• Go directly to www.uscis.gov  - this website is the most current and reliable resource for American Citizenship.
• At the homepage click the icon labeled Naturalization Test to find out exactly what the interview entails.
• For additional information, click onto A Guide To Naturalization.
• Once your learner starts to become confident with the study materials, encourage him/her to take the Naturalization Self-Test.
• After favorable results, encourage learners to apply for citizenship online.(Currently there is a 4-8 week wait for interview times, so make sure your learner is adequately prepared prior to submitting his/her official application for Citizenship)

Ever since I found happiness in America, I began to think about my citizenship.(I married an American citizen on August 25, 2004.) This year at last, I gathered all my documents, and applied to become a citizen of the United States.(I am thankful to my husband for his help.)

First I had to go to the U.S. Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) office to give my fingerprints.  Two months passed, and then I received an appointment for my citizenship interview on November 30. I was scheduled to take the test at 8:30 a.m., so we got up at 4:00 a.m. to make sure we could drive all the way down from Bellingham to the USCIS office in Tukwila and make it through rush hour traffic in time.

We arrived before 8 a.m., and at 8:05 my name was called. A large and serious-looking immigration officer asked me to follow him, and a historical moment came. Even though I knew all the answers for the citizenship examination (I attended a citizenship class, and listened to a recording several times), I was a little nervous, especially when the interrogation began. "What is you Social Security number?"  "What is your date of birth?" Then came a lengthy list of questions dealing with everything from criminal convictions to drug addiction (including some amusing ones, such as, "Have you ever been a prostitute?" And "Have you ever been in jail or prison?")

Next, the immigration officer asked me some civics questions, such as, "How many members does the House of Representatives have?"  "Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?"  "Name one war fought in the 1800's" etc. Also, the officer told me to write my home address, and a sentence stating that George Washington was the first President of the United States. After that, I was required to read three sentences.

Finally, after 20 minutes, the officer congratulated me - I had passed the test, I was on top of the world! And I was lucky, because there was going to be a citizenship ceremony on the same day, in which new citizens would take the Oath of Allegiance, and receive their naturalization certificates. All we had to do was wait for about 5 ½ hours for this event to begin.

Around 2 p.m., 91 new citizens (including me) went into an auditorium on the first floor of the building, and spectators filled up the rest of the seats in the back of the room. The new immigrants came from 38 different countries - among them Russia, Ukraine, India, Somalia, Iran, the Philippines, Germany, England, Canada and Lebanon. First, an immigration officer asked all 91 new citizens to rise; put their right hand on their heart; and repeat the Oath of Allegiance. Then, everyone sang the Star Spangled Banner, and I felt so emotional that I started to get tears in my eyes. This was followed by a video with historical information about new immigrants.The next thrilling moment was when another immigration officer gave a welcoming speech, emphasizing that all new citizens have the same rights as she does. After that, all 91 of us had our names announced, and one by one, we each went up onto the stage, to receive a naturalization certificate, and a handshake.

I love America very much, and I am glad that now I am a citizen of a great and free country.  Soon, I will get my American Passport, and I am waiting impatiently for that moment, too.