by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In an hour-and-a-half ceremony marked by flag waving and a message from Pres. Bush, U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger formally welcomed 51 new citizens during a naturalization ceremony Thursday at the United States Courthouse.
The 51 new citizens represented 29 countries with several from India, the Phillipines and others and one each from countries such as Canada, Syria, the Congo and China.
“It is my privilege and honor to welcome you to the United States,” said Schlesinger, who hosted the ceremony that wrapped up Law Week. “I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be the first to congratulate you. Each of you have moved here by your own choice.”
For all of them, the ceremony marked the end of a nearly year-long process. Immigration attorney Giselle Carson said there is basically a three-step process that takes between eight months and a year to complete.
First, the candidate has to be a legal, permanent resident for 3-5 years.
“If they are married to a U.S. citizen, it’s three years,” said Carson, who is also the chair of Law Week. “If they are sponsored by their employer or a family member is a citizen, then it’s five years.”
The second step involves filing an application that includes a $400 fee and supporting documents such as a birth certificate, marriage license, work history or tax return. Finally, each prospective citizen is sent a notice of fingerprinting, which usually comes 3-4 months after the application has been received by the U.S. government
“If they are from a country that is on the hit list (Iraq, Iran, etc.), it can take longer,” said Carson, who did not have any clients that were receiving their citizenship status Thursday.
Larry McGuire, the district application clerk for the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said 54 resident aliens had applied for citizenship, but three didn’t complete the process.
“Twenty-nine made name requests and the government has no objections to those name changes,” said McGuire. “All of them have met all the regulations and each has good moral character.”
In becoming U.S. citizens, each person had to agree to three things: renounce their allegiance to their former country, declare their allegiance to the United States and agree to bear arms on behalf of the U.S. when required by law and perform non-combat when required by law.
In a video message, Pres. Bush welcomed each by each saying, “I’m pleased to address you as my fellow Americans. The United States welcomes you. Today, the United States is not only your home, but your country.”
The dignified ceremony did include lighter moments:
• Schlesinger told each new citizen that if they needed anything to contact their state senators, Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson, who were represented by Adel Griffin and Michelle Barth, respectively. “Before I retire I want to ask the two of you a favor,” he said. “It’s been since 1989 that judges of the United States got a raise. Is there something you can do for us?”
• Architect Tri Vu is a naturalized citizen who came to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was 16 years old and was also the principal speaker at the ceremony. Vu said shortly after he got here, he got a $68 check from the federal government, but never cashed it. When he started making his own money, he sent the check back with a note. “Can you imagine the confusion I caused?” he said. “The check kept coming back to me. I had to send it back four times.”