Rex is officially a U.S. citizen as of 4:30 pm yesterday when he and a couple other candidates,including his sister, Ruth, were sworn in. The test and ceremony were held at the Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore, MD. Rex, Ruth and I drove to Baltimore around 9:00 am. Their appointment wasn't until 11:00 am but we wanted to leave early in case of traffic or getting lost. I quizzed Rex along the way and as we waited for the appointment.

A little after 11 Rex was called back. Ruth and I wished him good luck. About 15 minutes later he came back with a big smile on his face. He passed! I was so happy for him. I started to cry. He kissed me and we congratulated him and then waited for his sister to be called. We waited a good 40 minutes or so before she was called. The receptionist told us that sometimes that happens and sometimes people wait up to an hour to be called back. Ruth returned about 30 minutes after she was called. She was crying. She had passed! We congratulated her and we hugged and luckily they were able to be sworn in later that afternoon. Sometimes the candidates (which Rex and Ruth became after they passed) had to be rescheduled for another date and time. They were to be sworn in at 3:30 pm. They also could not commit a crime before that time, or after :-)

We were hungry as were waiting for 3:30, so we walked to a Subway and then after that we walked to the waterfront. By this time it was close to 2 and it was nice walking along the waterfront. I wanted to take a watertaxi for the time we were waiting but Rex told me that the watertaxi goes far and we probably wouldn't make it back in time. We decided to head back to the federal building around 2:30 as Ruth was scheduled to be present at 2:45 and Rex was scheduled to be present at 3:15. Finally at about 3:35 they called the candidates and families to go to the room where the ceremony was to be held.

The ceremony started around 4 and Rex and Ruth and the other candidates handed in their green cards and other such documents. They received a large packet filled with a booklet on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, as well as a voter's guide, passport application, a letter from President Barack Obama, among other things. A small American flag was also handed out. The Star Spangled Banner was then played, followed by the candidates being sworn in. The candidates read the Oath of Allegiance while raising their right hand. Afterward we said the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the candidates walked up to receive their certificate and the ceremony was ended with a recorded welcome from President Barack Obama. 

I'm so proud of Rex, Ruth and all the other newly sworn in U.S. citizens. It's really wonderful.  Congratulations everyone!

Here are a couple of pictures from the waterfront and the ceremony: