The naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens in the Northern Mariana Islands, canceled in October due to the federal government shutdown, has been rescheduled for Dec. 15 at the District Court for the NMI.
Applicants told Variety they received official notice of the new date last week.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona will preside over the special proceedings, which are set to begin at 2 p.m.
The Oct. 27 ceremony was postponed after a lapse in federal appropriations triggered a partial shutdown. While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) kept field offices open for interviews and biometrics, oath ceremonies were suspended nationwide, including in the NMI.
For applicants, the upcoming event represents the culmination of years of residency, legal processing, and commitment to the United States.
