http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?secti ... id=4733139

(New York-WABC, Nov. 6, 2006) - It was a long struggle for the Dutch native, but she was determined to become a citizen. But when the system seemed stubbornly against her, she reached out for help from Seven On Your Side.

This is Vera Krijn's diary of frustration.

Vera Krijn: "I sent an email on the government hotline, no response. "

For the past twenty two months she's called and written immigration services trying to gain her citizenship.

Seven on Your Side's Tappy Phillips: "Do you understand any of what's been going on?"
Vera Krijn: "Absolutely not."

Vera was born in the Netherlands, but has lived here for the past 31 years as a resident alien. Finally she applied for citizenship in 2003. Immigration brought her in for fingerprinting twice, even issued her a certification number. But she had never taken the final critical oath of citizenship.

But in early 2005, Vera left the country for a month. She had notified the immigration service that she would be away, but during her absence a letter arrived.

Vera: "It was two weeks notice for the oath ceremony, so by the time I came back, the oath ceremony had passed, and there it was."

Vera had missed the ceremony. She thought it would be an easy matter to correct. But a year and a half later?

Vera: "I visited, I think, about seven or eight times, and every day, time, I was told, just go home, we're working at it."

So in desperation, Vera called for seven on her side and a week later, she was taking her oath and became an American citizen.

The customs and immigration service told us that when Vera missed the first oath ceremony that triggered a glitch in the system. They didn't explain why it took so long to work out. Vera says one of the first things she wants to do as a citizen is vote.