Yes, it’s my final answer, and I’m locking it in.
So I drove up to Seattle (well, not really, just the outskirts just past Federal Way), to go to the USCIS to get my Interview for US Citizenship. My appointment was at 10:30, and I got there about 9:45, because they said to be there 30 minutes before the interview. I don’t like to be late.
So I check in, walk up the stairs, and there’s a tons of chairs to sit down at, with tons of people. Must have been about 50 people. (I could be exaggerating here.) I was very happy at that moment I brought my book, because I’m sure I was to read a lot of it. As I sit down, open my book, I read about 4 lines and my name is called. Ok, that’s service. They already knew I was here because they scanned my letter downstairs. Wow. This is fast. So I go in the door and expect to find another secondary waiting area. You know, like some doctor’s offices.
No. The gentleman guides to me to his office.
His office people. I didn’t even wait for 5 minutes before I got to start the interview. Mind you at this point it’s about 10:00 now. My appointment is at 10:30. I’m thinking, “is there something wrong? this is too fast!” But no, he starts asking me preliminary questions, you know the typical “have you ever been to jail” questions. Then I get the written/reading/speaking exam. You’re kidding me right?
I don’t remember the sentence I had to read but it was easy. I mean like “see jane run, see spot run” kind of thing. He told me to write down, “I go to work every day,” or something to that effect. Done. That’s it. seriously.
The civics questions were a bit harder, and I was sure that he was going to ask me which amendments affected voting. Nope. One question I had was “Where does the President reside?” This was easy folks. Any American should be able answer these. So at this point it was 10:15, and I had to fill in another form because I was in the military and they needed to get confirmation of that. Ok, no problem. Filled that sucker out and then now I just have to take 2 passport photos and send it back to them. (I forgot to get photos done.)
So now, after I send in my walgreens passport photos, I just have to wait for them to approve my application, and they’ll contact me with the date to get sworn in as a citizen. Exciting, isn’t it? I’m so excited. The gentleman said, “if you’re approved…” but I could see in his eyes there was no doubt. He just had to say that just in case.
He told me the form I just filled out had to go to St. Louis, MO to get approved and they’ll contact me. I laughed and said, “Wow, how ironic, I moved from St. Louis, it’s too bad I still don’t live there.” Implying of course the paperwork might go faster and said, “Of course, that won’t make it faster would it? LOL” and he laughed too. Of course, he was rushing me out the door.
So yeah, hopefully I’ll be a US citizen soon. About time, since I’m more of an American than a lot of friends I know.
[EDIT] Oh, I forgot to mention that they said the interview would be 2 hours. Yeah ok, you mean it could take up to 2 hours I’m thinking. Since for me, it took about 1/2 hour. (look at those fractions in use! and someone wants to get rid of them? come on!)
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