About a dozen people walked into a US immigration office in Virginia on Saturday morning, ready to take the last step in becoming American citizens. People from around the world arrived holding their naturalization notices, excited for the big moment — the Oath of Allegiance ceremony.
They carried small American flags, eager to celebrate their new citizenship. But instead of joy, they were met with shocking news: the ceremony had been cancelled due to the government shutdown.
Confusion and disappointment after sudden cancellation
“You should have been notified,” one staff member said at the check-in desk.
However, none of the attendees had received any notice or email. Even security staff seemed unaware of the cancellation. Later, when one participant checked the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, it was temporarily offline. When the site came back, it showed that the appointment had been cancelled days earlier “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The notice ended with a simple message: “We regret any inconvenience this may cause.”
Inside the office, disappointment turned to confusion. A woman wearing a hijab quietly asked if others had also been turned away, worried that it might be about her clothing. Another man had invited his family to celebrate his citizenship, only to leave upset and uncertain. Many people there had spent years completing paperwork, interviews, and studying for the citizenship test — only to be told to come back later.
Long wait and growing anxiety
Officials told attendees to return on November 1, but with the ongoing federal government shutdown, there’s no guarantee that date won’t change again.
Usually, USCIS continues operating during shutdowns because it’s funded mostly by application fees. But this time, its director Joseph Edlow said on X (formerly Twitter) that public-facing services like interviews and oath ceremonies may face delays. He added that the agency “regrets any negative impacts but must ensure it complies with the law.”
Nobody knows how many USCIS appointments or oath ceremonies have been cancelled nationwide. While the agency posts notices about field office closures, it doesn’t share overall numbers. Online, people have reported similar cancellations in different states.
Political deadlock causes ripple effects
The US government shutdown began on October 1, when Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding. The stalemate has now left over 700,000 federal employees without pay and caused delays across many public services.
For those hoping to become new US citizens, the impact feels more personal. After years of waiting, many are now stuck in limbo, uncertain when — or if — they can finally take their citizenship oath.
The shutdown has added to the anxiety created by months of rapid immigration policy changes. For countless hopefuls, the dream of calling America home is now on hold.
