20 receive U.S. citizenship at ceremony at new Bedford immigration office

Friday, September 10, 2010

Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Denize Flynn, left, and Elisabeth Gomes Sharp, second from left, wave tiny American flags as they dance to the song "Proud to be an American" during a naturalization ceremony Thursday, September 2, 2010, outside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Governor John Lynch holds a flag during a naturalization ceremony Thursday, September 2, 2010, outside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom This is a waiting room inside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom New United States citiznes apply for passports following a naturalization ceremony Thursday, September 2, 2010, outside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom The new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Holding miniature American flags, Smail Arnautovic and his sister, Fikreta, second from left, listen to a speaker during a naturalization ceremony Thursday, September 2, 2010, outside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford. Both are now U.S. citizens who immigrated from Bosnia.

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Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Denize Flynn, left, and Elisabeth Gomes Sharp, second from left, wave tiny American flags as they dance to the song "Proud to be an American" during a naturalization ceremony Thursday, September 2, 2010, outside the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Bedford.

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BEDFORD – Elisabeth Gomes Sharp changed her life to become a citizen.

She gave up her career as an experienced doctor in Brazil to start over in the United States, all for a man she loved.

Gomes Sharp, 37, was granted her U.S. citizenship Sept. 2 with 19 others at a special naturalization ceremony at the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Bedford. It was only one step of many she’s taken toward a new life in America.

Gomes Sharp was a specialized obstetrician and gynecologist in Brazil for five years, but now she’s back to residency status and working 80 hours per week as a family physician at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago.

It took her five years to get that far in the United States.

She married her husband in Brazil in 2005, but his career was rooted in America. To stay together, she followed him. Ever since, she’s been studying for medical tests, improving her English and applying for jobs near their home in the Chicago area. She finally landed her position at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center this year.

Her husband’s parents, William and Isabel Sharp, of Litchfield, were at the ceremony taking pictures and proudly waving miniature American flags. In 2005, they welcomed their son and Gomes Sharp into their home after the couple had married and moved back to the United States. Gomes Sharp applied for citizenship while living with her in-laws in New Hampshire, which is why she received her certificate that afternoon in Bedford despite her current residence in Illinois.

Gomes Sharp was one of 20 new citizens naturalized after a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Bedford building that will replace the previous Manchester location on Canal Street.

Many friends and family were present, as well as Gov. John Lynch and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services members from other New England locations. The Bedford High School choir also chimed in with renditions of the national anthem and “God Bless America” at the beginning and end of the ceremony.

Simon Abi Nader, director of the Bedford immigration field office, said these ceremonies take place at least once a month and about 3,000 New Hampshire residents are granted citizenship each year. In 2009, the Manchester field office received about 4,000 applications and approved 3,000 for new citizenship and 700 for lawful permanent residency – green cards.

The 20 citizens accepted Sept. 2 hailed from 13 countries, including Smail Arnautovic, 21, and his sister Fikreta Arnautovic, 19, from Bosnia-Herzegovina. They live with their parents in Manchester and moved to the United States from Bosnia-Herzegovina 11 years ago.

Fikreta Arnautovic works in a kitchen at a nursing home in Manchester and takes classes at Manchester Community College. She wants to eventually study dental hygiene at the New Hampshire Technical Institute. Smail started college in electrical engineering, but said he stopped to work full time and help support their family.

Smail and Fikreta lived in Slovenia for three years during the Kosovo War in what they described as “refugee” conditions. Smail said they were too young at the time to remember much of what happened.

Fikreta said their family came overseas for a better education and better jobs. A better life, she said.

Lynch spoke of that better life, full of endless possibilities. He also encouraged the new citizens to be engaged in the community.

“Make the most of it,” he said. “Your America can be anything you want it to be.”

For Gomes Sharp, her America will be tiresome for a while with those 80-hour work weeks. But she’d do it again if she could.

“It’s all worth it,” she said.

Cameron Kittle can be reached at 594-6523 or ckittle@nashuatelegraph.com.