How to become Americans: the naturalization ceremony in Washington - ForumDaily
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How to become Americans: the naturalization ceremony in Washington

Фото: Depositphotos

The naturalization ceremony is the final step on the long path to citizenship. On it, the future American swears allegiance to the country and receives a certificate with which he can issue a passport. In celebration of Presidents' Day, which is observed annually on the third Monday in February, USCIS held a number of ceremonies across the country. The final one took place yesterday at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, not far from the capital.

Free entry and an American flag for everyone - yesterday there was a particularly solemn atmosphere in the mansion of the first President of the United States.

At the entrance to the hall everyone was handed out American flags. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

At the entrance to the hall everyone was handed out American flags. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

Elegant people stand out among the crowds of tourists - someone in suits, someone in beautiful dresses or military uniform. Fifty people came here at the parade and with their families to get the coveted certificate.

Participants are registered for the naturalization ceremony. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

Participants are registered for the naturalization ceremony. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

“They have already passed the interview and test, so all that remains is to get the document. All 50 people are residents of Washington or Virginia,” says immigration officer Balderrama.

From Australia to Mexico, Korea and Cyprus - people from 43 countries are ready to swear allegiance to the United States. From the CIS countries - only two Ukrainian. Lyudmila Gryshchenko was immediately noticeable - she came to the ceremony in a dress with Ukrainian embroidery.

“In America, dual citizenship is allowed, I know that is not the case in Ukraine. But I will still be both Ukrainian and American,” says the girl.

Ukrainian Lyudmila is now a citizen of America.

Ukrainian Lyudmila Grishchenko is now an American citizen. Photo: Lesya Bakalets

She came to America as a student under the Work and Travel program. Here I met my future husband Anatoly, also a Ukrainian, who immigrated to the States at the age of 11. They got married in America, and after five years of living in the country, the girl received citizenship.

“I plan to stay here forever because I see more opportunities for development. An American passport makes life very simple: for example, when my husband and I came to Ukraine, they asked me for a long time where and why I was going. And they just looked at his document and said “welcome,” explains Lyudmila.

In her hands she holds a large white envelope - every participant in the ceremony got one. Inside - a certificate of citizenship, a letter of congratulations from the president, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as well as an application for obtaining a passport. It is issued only with a certificate.

Before the ceremony - organizational issues. Specialists of the migration service once again explain everything and urge you to immediately make several copies of the certificate - in case the original is lost.

Sitting in the same row with Lyudmila is another Ukrainian, Alina. She is from Kyiv, and the girls’ stories are similar: also the “Work and travel” program, then American college and marriage to an American. She has been in the states for 9 years, here she studied to be an architect and is engaged in computer design.

“I didn’t wait long for citizenship – only four years. The fact is that my husband works in the coast guard, he is an officer, so the process was simpler,” says Alina.

The ceremony begins with the American anthem - performed a cappella by a guest singer - and the pledge of allegiance to the United States. All 50 people stand up, raise their right hands and repeat the same text, which ends with the words “and may God help us.” Only after this procedure are they considered US citizens.

Photo: uscitizenpod.com

Photo: uscitizenpod.com

Such solemn naturalization ceremonies are rather the exception. Most often, the certificate of citizenship is served immediately in the Migration Service, just in the assembly hall. But within Presidential day The migration service conducted 180 ceremonies with all the honors. From 12 to February 22, 20 received thousands of citizenship.

Read also on ForumDaily:

How to pass a test for US citizenship

Four ways to get US citizenship

Trump wants to lift US citizenship by place of birth

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