July 4th at Monticello: Naturalization Ceremony Registration
The staff and trustees of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello congratulate you on your upcoming naturalization as a citizen of the United States! Since 1963, we have welcomed new citizens every Fourth of July, and this year promises to be especially memorable as we mark a historic milestone.
Please read the following information carefully. Contact [email protected] or 434-984-7574 with questions.
General Information
- By June 30, please fill out the form below to register yourself and any guests. You can bring up to one additional vehicle for parking (two total vehicles per new citizen).
- Parking Pass: download, print, and display this pass in your vehicle window for access to the visitor center parking area.
- National and local media often interview new citizens during the event. Past participants have appeared on outlets such as NBC’s Today Show, MSNBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, and Slate. If you are interested in speaking with the media and are comfortable having your name and image shared, please contact Tiana Woodard at [email protected] or indicate your interest on the registration form below.
- Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.
- All citizens and their guests will be required to pass through a bag check and security screening. For your safety, we require clear bags for anyone attending the Naturalization Ceremony. All bags will be inspected through our no-touch process. Exceptions to these policies will be made for all medically necessary items after proper inspection.
Day-of Schedule of Events
6:30 a.m. – Arrival and Parking
GPS Address: 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Complimentary parking is available at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, located off Route 53. A reminder to please have a copy of your parking pass displayed on your car dashboard. Upon arrival, staff will greet you and direct you to the appropriate check-in location.
Please remember to bring all required documentation, as instructed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
6:30 a.m. – Check-in and Light Breakfast
You will complete check-in with USCIS. Afterward, enjoy light refreshments from the Monticello Café.
Guests are welcome to accompany you and may enjoy refreshments in the visitor center courtyard while you complete the check-in process. You will rejoin them afterward.
8:00 a.m. – Transportation to the West Lawn
Private shuttles will transport you to the West Lawn, where the ceremony will take place.
Guests will board public shuttles departing every few minutes from the visitor center. Upon arrival, they will be seated in a designated friends-and-family section behind the citizen seating area.
8:30 a.m. – Rehearsal
A brief rehearsal will take place on the West Lawn, and photos will be taken.
9:00 a.m. – Naturalization Ceremony
You will complete the process of becoming a U.S. citizen during this ceremony. The program will include remarks and musical performances and will conclude at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Each year, the ceremony is covered by members of the media. Monticello will also photograph and film the event for educational and promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to the use of your likeness for these purposes.
The ceremony will be livestreamed at monticello.org/July4. Please feel free to share this link with friends and family who are unable to attend.
Following the Ceremony
After the ceremony, you and your guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary lunch from the Monticello Café. We hope you will stay for family-friendly activities, musical performances, and complimentary root beer floats. Tours of the Monticello house will also be available.