Purrs of thanks!

Thirteen months after we got married, and almost six YEARS after we
were engaged, I got my greencard! Now I can come and go as I please

Charleen Welton...

Congratulations Karen! This is wonderful, we're so happy for you.
Charleen and the furry threesome.

Victor Martinez...

Yay!!! Congratulations!!!

and they'll have to let me back into the country! Of course the first

Victor Martinez...

Although, technically, they can still deny you admission. :(

words out of my mother's mouth when I told her were 'when are you
coming home to visit'? Not for awhile, though I might change my mind
come midsummer when the temperature hits 95 and the humidity matches
it...
Now I can start my countdown to citizenship... in two years I remove
conditions and get a ten-year greencard instead of my temporary one,
and three years after THAT I can apply for US citizenship, and then

Victor Martinez...

That's weird. I've never heard of a temporary green card. I guess it's
because you applied through marriage? They want to be sure it's for real? :)
Anyhow, my green card came in September of 2004, after about 4 years of
starting a process that usually takes 16 months.
Another perk of the green card is that at the airport, you go the US
citizens and residents line, not the foreigners line. It's usually
faster. :)

I'll get to know that I can live here forever without ever having to
deal with the Immigration people ever again!

Wayne Mitchell...

I'm glad you've cleared one hurdle and have a good view toward
the finish line, Karen. And I'm thoroughly disgusted and
downright PO'd that you, or anyone else, has to go through all
that bullsh*t.

Yoj...

Congratulations! I am always happy when someone who moves to another
country wants to become a citizen. I know several people who don't, and I
can't understand it.

Enfilade...

Congratulations on your green card! Where were you originally from?

We may move to the US for Dylan to do a medical fellowship in 5-8 years
from now, but I would not give up my Canadian citizenship even if we
stayed in the US long term....I would always be wanting to eventually
come home, I think. I would have to really feel like the new country
was my *fixed home*, not just somewhere I happened to be living, to
change my citizenship.

badwilson...

I had to give up my German citizenship to become Canadian. Of course I
was only 13 and didn't really care and I don't plan on ever going to
Germany to live.
Dennis and I are going to apply for Australian citizenship as soon as
absolutely possible (2 years after starting to live there permanently
although I've heard they are changing it to 4 years). But we are also
keeping our Canadian citizenship at the same time. Wouldn't give that
up.

Karen AKA Kajikit...

At this point we have no plans to go back to Australia to live... and
I like it here in Florida. So the US IS my permanent home. And
fortunately, Australia allows dual citizenship so I don't have to give
anything up to become American. :) If I couldn't be Australian AND
American I'd have to think much harder and longer and I don't know
what I'd decide...

Victor Martinez...

I've always been very ambivalent about it. Imagine how it feels to
pledge allegiance to a country different from the one you grew up in.
It's gotta be hard!
I do plan on becoming a citizen, cuz I'm sick and tired of paying taxes
and not being able to vote! What ever happened to no taxation without
representation? :)

glsummer...

Congratulations Karen!!!

Ginger-lyn

Home Pages:
Animals in Movies Website)

Victor Martinez...

Well, you still have to go through immigration when you fly into the
country. :)

Congratulations again!!!!

Kreisleriana...

Woohoo! Great news, Karen. What status are the kitties? ;)

Marina...

They're legal aliens. ;o)

Congratulations, Karen! It's been a long road, but you're getting there.

Theresa

Make Levees, Not War

Adrian...

Congratulations, Karen, I'm very happy for you. I hope you're posting here
in five years as a US citizen. :-)

polonca12000...

Congrats on the greencard, Karen! I haven't realized it's already been
13 months since you got married, time sure flies!
Best wishes,
Polonca and Soncek

sgallagher...

Is your husband a US citizen? The reason I ask is that if that's the
case you won't have to wait five years before applying for US
citizenship.

Permanent residents who are married to US citizens need to have held
permanent resident status for a total of three years. While it's true
that your first two years in the US will have conditional permanent
resident status, my understanding is that they will still count toward
the three year requirement. You do have to apply for the conditional
status to be lifted at the end of two years.

Additionally, you may hear from some people that the US does not allow
dual citizenship. That isn't true, although the US naturalization oath
does have a statement of renunciation. It's just that many countries,
including Australia (at least since a few years back), do not view that
statement as having any legal effect under their laws. So, you're
correct that you will still have your Australian citizenship after
naturalizing in the US. You will have to deal with the US as a US
citizen, and likewise Australia would expect you to leave and enter
Australia with an Australian passport.

Victor Martinez...

In Mexico it's a bit different. By accepting another country's
citizenship, you do lose your mexican citizenship, but not your
nationality. Mexico legally makes the distinction between nationals and
citizens. A mexican national is someone born in Mexico or to at least
one mexican parent. This status allows you to travel freely in and out
of the country, buy property, get jobs, and a few other rights I don't
quite remember. Now, in order to be a citizen, you have to be a mexican
national, 18 years of age and have an honest way of living (I guess our
politicians are technically not citizens?). Citizenship allows you to

ladyjane...

ROFL!! Some of us are even doubtful that they're human.

Jane
- owned and operated by Princess Rita

vote and be candidate for elections. I'm pretty sure that's the only
extra right you get with citizenship, so I don't mind losing mine when I
become a US citizen. I want to vote at home, and Austin is my home.

Sam...

Congratulations, Karen!