Ceremonies

The County Clerk’s Office hosts naturalization ceremonies throughout the year, in conjunction with Department of Homeland Security, (Citizenship and Immigration Services). 

2020 Schedule: 

TBA

The public is invited to attend. Ceremonies held at:

Department of Emergency Services
22 Wells Farm Road
Goshen NY, 10924
11 a.m. 

Please plan to be at the ceremony for two and a half to three hours, feel free to invite family and bring a camera.

About the Naturalization Process

Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt is proud to administer the Oath of Citizenship at the Naturalization Ceremonies held at the Emergency Services Auditorium. A Naturalization Ceremony is the final step in the process of applying to become a citizen of the United States. While most people gain their citizenship by being born within the United States or being born to a United States parent(s), some become citizens through the process of Naturalization. 

Through this process a foreign citizen or national fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This act requires that an applicant for citizenship must reside in the United States for a period of time, had the ability to read, write, speak English and have an understanding of United States civics, demonstrate good moral character and have attachment to the Constitution.

Citizenship

By becoming a citizen of the United States the applicant gains many benefits. The Constitution and laws of the United States give many rights to its citizens, such as the right to vote, bringing family members into the United States, obtaining citizenship for children who were born abroad, traveling with a United States passport, becoming eligible for federal jobs, and the eligibility to become an elected official, among a few things. With that, a citizen also holds many responsibilities to the United States as well. 

Applicants must promise to give up all prior allegiances to any other nation or sovereignty, swear allegiance to the United States, support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and serve the country when required.