Luis HernandezMy Story

I have lived in the United States for most of my life.

So when my mother, Maria, first brought up the idea to become American citizens about three years ago, I agreed without hesitation.

It wasn't a hard decision.

In the more than two decades of living in the United States, I had pretty much assimilated to the American way of life. I had gone to school, graduated from high school and college and held a reporting job since graduation.

We had heard the road to American citizenship was a difficult one to navigate. An expensive application fee, a difficult test to prepare for and a verbal interview with hints of a police interrogation, or so we had been told, were part of the stringent process.

Quite honestly, nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, there was a fee to apply for the process. But I didn't have to auction off a kidney on the black market to start the application project.

Yes, there was a lot of studying to do. And, oh boy — did we study to prepare for the test!

As for the interviewer, she had decorated her office with English Premier League's Manchester United memorabilia. ManU is the European team I have followed for 20 years.

Step one: Applying for citizenship

After agreeing to seek American citizenship, my family decided to use an immigration attorney based in Southern California to handle the paperwork. It was much more expensive than going at it alone, but we decided we were cutting down on the risks of getting the application rejected because of it being filled out improperly or enduring delays for having used the incorrect form.

We visited with the attorney twice, once to deliver copies of personal information and then later, right before the documents were sent off. It took about three weeks.

When we were leaving after the second visit, the attorney's assistant gave us a packet that included a copy of the U.S. Constitution, sample questions to study and additional material on becoming a United States citizen.

The one thing the attorney's assistant insisted on: Study the material. We took the advice to heart.

Always a good reader, my father, Lino, read, re-read and read again the sample questions. My mother spent plenty of time studying as well. My sister prepared flash cards, similar to the ones I used to study while in college.

On Sunday afternoons, instead of watching television, we would gather at the dinner table and quiz each other on American history, past United States presidents and current political figures.

• Who's the United States vice president?

• What happens when a senate vote is tied?

• How many senators from each state?

• When and where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

• Name the original colonies.

A planned afternoon review turned into a three-hour study session. I can honestly say we didn't stop studying until we all each had answered the 100 sample questions correctly. Not even at Fresno State did I study that hard.

Our motivation was simple: We didn't want to fail on the immigration process because we flunked the test.

Step two: The interview, part I

We received word the interviews for my family were set in downtown Los Angeles, just a few steps from Plazita Olvera, about three months after sending in the applications. Because I live in the Central Valley, my interview was in Fresno weeks later.

At the Federal Building in Los Angeles, my sister, Rocio, accompanied my mother, while I served as translator for my father, who, because of his age, took the test and interview in Spanish.

My mother told me she was nervous about the test, but completed the exam in English. My sister, who came to the United States when she was 6 years old, had no language problem. She didn't have a problem with the test either.

I translated a few questions for my father, who also passed with flying colors. All the studying paid off. That day, we celebrated eating at the underground food court across the Federal Building. There's nothing like eating Mexican food to celebrate American citizenship.

The swearing-in ceremony occurred just a few weeks later also in Los Angeles. I couldn't attend as it was in the middle of the work week. Their citizenship certificates arrived days later.

Step three: The interview, part II

I didn't get to my citizenship interview until much later. I had continued to study so I was ready. Having served as interpreter for my father's interview also prepared me.

As it turned out, I was over prepared.

At a building at the Fulton Mall in downtown Fresno, I was asked three questions (I don't remember them because they were so easy to answer) and to write one sentence in English. That was it. That was my exam. I guess when you study and over prepare, things turn out alright.

By the end of the interview and test, the immigration agent and I ended up talking about soccer lineups, what it would be like to separately visit Old Trafford, the home stadium for ManU and the wonders of European soccer.

My swearing-in ceremony was at the Fresno Convention Center just two weeks after my birthday, two summers ago. Again, we had Mexican food to celebrate, eating lunch at El Pollo Loco.

Yes, there's nothing more American than having Mexican food. Where have I heard that before?

I have been an American citizens for two years. I haven't had a chance to travel and use my American passport. Maybe this holiday, I will travel to Mexico, just to get a stamp on the booklet.

Maybe, while visiting the Mother Land, I will have a burger, fries and Coke with ice. You know, because I will miss my adoptive country.

Luis Hernandez is a reporter for the Times-Delta Media Group.