Whistling friends and colleagues,
Tomorrow at this time, I shall be reporting to the Homeland Security Office, Division of Immigration in Newark, NJ. There, I will undergo my final interview for US Citizenship.
If you are up at 8:33 am, keep your fingers crossed, won’t you? Or uncross them and play an air or a jig. Send good vibes.
Thank you!
PT
PS: Unfortunately for Weekenders, this means I may stick around for a while longer 
(just kidding, Weeks!..)
Will do. And congratulations! My wife spent two years dealing with the INS before getting her green card, but it was worth it.
Actually, when I obtained my UK spouse visa, which allows me to live and work there (since we are moving BACK to Scotland) it took–five days. I know UK Immigration isn’t as swamped as the INS, but still, I was impressed.
Welcome as a citizen! My sincere congratulations.
Thank you and good luck with the move back to Scotland. I envy you, I love the place!..
Here’s wishing you well.
Congratulations and welcome as a US citizen.
pthouron,
Welcome to citizenship! I became one in 1962. Our family came over on the Displaced Persons Quota from Germany after WWII in the early 50’s and I was the first naturalized member of the family.
Don’t be nervous, it doesn’t hurt much. Just tell them that you’re a whistler and they will welcome you with open arms. 
As in “Whistler of Mass Distinction”? 
I’ll be thinking good thoughts your way!
Welcome, and congratulations!!!
–James
Eh, bonne chance, mon ami. Je te souhaite merde, eh?
Danke sehr, mein Freund!
Best Wishes!
Tom
Congratulations! Will uncross my fingers long enough to play “O ro, Se Do Bheatha Abhaile” for you!
Redwolf
You’ll have to give us the post-game analysis.
I hope it is relatively painless although I think the pre-Bush years were probably better for not having to jump over hurdles. I just heard yesterday that the limit for the number of VISAs allowed for high tech “foreigners” has been reached and no more will be issued until the next fiscal year. This is due to an administration-directed reduction in the number of VISAs issued. Hopefully such things do not apply to citizenship, even covertly.
Congratulations and I hope it’s something you can be proud of.
Will do. From my previous dealings with Immigration, I know they are not an easy bunch (nor do they speak very good English ), so I am going prepared. The fact that my country of origin is France may prove to be a detriment, but who’s to say?
Congratulations! 
This, I’m assuming, is a nice(?) thing to say Bloomie? I’m sure there’s a subtle cultural nuance, I’m missing. Yeah.
Reminds me of my brother in ninth grade french class. A female acquaintance of his was cutting up, not paying attention, and about to be called on to say “I have a big ball of string,” in French. Quickly, she asks my bro, the class brain, for the answer. He tells her what to say, and when her turn comes she stands up and with great confidence says “J’ai une grande boule de merde!” Teacher is not pleased.
Funny! You can have a lot of fun with languages… I, myself am guilty of having, as a teenager, misdirected many a tourist…
And yes, it is a nice thing to say. The proverbial “merde” being the equivalent of the more polite American “break a leg”. Culturally, I’m not sure, but it could originate from the belief that stepping in doo-doo is good luck (particularly if you use your left foot! )
pthouron,
Not to worry about the INS interview. My wife passed with flying colors and she could not speak English very well at the time (25 years ago). We did, however, have an interesting interview before the final test. If you have seen the movie “Green Card” then you know how it went. We were married outside the USA and they suspected us of marying so my wife could claim citizenship. As in the movie, we were interrogated for about 45 minutes each and they were very detailed. But we convinced them that we did marry for the normal reason - so I could inherit billions from my eccentric uncle whose will said I had to be married before a certain date…oh, wait a minute, that’s another movie. Never mind.
Bon chance!
Mike
Thanks! I’ve had a green card for 22 years, so I am not even filing as the spouse of a US citizen (although my wife is just that). I am claiming citizenship on my own. I figure after 22 years of filing an IRS return, they can grant me the privilege!..
Congrats!
Sounds like you got your green card about the same time my wife did, though she went for her citizenship as soon as she was eligible.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the interview - the green card interviews are often nasty, but the citizenship interview is mostly to see if you understand how the government is supposed to work and what your rights and responsibilities will be. Anyone able to participate in the C & F political threads should be able to breeze through.
So can we expect you at the polls for every election now?
Wow! Congratulations to you!
And DCrom’s right. You gotta vote. In my house anyway, otherwise you can’t complain.