaining citizenship at the ceremony.

I only got a few still photos since I was using the camera to get video during most of the ceremony. I am still working on the video and may post a clip if I can figure out how to use Photoshop Premier (first time user).

Waiting for the judge to enter the chambers.

The judge gave a nice talk about citizenship and his ancestorial roots. He then introduced several other speakers who provided information on voting and Social Security. The oath was administered, we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the Certificates were handed out much like they do at school graduations. It was very nice and there were lots of emotions filling the room.

A post ceremony photo in the court room. After this photo, we completed and submitted the forms for Sigrid's new Social Security Card and got her registered to vote. It was so convenient to have registration tables set up just outside the doors of the court room for all the new citizens to take care of these important tasks.

Sigrid really liked the mural and flag. At the top of the mural it has the words "We the People". Sigrid also really liked that. I have photos showing the words, but I liked this photo of Sigrid the best.

As we left the Federal Court House, we could see the next batch of future US Citizens going through security. I don't know how many sessions they have each day or how many times a month they hold the ceremony.

We were very hungry after the ceremony so we had lunch at Sigrid's favorite restaurant, the Cheese Cake Factory. Scott had no choice but to join us since he rode with us....no arm twisting necessary since he loves the food as much as Sigrid.

Today goes beyond just being a great day. This was a once in a lifetime day. We are so very happy and relieved that it is now history. Before the end of the day, Sigrid submitted her application for a US Passport. It will be 6-8 weeks before we see that baby.

Sigrid's US Citizenship and The Great Wall of China

We have been busy and posting has had to take a back seat for a while. I still have some good stuff to post, but as I said, there have been other things with higher priorities. I won't bother you with a list of all those things because it would be really boring.

The single most important thing that we have done recently, was work hard on getting US Citizenship for Sigrid. She has been in this country for 27 years and it kind of looks like she will stay here for the rest of her life so she might as well get the right to vote and serve on jury's.

We started on the project last year but got sidetracked with all the travel. After getting back from Germany this year, we vowed to complete the project. We had the N-400 application ready to go in July. We had to get some documents sent to us from Germany and then get them translated into English by a Washington DC specialty firm before filing. It cost about $800 so far. The USCIS moved quicker than we thought. It wasn't too long and Sigrid was in for her biometrics (photos and fingerprints) so the FBI could clear her to continue with the process.

On Monday this week, we finally had the Interview with a USCIS agent. In the interview, they go over all the info on the application and ask loads of other questions to assure themselves that you are a good candidate for citizenship. Normally, Sigrid would have to take an English reading and writing test, but she has been here long enough that they waved that part of the interview. She did have to take the US history and citizenship test. There are 100 standard questions that we had to study to prepare for the test. The agent selects 10 questions from the 100 to ask you. You must get at least 7 of the 10 correct to pass. Sigrid got them all right......we have been studying for over a year now. The bottom line is that the hard work is all done now and all we are waiting on is the invitation to take the oath of allegiance and get the certificate of citizenship. We are both pretty happy and excited.

As soon as we have the certificate, we can get a US Passport for Sigrid. After that, we will celebrate with a nice cruise. Hip, hip, hooray!!!!

A family member wanted to see our photos from a trip we took to China in 2000. Rather than get the old slide projector out, I scanned the slides from the trip so we can show them on the big screen TV. The one below was taken on the Great Wall. It never hurts to see a "golden oldie" photo.