What is the procedure to gain U.S. citizenship? It seems that Tanith Belbin has been working on this since before the last Olympics and still will not be a citizen in time for the 2006 Olympics. OTOH skaters that I've never heard of before seem to already have theirs or will be citizens in time for Turino.
Well it depends on if they're married or just living here...
With Tanith it's been said that she applied for it right before Sept. 11, and the paperwork was lost or misfiled or something so they had to start over... I'm not sure if that's the true story, but I've read it everywhere online...
OT: Denis Petukhov goes in on Tuesday to become a citizen!
Last edited by Tonichelle; 02-20-2005 at 12:14 PM.
Why does being married make one more worthy of being a U.S. citizen?:banging:
I have no idea.Originally Posted by Piel
Why does being married make one more worthy of being a U.S. citizen?Considering I was born and raised in this country I really don't know much about the process. *shrugs*
But Toni I thought you were Alaskan!
Just kidding Toni. Every year the Girl Scout troops in our area choose a different country to represent at our Thinking Day international celebration. You would not believe the number of adults and girls who ask for the countries of Alaska or Hawaii!
It is marriage to an American Citizen that speeds up the process. I imagine that is due to an assumption that you will be less likely to be a burden on taxpayers than if you enter the country without anyone sponsoring you or guaranteeing you a job. I'm not an immigration expert, tho.
Well you have to get a Green Card 1st. Marriage to an American Citizen speeds up the process but it still takes forever. You have to be in the country for 5 years before you can apply for US citezenship. That is a general rule but it maybe different if you are married to a citizen.
Also, you can only get the Green card only after living in the States for 12 months (and the process is long, especially now). It all adds up to 6 years or so. I got my citizenship before 9-11 and I think the process took about 12-18 months. But INS is notorious for loosing papers and then NOT letting you know about it. It's up to you to keep calling and calling..to one of those numbers that the wait is an hour before anybody picks up the phone, only to give you another # to dial.
Basically, Tanith is grawing through what everybody does... Also, you may recall that Peter Chernyshev obtained his citizenship shortly before SLC Games and he has been in the States since early-to mid 90's or so.
I am not sure this helps, but that's what I know about the process.
Yana
I can actually believe that... there are people on other boards who will not believe I'm an American, and therefore I have business talking politics about "their" country.... HELLO! 49th state here!But Toni I thought you were Alaskan!
Just kidding Toni. Every year the Girl Scout troops in our area choose a different country to represent at our Thinking Day international celebration. You would not believe the number of adults and girls who ask for the countries of Alaska or Hawaii!
I don't have too much to add to what Yana said, except that (AFAIK) it's easier for persons married to American citizens to obtain green cards, not the actual citizenships.
Also, believe me, obtaining citizenship through marriage only is no piece of cake. You basically have to proove to strangers that your marriage is real; they get very personal! I have several friends who have chosen to go the "most needed person" route just to avoid the humiliation.
Ptichka, I don't know what you mean by that...?
Okay, my husband and I were living abroad and planning to move back to the U.S. My father had to sign a document saying he would be "responsible" for my husband for, I think, 5 years. In other words, my husband would not be a burden to U.S. society. We were interviewed by the U.S. consulate abroad, he asked us each a few basic questions, the green card was sent to my mother's house in the U.S. very shortly thereafter and my husband could then work in the U.S. Three years later, he got his U.S. citizenship. I'm afraid it was pretty much a walk in the park.
Funny story about our final "interview" with immigration for the "final green card" (one year after he got the temporary one). I brought my wedding album along (I had heard that was a good idea). We waited for hours until we were called, even though we had an appointment. Turns out the entire dept. was behind schedule because someone in the office had died and they all went to the funeral that day. The lady asked us all of 3 questions, no more, one of those was "Have you ever been divorced from each other?" We looked at each other in horror and said, "No! Of course not!" and Ms. INS said, "Okay, you're approved." I then said, "Does this mean you don't want to look at our wedding album?" and she laughed and said, "Some other time."
Having heard all about fake marriages for immigration purposes, and because she was a very nice lady, I just HAD to ask her, "Well, we're obviously the real deal but how did you KNOW that?" She said that she'd been doing this for a long time and she just KNEW who was real and who was not. She could just sense it.
Last edited by RealtorGal; 02-21-2005 at 02:24 AM.
OH it's so incredibly true! I have some rich stories from a friend of mine who works in the (huge) Alaskan tourist industry--people *constantly* call his office asking 1. do they need a passport to get here? and 2. should they exchange their money before or after they arrive?I can actually believe that... there are people on other boards who will not believe I'm an American, and therefore I have business talking politics about "their" country.... HELLO! 49th state here!
I'm with Toni--WE IN THE 49th STATE REPRESENT YO!
The same thing happens with people from New Mexico. People think they are part of Mexico. I guess people who called trying to get tickets for the SLC Olympics were told they needed to contact their embassy. "New Mexico" (a magazine) often has stories about dealing with clueless government officials and others who don't have a clue that New Mexico is part of the United States. I guess people don't have to memorize all 50 states anymore.But Toni I thought you were Alaskan!
Just kidding Toni. Every year the Girl Scout troops in our area choose a different country to represent at our Thinking Day international celebration. You would not believe the number of adults and girls who ask for the countries of Alaska or Hawaii!
Katherine - no most schools dont... my junior high has only one teacher who will fail you if you can't name all 50 states, but my bet is that his failing them would be overturned if a parent complained to the principal (not saying Mr. Summer would just overturn it, the school board/admin would have to do it LOL)
I would probably forget a couple, just because listing all 50 is tough you're bound to repeat LOL but I do know the difference between "real" states and "fake" ones...
There was a game making the rounds some months ago that pitted one's hand / eye coordination and one's knowledge of US geography.
Here's the site.
WARNING: This game is addictive.
4dk - who always has trouble placing those pesky little New England states like Delaware and Rhode Island.
RealtorGal, I am sure that was some time ago. The rules are becoming tougher every year. Also, people from different countries are treated differently. The assumption about the Israilis is that they wouldn't break too many laws to leave their country. It's a little more difficult for Russians. I am sure it's harder still for, say, Syrians.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks