US immigration naturalises immigrants aboard USS Essex
June 10 2009 by Bryan Palmer
US immigration ceremony on Essex
Some 40 military members and their families have been naturalised and granted their US visa during a ceremony aboard the USS Essex stationed in Japan.
The US immigration department, USCIS, carried out the ceremony, granting 34 soldiers, marines and sailors US citizenship along with one child and five spouses.
The new citizens were addressed by Kenneth Sherman, the USCIS’s field office director for Seoul, Korea, after he administered the oath. He told the new citizens, “your service in the United States military speaks volumes for your character and selfless service. On behalf of a very grateful nation, we are proud to welcome you as fellow American citizens.”
One family was particularly happy to have had their son naturalised. They obtained their US visa when they arrived from the Philippines, where their 17-year-old son was born. He received citizenship at the ceremony as a child of a member of the military just in time, before he turned 18.
The USS Essex’s commander, Navy Capt. Brent Canada, said he was “honoured” to be part of the ceremony and that it was fitting to hold the ceremony on the ship.
The new US visa holders all serve in the US military and come from the following countries: Russia, Philippines, Nicaragua, Nepal Mexico, Liberia, Korea, Jamaica, Guyana, Guatemala, Estonia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, China, Canada and Belize.
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