Becoming a Naturalized Citizen!

Most of you my faithful readers know that I am Canadian by birth, as I've shared much about my Canadian roots through the years.  I have lived in the United States since 1994, and while having my green card - which grants me most of the benefits of being a US citizen - there were still things I could not do with my green card -  namely voting, sitting on a jury, running for political office, or being able to get a concealed weapons permit. 

Receiving my naturalization certificate! 

On July 24, 2023, I walked across the stage to receive my naturalized citizen certificate. It was the culmination of a long process that I started back in May.  With the encouragement of my father and other family members, I began the paperwork to become naturalized.  It breaks my heart that he was not able to see me walk across the stage, and get my certificate, although I felt his approval from eternity, and I know he was clapping for me from the heavenly grandstands! 

It was such a special day, that I had to write about my experience for my family to always remember, and to be able to share with others, so I am sharing the following article about my naturalization citizenship process with you.  :) 

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In September 1994 after a difficult decision process, our family of 7 sold our home and most of our belongings, packed up a U-Haul truck, and moved from Prince Edward Island, Canada to San Antonio, Texas. My father’s job transfer enabled him to get a work visa – but the rest of us – my mother, 4 siblings, and I came in under his work visa, and could not work. It was a very difficult period for our family. I had already graduated from college as a medical transcriptionist, and at 21 years of age, I had been working and owning a vehicle. Upon arriving in Texas, my younger siblings enrolled in school, facing a lot of difficulties as they adjusted to a different culture, even though we came from a similar country. Our accent made us stand out from others, and there were so many things that were difficult adjustments in Texas –from the many critters that stung and bit, the unbearable heat, the traffic, and the exposure to different races and cultures. Soon though, we all adjusted, married, and had children of our own. For 29 years I have lived in this great country of the United States of America, and after receiving my green card, worked as a medical transcriptionist at home for 25 years while raising our two children, Danielle and Ryan. In the last 3 years, we have seen both our children now married and starting a life of their own.

After some contemplation, and encouragement from my family, I decided to apply for citizenship. A green card affords you most of the rights of other Americans, but citizenship means you can vote, you can run for political office, you can sit on a jury, and you can obtain a concealed weapon permit.

In May 2023, I sat down at the computer and began the lengthy process of becoming a citizen of the United States.  I was granted an interview after all my documents were approved. The initial part of the interview involved a citizenship test.  While sitting in the waiting room in Spokane at the Thomas Foley Federal Courthouse, I reviewed the 100 questions that I needed to memorize, of them 10 random questions could be asked in the interview. You had to answer 6 correctly out of 10 to pass.

As I studied the test, I learned many things! Do you know how many US representatives there are?  What are the two longest rivers in the United States? Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?  You can find the answers to these questions at www.uscis.gov  I learned so much after studying for this test, even after helping my children in all their history and government classes as they went to public school.

 

After studying for this test, I began to wonder – how many people who are born American citizens could answer these 100 questions? 

Upon being called into the interview with a customs officer, the test was given first, and thankfully I was able to answer the first six questions correctly. Then, my citizenship was granted, and I was given an appointment the following Monday, July 24 to be naturalized as an American citizen.

 

The naturalization ceremony was something every American should be present for at least once in their lifetime! The emotion in the room was palpable, sacred, and beautiful! 87 people from 35 countries were represented there, each with their own story of how and why they came to America. Each had gone through the same process I had. I had an advantage! I speak English as my native language, but many, if not all that were there – did not. They still had to study for the same test, pass the same test, and do all the document paperwork, just to become a citizen. As we stood with our right hand raised and gave our pledge to the United States of America, tears rolled down the faces of most, if not all present! What a privilege to be a part of this country that offers so much to those who come here with willing hearts to give, serve and obey the laws of this land.

 

I watched the faces around me – faces from cultures and countries I had never been to. I wondered about their stories and wished I had time to hear from each one. The guest speaker, herself from an African country, had joined the Air Force, and after serving in the military was eligible for citizenship. As she gave her address, she struggled with the English language she had adopted as her own, and her voice shook with emotion as she shared her difficult journey to get to the place she was standing today – about to become a naturalized American citizen.

 

If only every American born in this country could be a part of a ceremony like this – to witness the emotional gratitude of living in a country that offers freedoms like no other country on earth. Birth in this country grants you a lot of privileges. But – to drive a car, you must take a test in order to cooperate with the laws of the road. I wondered – why do we not have a required test for every citizen who votes, just like a test is required to drive? The right to vote is a precious one, but the laws of the land need to be understood. Perhaps this needs to be discussed – if one must understand the laws of the road to drive, should not one also understand the laws of the land in order to vote, and be required to pass a test to do so?

 

These questions filled my mind last Monday at the naturalization ceremony. I have been a citizen now a little over a week, and it feels wonderful! I look forward to the opportunity to vote, and to serve on a jury. I am grateful for the freedoms the United States of America offers to each of its citizens, and my heart wishes that every American could feel this same pride, joy, and thankfulness to be its citizen. Perhaps the topic of a voting test could be explored further.

 

I do not take the privilege of being able to vote lightly. In fact, a very important election is being held in our local community this month. As a citizen now of this great country, I have listened to both sides of the issue at hand. It is important that we consider the beliefs and ideas of others, even if they are different from ours. We must not just listen to the voice that speaks the loudest or has the most words. We must carefully reason, think, and recognize that each of us is free to believe and vote as we choose, and no one should feel ashamed for voting for what they believe in.

 

It is imperative in the social media-driven world we live in, to not just listen to social media, but show up to meetings, meet the candidates, ask questions, and read all material available.  This is our right and responsibility as Americans.

 

I look forward to casting my vote for the very first time in this local election, it is a privilege I don’t take for granted, and one that I will pray over, that I will study out, and one that I will vote with clear direction.

 

I encourage each of you, my dear fellow American citizens to do the same. Do not take the right to vote lightly. In fact, go ahead and visit the USCIS.gov website, and read the citizenship test – educate yourself, and above all, do not take the privilege of being an American citizen lightly, it is an honor that each of us should be very grateful for!  

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I shared the above article with our local newspaper, the River Valley Beacon, and they were kind enough to share my story with their readers. Here is the link to that article: River Valley Beacon  They were very kind to share my story! 

I was thankful to have family and friends there to support me! 

This was the Oath that those of us being naturalized had to hold our right hand up and pledge it together.

Some of our neighbors, friends, and family members gathered with us at the ceremony. 

A dear friend gifted me this lovely USA flag purse :) 

Some of us gathered at a restaurant to continue the celebration :) 

It was a very special day in so many ways, and I'll always be grateful for the opportunity to live in this great country. It saddens me to see the direction it has taken in recent years, but still, we live in a country that offers its citizens such blessed freedoms and rights. May we never take them for granted! 

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my naturalization process.  It was a great journey, and I am glad it is over!  {smiles} 

Many blessings to all of you!  And God Bless America!