Zion National Park was the site of the second naturalization ceremony at a National Park Service site this month. The first took place at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site on Oct. 5.
"Individuals from 15 nations gained U.S. citizenship after the Oct. 17 naturalization ceremony"
Naturalization ceremony at Zion National Park welcomes new citizens to the United States. Zion National Park was the site of the second naturalization ceremony at a National Park Service site this month. The first took place at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site on Oct. 5.
“National parks belong to every American. “We invite you to visit, to learn, to volunteer, to enjoy, and to join us in the stewardship of these places because while you may have traveled to Zion as a visitor, today you will leave as an owner,” said Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh, during the ceremony.
Candidates came from Austria, Brazil, Berma, Canada, Columbia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Peru, the Republic of the Philippines, Tonga, and the United Kingdom. This is the second time that the National Park has held a naturalization ceremony for individuals who complete the process.
There are multiple ways for individuals to become a U.S. citizen: marriage to a U.S. citizen, military service, being a lawful permanent resident for 5 years or more, or being a family member of a military family, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
The process to become a U.S. citizen has approximately 10 steps, including application, an interview and test, decision by USCIS, and finally, taking the oath of allegiance to the United States.
Individuals who are pursuing naturalization, there is an English test, which focuses on speaking, reading, and writing; there is also a civics test, which may be an oral test where a USCIS officer can ask up to 10 questions. USCIS notes that an individual must answer six questions correctly to pass the civics test.
Zion National Park is located in southwestern Utah. The park’s grounds include “lands originally protected by Mukuntuweap National Monument and Zion National Monument,” according to the National Park Service website on the history and culture of Zion National Park. The monument was dedicated on July 31, 1909, renamed to Zion National Park ten years later, and the park was expanded in 1956, to include a second national monument, known now as Kolob Canyons.
