Turning the US government: Thousands of immigrants who are preparing for the oath of loyalty have suddenly canceled their US ceremonies in the middle of the ongoing stopping of the Federal government and caused confusion and anxiety among those who spent years waiting for the moment.
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What happened in American civic offices?
On Saturday morning people were gathered in the office of American citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) in Virginia, clutching their announcements about naturalization and small American flags – ready to take their last step towards citizenship.
But a moment before the commencement of civic civil citizenship, the employee issued unexpected reports: the event was canceled due to the government’s shutdown, the BBC reported.
“You should have been warned,” the employee said at the table.
No one in the group has received any previous e -mail, phone call or alert. Employees at the entrance even allowed participants through security without warning, suggesting that they were also not informed of the cancellation.
Later, when one applicant checked the USCIS website, he was temporarily offline. After the backup, it turned out that the appointment was canceled a few days earlier “because of unforeseen circumstances”.
“We regret any inconvenience that it can cause,” the online announcement read.
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How did applicants react?
According to the BBC report inside the Virginia office, disappointment quickly turned into confusion and anxiety. Some feared that their cases could be affected by distortion; Others feared the consequences of the delay in their lives and livelihoods.
“One woman in Hijab asked quietly if I was also turned away, fearing it could be because of her clothes,” one participant said.
Another man who gathered his family to celebrate his citizenship left anxiously and uncertain what would happen next.
“Several people seemed really frightened and wondered how delay could affect their work, lives and plans,” another participant recalled.
For many, the moment symbolized years of perseverance – navigation of bureaucracy, completion of interviews and preparing for the citizenship test – all of this culminated in a day that was supposed to mean the beginning of their lives as Americans.
“Some of us spent years of deepening paper and interviews,” one applicant said. “After more than ten years when I had a green card, I decided to become a citizen and a vote. We all got stuck in Limbo now.”
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Why are the rites of naturalization canceled?
Although USCIS is primarily financed through application fees, its operation still depends on coordination with other federal departments, many of which have been influenced by shutdown.
The agency director, Joseph Edlow, confirmed in the X post that while USCIS offices remain open, public -oriented services such as interviews and oath ceremonies can face disruption.
He wrote that the agency “regrets any negative impacts, but must ensure that it suits the law.”
Applicants in Virginia were told to return 1 November, albeit without the certainty of when the government reopened, and this date remains endangered by slipping.
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How widespread are cancellations?
The complete cancellation range is unclear. The USCIS states field office deadlines on its website, but does not publish overall data for delayed or canceled ceremonies. However, unofficial reports have emerged at the national level that naturalization events are postponed with small or no warning.
Online immigration forums and social media platforms are now full of news from affected applicants – some of them have already created travel plans, have taken away their work, or invited the family to witness the moment when they became citizens.
Why did the US government stop?
The weaning of the US government began 1 October after the Republicans and Democrats did not reach agreements on government funding, which led to more than 7,000,000 federal workers. Basic services such as air traffic control and border operations continue, but many public services have been delayed or suspended.
The dead end created the ripple across federal institutions, including USCIS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Security, the complication of visa processing, asylum hearing and now citizenship ceremonies.
What does this mean for future US citizens?
For immigrants who have been waiting for years – often decades – to achieve this milestone, the abolition is more than bureaucratic inconvenience. They represent another barrier in a long and uncertain process.
“That was more than an inconvenience,” one participant said. “We all got stuck in Limbo now.”
The shutdown not only delayed their way to citizenship, but also added uncertainty to their legal and professional life. For some, citizenship is necessary for voting, free travel or request for certain jobs and benefits.
When could American civic ceremonies restore?
Since mid -October, there is no clear time plan for when the shutdown or the delayed ceremonies will be renewed. USCIS did not provide an official schedule for overcrowded naturalization.
Applicants are advised to regularly follow their USCIS accounts in terms of updates, although the agency’s website itself faces occasional outages.
Until the congress reaches the reopening of the government, thousands remain awaiting – citizens in their minds, but not on paper yet.
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