My First Naturalization

The first naturalization I did was way back in 2011, for my husband Nagendra Patta.

I was a law clerk at the time for a U.S. district judge. My co-clerk had just been appointed as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, and she was going to preside over her first naturalization at the public ceremony he was scheduled to attend. She invited me to join her on stage at the ceremony.

As I sat on the stage, looking over the crowd of over 100 nationalities represented, and my husband in the front row, it made me proud to be an American, and even prouder to welcome my husband to the club.

And now I get to help others naturalize. It's one of my favorite things to do. It is such a joyous occasion, and is oftentimes the culmination of many years of hardship, separation, anxiety, waiting, hope, and prayers.