Forum: Air Force Life

Before I start with pics, I thank all of you for their extraordinary support and prayers. It felt like this was a never ending journey, sometimes struggle, sometimes even mental torture, but it is all over now. We can all celebrate now.... I am tired, exhausted but I am a US citizen now.

The banner is proper...

Now, first a bit history of the whole ordeal... I applied for citizenship in September 2005. I was stationed in Korea, and my application was based on my military qualifications. It was supposed to be a very straight forward process, however it turned out to be the quite opposite. After I had my interview and civics test in June 2006 in the US, I waited and waited and waited. Nothing, no response, no progress. I dreamt to become a US citizen when I was as little as 13 and I definitely decided when I was 18, however, it was indeed very depressing to the extreme knowing I was about to be deployed, and I was not naturalized yet. I volunteered to bleed but could not vote.

April 13, 2007 we filed the lawsuit to challenge the government to answer to us, I didn't want to bring myself to that level, but had no other option. Another aspect of our country though, you have ways of getting a response, any response when you knock on the judge's door.

Court hearing was set for April 19th, at 1400 hours, I was there 30 mins prior. I found the courtroom at the 17th floor of the federal building, however the place seemed deserted. Noone around. They kept my phone downstairs as it was camera phone, so I could not call my lawyer. Well, being nervous, I paced and paced, relentlessly saying the Jesus prayer. 10 minutes to the hearing, still noone around, I kept pacing., Finally, just before the time was up, my lawyer showed and he was followed by the Assistant US Attorney, and we proceeded into the courtroom. We sat and the clerk called the judge to come in. In the meanwhile, the AUSA asked my lawyer if we got the "approval", he was like "What? No we didn't get anything" ...

Honorable Timothy Batten Sr, walked in, all rose, and we went ahead with the proceedings, the first thing to come out of the judge's mouth, "I read about the case, it is pretty clear to me, what does the government have to say?" She (AUSA) stands up, "Your honor, we got good news, we assumed we still have jurisdiction and we went ahead approved the case", Judge "Jurisdiction granted" Turned to me and said "Good luck to you over there, be careful" That was it, I got a copy of approval notice and was asked what kind of ceremony I was willing to attend, I wanted to make my middle name "John" officially, therefore I asked for a judicial ceremony. While we were waiting for the photocopying of the approval notice, my lawyer kindly suggested not to wait on these people anymore, just get it done and over with the following day. Well, the judicial ceremony was not until another 10 days. I was convinced I was not going to wait on that. I could always do a name change later...

So the next day, April 20th, 2007, was the end of a 7 year, 8 month, 9 day hope, including the 19 month wait for the application...

Like I said, most of you walked this struggle with me, knowing what steps I was at... Online or offline it doesn't matter, I value all of you my friends. You all are a part of my life, a part of this journey... Thanks again for everything you have said, done and thought.

Here are the pictures...

Here we are waiting for the hour to come... We are the earliest ones in the waiting room.

We are moved to the ceremony room now... We are presented with our "welcome" packets...

-Dude, when does this thing start? It's been 20 minutes already!!!

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More pics coming...

-We appreciate you the soldiers most... Would one of you make a speech? This is how it is going to happen...

-Ok now, let's get on with this ceremony!!!!

- We are about to begin, ALL RISE and repeat after me!

-Here we go... "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;..."

-"that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;..."

-"that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

-Thank you, thank you, thank you, "gracias actually"

-Do I show it? Naaaah....

We are citizens of the US of A now, for just a few seconds... Sit down!!!

-We are now going to watch a video message from the President of the US and a motivational video along with the song "God Bless the USA"... You all are so special, don't ever forget this day, never forget where you come from, never abandon your character, your customs or traditions, but you have ONLY one country you belong to from this day on....

-Well, I volunteered... Why in the world... Ok, focus... what is this in front of me? It is the oath ... NOT MY SPEECH!

-I always wanted to become a US citizen because....

-Blah blah blah blah...

-Thank you all for listening my rant...

-It is documented NOW... Here it is... Look I am showing it...

-Let go of it man, you are pulling it too tight... Anyway, Welcome to the US of A...

-Brand new American citizens...

-Can I keep the flag?

Here goes the REAL certificate... Certificate of patience, endurance, support and love...

Congratulations!

Welcome aboard my fellow American! You should be proud; as well as every other American; for you are now part of a country that has and forever will be the greatest nation on God's green earth. HOORAH! Congratulations Thumb

Awesome

! Congradulations and thank you for your service Thumb

!!!

Congratulations. Welcome to the family. Cool

Newbie Joined: Apr 23, 2007 - 02:12 AM Posts: 3

Nice, very nice and worth the effort huh!

So many Americans take so much for granted, you earned it the hard and the best way (in my opinion), through "service and commitment", good on you!

Well done - Salute - Thanks for your service too

Congrats!

Congrats!!!!! I Really do mean that! So many college peers of mine should have to learn and experience what you have had to in order to become part of what most consider their birth-rite. So I applaud you, and I must say, you (and those like you) are part of the few that understand what is truly is that we fight and die for. Thank you for renewing my faith that America is worth the cost!

Congrats. You are now, and forever will be a man of freedoms, and may enjoy the liberties that only the greatest country in the world offer its citizens. I for one am VERY proud to be able to call you "Brother". Both as a brother in arms, and as a citizen.
I toast your remarkable achievement and your dedicated service. Salute

Forum: Air Force Life

It is finished! (Naturalization Ceremony with lots of pics)