Well, yes, I should say, I am done dealing with the USCIS. The next step on my list...getting a US passport! And it doesn't need to deal with the USCIS, lol. Locations in getting one isn't that difficult to find. Many passport facilities have been scattered everywhere including post offices. It so happened that we have one close to home, (only 3 minutes drive). I was thinking I can just walk-in but it is by appointment basis. Anyway, I got my appointment on Friday and prepared everything that is needed. I hope I can get it soon by the expedite service.
Meanwhile, I am still waiting for my Phil. passport that I renewed at the Phil. embassy in DC. They said it takes 3-5 weeks before I can receive it...it's already been 4 weeks since last Friday. Although I won't be using my RP passport in going out of the country, I desperately need that when I travel back to the Philippines so I can get my dual citizenship done there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, the Phil. passport would arrive safely back to me.
So, still, the journey goes on...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Protect Your Savings With Gold Coins
Getting into a sensible and safe investment needs a lot of serious considerations and decisions. Perhaps, for many, little would they know that owning gold nowadays is still the safest way to protect one's wealth and money. Why? It's for the fact that gold has been considered to be one of the most valuable commodities for many centuries due to its indestructible and valuable nature and design. Today must be a good time to buy gold bullion in order to protect your savings.
Of course, it's just a normal feeling to be hesitant investing into gold considering the constant fluctuations happening in the marketplace nowadays. Nobody wants to lose his/her hard earned money by making a decision you are not sure of and ending up in a big mistake, right?
But no matter how straightforward the process is, careful consideration is always a safe thing to do. The idea of "not placing your eggs in one basket" can be a good warning sign, but no need to worry about it. That's the reason why The United States Gold Bureau is here to assist you with the entire process and further helps understand the ins and outs of the gold market.
It's just sensible enough to say that getting physical gold such as coins and bullion can be a perfect way to protect your savings for later use.
Of course, it's just a normal feeling to be hesitant investing into gold considering the constant fluctuations happening in the marketplace nowadays. Nobody wants to lose his/her hard earned money by making a decision you are not sure of and ending up in a big mistake, right?
But no matter how straightforward the process is, careful consideration is always a safe thing to do. The idea of "not placing your eggs in one basket" can be a good warning sign, but no need to worry about it. That's the reason why The United States Gold Bureau is here to assist you with the entire process and further helps understand the ins and outs of the gold market.
It's just sensible enough to say that getting physical gold such as coins and bullion can be a perfect way to protect your savings for later use.
Friday, March 26, 2010
At Last....A US Citizen!
After a few more months of struggle dealing with the US immigration, I was finally scheduled for a citizenship oath today at 11am. Just in case anyone wants to know my citizenship timeline, I had my citizenship interview on February 2, 2010 in Baltimore and thank God I passed! They give same day oath right after you pass a citizenship interview, but in my case, they gave me a pending oath because my fingerprints were not readable by FBI, and so the USCIS requested me to submit a police clearance to them after which they would schedule me for an oath. Quite disgusting and a hassle! I had a month and 3 weeks wait for my oath schedule since the police clearance took time to get it, plus it was all delayed due to a week of snow storms aggh!!!
Anyway, all is well that ends well!
Here's my Citizenship Oath Ceremony Experience:
I and hubby left the house as early as 9AM for my 11AM oath ceremony. It takes an hour drive going there, plus traffic, so we just thought of getting there as early as we can. We were there at exactly 10:10AM. We proceeded to Room 101 and waited at the seating area. At around 11:05AM, we were told to go to 7th floor at the naturalization oath room wherein we were properly seated. It was good to know that members of the family who are with the oath takers are seated together, so I still had my hubby beside me :). It was probably another 20 minutes for getting in line in the room to get our packets and mini flaglets, and checking of our naturalization certificates for any errors on our names and data, etc.
While on the line, a lady was checking our answers at the back of our oath notice letter where a series of questions will have to be answered basing on what happened in between the citizenship interview and the oath. They are particular if you have traveled out of the country in between those occasions, and if there are any changes that happened as well, such as got married, divorced or widowed, had crimes, etc...In my case, nothing had changed, so I was good to proceed. They asked me to surrender my green card with them, checked my certificate for any erroneous entries, (so far, it was all correct), then got my packets and flaglet.
The ceremony started with the singing of the National Anthem...of course I sang!, I know the lyrics, lol!
Then an immigration judge came in and gave us a short talk regarding on being a US citizen and swore us in on our oath of allegiance. After that, we recited our pledge of allegiance and listened to Pres. Obama's message on a video.
That was the end of the ceremony! The judge congratulated us one by one, while they are distributing our naturalization certificates. That was the mess there, because it was noisy and I couldn't hear whether my name was already called and here comes the judge chatting with everybody else, LOL!
Well, anyway, I got mine at last, and had our photo opps. I wasn't able to get a photo opp with the judge, he was too quick to leave, lol!
And to sum it all...I am no longer an ALIEN!!! I am now a proud American citizen of the land of the free!
Anyway, all is well that ends well!
Here's my Citizenship Oath Ceremony Experience:
I and hubby left the house as early as 9AM for my 11AM oath ceremony. It takes an hour drive going there, plus traffic, so we just thought of getting there as early as we can. We were there at exactly 10:10AM. We proceeded to Room 101 and waited at the seating area. At around 11:05AM, we were told to go to 7th floor at the naturalization oath room wherein we were properly seated. It was good to know that members of the family who are with the oath takers are seated together, so I still had my hubby beside me :). It was probably another 20 minutes for getting in line in the room to get our packets and mini flaglets, and checking of our naturalization certificates for any errors on our names and data, etc.
While on the line, a lady was checking our answers at the back of our oath notice letter where a series of questions will have to be answered basing on what happened in between the citizenship interview and the oath. They are particular if you have traveled out of the country in between those occasions, and if there are any changes that happened as well, such as got married, divorced or widowed, had crimes, etc...In my case, nothing had changed, so I was good to proceed. They asked me to surrender my green card with them, checked my certificate for any erroneous entries, (so far, it was all correct), then got my packets and flaglet.
The ceremony started with the singing of the National Anthem...of course I sang!, I know the lyrics, lol!
Then an immigration judge came in and gave us a short talk regarding on being a US citizen and swore us in on our oath of allegiance. After that, we recited our pledge of allegiance and listened to Pres. Obama's message on a video.
That was the end of the ceremony! The judge congratulated us one by one, while they are distributing our naturalization certificates. That was the mess there, because it was noisy and I couldn't hear whether my name was already called and here comes the judge chatting with everybody else, LOL!
Well, anyway, I got mine at last, and had our photo opps. I wasn't able to get a photo opp with the judge, he was too quick to leave, lol!
And to sum it all...I am no longer an ALIEN!!! I am now a proud American citizen of the land of the free!