A year and a half ago I was granted the "privilege" of becoming a permanent resident of the United States of America. I had to get my fingerprints taken and get asked a lot of questions by some man in a little office. I also had to fork over a lot of dough and fill out multiple, MULTIPLE forms. I stressed for a loooong time and was sure I was not going to pass my interview because I had worked in the USA getting paid under the table for a while (don't tattle on me please.) and I was positive they had spies on me and that I was sooo busted.
Obviously none of this happened cause here I am.
And now my conditional status is up in June and I have to renew. (When you get a Green Card through marriage you are placed on conditional status for 2 years, and then you have to prove that you are still married and living with your spouse and love each other, bla bla bla. Then in another year you can get your US citizenship, which includes denouncing any loyalties to any countries you used to be a citizen of. Not cool.)
In June 2013, if I so choose, I can apply for US citizenship. Basically what this will do for me is: (quoted from here)
- I can vote
- I get priority for bringing family members into the country
- A child born to a US citizen is automatically a US citizen
- A US passport gives me assistance from the US government when overseas
- I would be eligible for Federal jobs
- I could become an elected official! My dream come true.
And last but not least...
- I would be showing my patriotism
WOOHOO. sweet benefits right? (note slight sarcasm) I am still debating if it is worth denouncing my Canadian allegiance. Anyone who knows me at all, (especially acquaintances from my BYU-Hawaii days) they know how much I love Canada. But this June is something I cannot avoid. Oh, US Government, how long will you suck my funds for your pleasure? It's clearly not helping you get out of debt. Plus Obama isn't even REALLY american, so why doesn't he have pity on us immigrants?
Application to Register Permanent Residence, Form I-485: $985
Biometrics Fee: $85
Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765: $380
Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence, Form I-751: $505
Biometrics Fee: $85
Application for Naturalization, Form N-400: $595
Biometrics Fee: $85
True Love: Priceless
(cough cough, I mean $2720 freaking bones. ridiculous!)
yikes, that is a lot of green! michael j. fox denounced his canadian citizenship kinda for the same reasons, but we still claim him as our own! i'm sure it's hard though, i love canada too!
ReplyDeleteOh my!! I feel you!! Mine expires in the 17 of this month and I turned in all my paperwork and got my biometrics done and haven't heard a word back from them... Getting a little nervous! Also... That guy you asked me about is brother Oswald I think... I haven't talked to him since I got all my stuff done! Haha good luck!!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh. i thought the first time around was bad. and i had no idea it would cost this much more to become a citizen. yuck. i think i might stay a canadian.
ReplyDeleteObama isn't really American... say what? You're on that band-wagon too?!
ReplyDeleteOh, Matt went through the process to become US citizen. But here's something we found out recently--because Matt was first Canadian our kids, born here in the USofA, can apply for Canadian citizenship. Pretty cool! Having duel citizenship is pretty awesome. Because Canadians can travel to some countries, while Americans can go to others. Maybe a useful tool in the future. (You should ask Marcie how she feels about everything. Also here experience in Europe and not being able to go into certain countries because she was Canadian. She's a good source for thought.)