Now Posting...as an American!

So it's obvious that I am not very good at maintaining this blog. My last post was in March, and since then, I had my interview, took the test, had my citizenship ceremony (!) and am now a brand new American, with a new name and all. It's officially "Marc" now, and I have the court papers to confirm it. I'll eventually get to the specifics of each momentous occasion and perhaps post a few photos as well. There is a lot to report.

Neglected...

Was my last post really in December? Ah, well, I got lazy. Since the last post though, there have been major advances in my naturalization quest. I was finally able to reschedule my fingerprinting appointment and had that done back in January. I was surprised at how quickly the USCIS responded when I notified them that I needed to reschedule (again...).

My appointment was for 8:00 in the morning and I assumed (foolishly) that I had a specific time slot, allowing for me to be in and out. Of course, when I got the application support center in downtown (not-so-nice) Brooklyn, I was welcomed by a line of about 20 or so other foreigners. Highlights included unfriendly support staff who used more hand motions to communicate than actually speaking to you, and a rather rude woman who again, assuming I didn't speak English, jerked my hand around and forcibly took my fingerprints. I am constantly amazed at how unprofessional and rude employees of the USCIS are. Never have I encountered someone I could describe as being helpful, courteous, and patient. I guess dealing with these people is one of the hurdles you must jump over to be awarded citizenship.

The other big news (it really is) is that I have my citizenship test scheduled for April 8th! This is THE test. The one that all applicants have to take and pass in order to be naturalized. I haven't started studying yet (and wonder if I even need to), but I guess I will take a gander eventually, so I know what to expect. Will taking the test be a moment of sheer insult? Or will be it a moment of red-white-and-blue pride? We'll shall see...

Stop Reading My Planner

After sending back my appointment notice and asking for a new date, to my surprise, I got a rescheduled appointment less than a month later. My new appointment for fingerprinting was scheduled for Dec.19 at 8:00am. That was yesterday. Again, I had to reschedule because with the holidays upon us, I was traveling that day. For some reason, the USCIS seems to know when I am going to be out of town and unable to make the appointments they schedule for me. I guess asking me when I'd be able to come in would be totally out of the question. So now, here's to more waiting and seeing when my new appointment (that I probably can't make) will be.

2 Updates

This past week brought me 2 updates in my quest to become a citizen. First, I received a notice from the Department of Homeland Security stating that my application had been received and that it is in process. It went on to list all of my information so that I could verify they had everything correct. They did. Then it went on to say (hold on, this is good), "You will be notified of the date and place of your interview when you have been scheduled by the local USCIS office. You should expect to be notified within 540 days of this notice". Did you get that? FIVE HUNDRED and FORTY days. Amazing.

The second notice I received from the DHS was an appointment notice telling me to come in and get my finger prints taken. I am required to bring the actual notice itself, along with photo ID, being my green card. Just to be safe I'm bringing everything I have. Unfortunately, I have no control as to when my appointment is, and it was scheduled for November 23, 2007, at 10AM. If you're by a calendar, that would be the day after Thanksgiving. My appointment is in Brooklyn. I will be in Virginia. Thank you America, for being so thoughtful when scheduling my fingerprinting appointment. I would have expected the 23rd to have been a holiday even for the government, considering Black Friday is one of the most American days of the year. So now, I have to send in a request for rescheduling, which will "delay my application".

Wonderful. So if 540 days wasn't a long enough wait, I have to wait even longer. How American.

WMDMV

Oh yeah...this happened last week too. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer ordered a measure allowing for NY residents to obtain their driver's licenses without regard to their immigration status. This means that undocumented workers can now get their licenses if they present a valid foreign passport (thus opening up the ability to get driver's insurance). Obviously this has stirred up a ton of backlash and even more anti-immigrant sentiment, not to mention the criticism that this measure poses a security threat. Last time I checked though, illegal immigrant and terrorist were not the same thing.

Point To America On This Map

Last week the NY Times published this story about the new naturalization tests that will go into effect next year. I've heard recently that this new update, the first since this test's inception in 1986, was going to be more concept oriented and less "trivia" based. The test, which will be used starting October 1, 2008, can be downloaded here, along with a comparison of the new and old test.

I was initially somewhat worried that it would go beyond the civics knowledge that I've retained through the years, but after taking a glance at the PDF (thanks to Mike for initially emailing it to me), it looks pretty...um, easy? Some immigration advocates though, argue that the new test is "too hard". Really?? Maybe I'm biased because I am a product of the American educational system, but I'm pretty sure that it should be relatively easy for anyone who takes some time to study and for anyone who really wants their citizenship and their government issued "God Bless America" bumper sticker.

Close To Home

Immigration news from Northern Virginia. Officials in Prince William and Loudon Counties, 2 Washington D.C. suburbs are cracking down on illegal immigration by denying public services and access to certain facilities to undocumented residents. Critics argue this system would create a police like state for everyone who lives within those jurisdictions. Here's the story.