What to Know About Naturalization Ceremonies in Wisconsin

One of the last steps of becoming a citizen involves attending a naturalization ceremony. Read on to learn more about naturalization ceremonies, what they entail, and what you can expect.

Are There Different Types of Naturalization Ceremonies?

There are two types of naturalization ceremonies: the administrative ceremony and the judicial ceremony. Though both ceremonies involve taking the Oath of Allegiance, the Oath is administered differently between the two. In an administrative ceremony, USCIS will administer the Oath, while in the judicial ceremony, the court will administer the Oath. While there is a chance you can have your naturalization ceremony on the same day as your interview, there is also a chance that ceremonies will be unavailable immediately after your interview. If this is the case, USCIS will mail you a notice with the location, date, and time of your naturalization ceremony.

What if I Cannot Attend the Ceremony?

If for some reason, you are unable to attend the scheduled naturalization ceremony, you may return the notice to your local USCIS office, including a letter giving your reasoning for why you cannot attend, as well as request a new date for the ceremony to take place. While this is acceptable once, you should know that if you fail to appear more than once, your application may be denied. However, if there are some sort of outstanding circumstances that require your absence from the ceremony, you should speak with an experienced immigration attorney.

What do I Need to do When I Arrive at the Naturalization Ceremony?

Once you arrive, you will check in with USCIS. Next, you will provide a USCIS officer with the answers you gave to the questionnaire, Form N-455, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony. You will then return your Permanent Resident Card, as you will no longer need it once you take the Oath and receive the Certificate of Naturalization. Upon receiving the Certificate, ensure you check it over for any potential errors.

What Are Some Benefits of U.S. Citizenship?

Those who are granted citizenship now have the power to apply for passports, vote, and update their Social Security records, among other things. Additionally, you may be able to help family members gain citizenship.

If you have any questions regarding naturalization ceremonies in Wisconsin, contact our firm to speak with an experienced attorney.

Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm

John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why If you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C. and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.

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USCIS Makes Citizenship Test More Difficult for Applicants

Recently, it was announced that USCIS would be modifying its citizenship test. In many ways, this test is far more challenging than the previous citizenship test, requiring immigrants to know certain things about U.S. history and civics that many U.S. citizens do not even know. Please continue reading and speak with our knowledgeable Wisconsin immigration attorney to learn more about the changes made to the citizenship test and how these changes may affect you.

What has changed about the citizenship test?

To start, the test is longer. Previously, applicants were required to answer only 6 out of 10 questions correctly. However, now, applicants must answer at least 12 out of 20 questions correctly. Furthermore, various simple questions regarding geography and other topics that often required one-word answers are no longer on the test. The test also asks questions regarding the Vietnam War, among other things, which, many people feel the answers to are subjective. For instance, the answer to the question of why did the United States enter Vietnam is to “stop the spread of communism.” While this is the widely-accepted answer to this question, many people differ with this answer, making it a complicated question to answer honestly.

Overall, immigration activists believe that making the naturalization test more challenging is yet another way for the Trump Administration to stifle immigration here in the United States. Among those activists is Eric Cohen, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, who said, “It’s a last-ditch effort on their way out the door for the administration to keep people from realizing their dreams of becoming citizens. ”

Many others oppose the new test, and there is a very good chance that President-Elect Biden will revert the test back to its former standards once he officially takes office. For now, however, there is no telling the future of this test for certain, and if you are someone who is looking to become a naturalized United States citizen, you will most likely have no choice other than to take the new test. If you have any additional questions regarding any other immigration matter, please do not hesitate to speak with our knowledgeable Wisconsin immigration attorney today. Our firm is here to help.

Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm

John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why If you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C., and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.

Read More

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