US Immigration and Naturalization Service
The Easiest and Fastest Way to Gain US Citizenship

Washington, DC - More than 15,000 men, women and children from throughout the United States will celebrate Independence Day a little differently this year. That's because they'll raise their right hands and become America's newest citizens during special July 4^th ceremonies. Held at locations across the country (see below), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will commemorate the United States' 229^th birthday during a weeklong schedule of citizenship ceremonies designed to "Celebrate Citizenship, Celebrate America."

"Every Fourth of July we are reminded of the sacred responsibilities and privileges we enjoy as Americans," said USCIS Acting Director Michael Petrucelli. "Over the next week, USCIS will introduce more than 15,000 new citizens to our American values of life, liberty and freedom, and allow them to truly celebrate Independence Day for the first time."

In addition, as part of its continuing efforts to make naturalization ceremonies as meaningful as possible, USCIS has produced a video highlighting the privileges and responsibilities associated with taking the Oath of Allegiance through a historic photographic perspective. USCIS will unveil this video nationwide during the July 4^th ceremonies.

Each year, USCIS welcomes more than 450,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States. Included in those numbers are more than 10,000 service members who have naturalized through an expedited process since the beginning of the war on terrorism.

Oath of Allegiance

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation of purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Naturalization Ceremony Locations (Does not include all ceremonies. * indicates participation of a DHS principle.)

June 30, 2005