Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Seagoon on June 30, 2005, 10:26:56 PM

Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Seagoon on June 30, 2005, 10:26:56 PM
Well after almost 30 years in the USA, I've decided to become a naturalized US citizen. I think I realized it was time when my Greencard expired recently and I realized that being deported to the UK would be rather like the headline in Johnny Dangerously (I'm going from memory here) "Moroni Deported to Sweden - Says He's Not From There."

The truth is I'm not really British anymore. Sure I like winegums and dark beer at room temperature and the Britcoms and I still feel stirred by tunes like "The British Grenadier"

(Some talk of Alexander,
And some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander,
And such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes,
There's none that can compare
With a tow-row-row-row-row-row-row,
To the British Grenadier!
etc.)

But all in all, I've realized my worldview has become totally alien to Britain and my feelings of loyalty to the US grow even as my alienation from Britain increases. I can honestly say, I've been all over the world, and yet I love America best. Sometimes I marvel how most Americans don't realize how privileged they are to be from this country compared to literally billions of other people. I'll probably never fit in perfectly anywhere (I'm the proverbial fish that only feels comfortable swimming upstream) but here feels the most like home should. I not just a resident, I am an immigrant.

Anyway, anyone else gone through the process of naturalization, and any advice?  

- SEAGOON
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Saurdaukar on June 30, 2005, 10:32:05 PM
Great thread!  :aok
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Lizking on June 30, 2005, 10:34:18 PM
Apparently, all you have to do is know how to use a lawn blower, not believe in automobile insurance, and refuse to learn  (American style, in your case) english, and you are set for life.
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Toad on June 30, 2005, 10:35:12 PM
:)

Welcome!

You're a great addition; wish we could get more like you.

Remember, we're all immigrants here. Even the Native Americans came over from somewhere else. ;)

My maternal grandparents were Italian. My paternal great grandparents were Irish.

Welcome home!
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Hangtime on June 30, 2005, 10:35:13 PM
Welcome to America!

;)

Grandad once told me the definition of 'home' was "the place you can go to and they have to let you in".

Hope your application and naturalization goes well.. no idea how it's accomplished, but I'm sure you'll fine the process both interesting and enlighting.. and keep us posted on how it progresses.

Again, 'Welcome Home'.

Title: Re: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: NUKE on June 30, 2005, 10:38:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Seagoon
Well after almost 30 years in the USA, I've decided to become a naturalized US citizen. I


Well, I don't think a "welcome" is in order, but a big congratulations is!
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Maverick on June 30, 2005, 10:40:04 PM
Welcome to the decision you made. You were already an American by choice, you just hadn't realized it yet. ;)

This will make this 4th of July a bit more special for you then.
Title: Re: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Masherbrum on June 30, 2005, 10:52:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Seagoon
Well after almost 30 years in the USA, I've decided to become a naturalized US citizen. I think I realized it was time when my Greencard expired recently and I realized that being deported to the UK would be rather like the headline in Johnny Dangerously (I'm going from memory here) "Moroni Deported to Sweden - Says He's Not From There."

The truth is I'm not really British anymore. Sure I like winegums and dark beer at room temperature and the Britcoms and I still feel stirred by tunes like "The British Grenadier"

(Some talk of Alexander,
And some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander,
And such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes,
There's none that can compare
With a tow-row-row-row-row-row-row,
To the British Grenadier!
etc.)

But all in all, I've realized my worldview has become totally alien to Britain and my feelings of loyalty to the US grow even as my alienation from Britain increases. I can honestly say, I've been all over the world, and yet I love America best. Sometimes I marvel how most Americans don't realize how privileged they are to be from this country compared to literally billions of other people. I'll probably never fit in perfectly anywhere (I'm the proverbial fish that only feels comfortable swimming upstream) but here feels the most like home should. I not just a resident, I am an immigrant.

Anyway, anyone else gone through the process of naturalization, and any advice?  

- SEAGOON


The United States of America is the best country in the World.  

<> Seagoon

Karaya
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: lasersailor184 on June 30, 2005, 10:58:23 PM
I actually had a friend and his family decide to go for citizenship.


They asked me to help them to learn some History that would be important.

Just general stuff.


Like the constitution was not written in 1922.

The civil war was not fought over women's rights...


General stuff like that.
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Gunslinger on June 30, 2005, 11:28:33 PM
Good for you Seagoon :aok

I only wish my wife would do the same.  It would make my life just slightly easier.
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on July 01, 2005, 02:01:11 AM
Congrats Seagoon!  Welcome!  Glad to see that your status as "long term visitor" will become "resident".  
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Heiliger on July 01, 2005, 05:52:50 AM
Seagoon!  :D
Title: Re: Re: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Nilsen on July 01, 2005, 06:07:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Masherbrum
The United States of America is the best country in the World.  

<> Seagoon

Karaya


I'm glad you enjoy your location on the big round thingy :)
Title: My (cuban) wife went through the process...
Post by: rshubert on July 01, 2005, 06:44:55 AM
A few years ago.

Don't bother with a lawyer or anything, they're just trying to get their "share" of the pie.  Study the books.  They will ask questions.  It will take a couple of years, total.  

You do have permanent residency, right?  If not, you will wait five years after getting residency for naturalization.
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: oboe on July 01, 2005, 07:05:25 AM
The UK's loss is our gain, by quite a substantial margin I would say.   Welcome and congratulations on your decision to become a US citizen!
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: FiLtH on July 01, 2005, 07:49:34 AM
We're all immigrants...even the land bridge folk :)
Title: My Korean wife went through this.
Post by: AWMac on July 01, 2005, 08:03:39 AM
We were stationed at Ft. Bragg and I came down on orders again for Korea. Thus she had the time in residency waved. But the paperwork was a drag. I left and she was let with the paperwork and many trips to Charlette, NC.
Finally she took it to a Congressman and within 3 days she was an American.  

Hope it all goes smooth for you Seagoon.

Welcome to America!!!

:aok
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: lazs2 on July 01, 2005, 08:14:54 AM
Welcome seagoon.. (even tho you been here 30 years)

My grandfather was born in Scotland..  When he got drunk he would have the accent and if you asked him about the place he would say "it was a cold misserable rock laddie"

I have talked to other ex brits..  when asked if they liked it here..  they just smiled and said it was a different world.   One lives out on some acerage and was telling me about how he would let visiting friends shoot his 30 30 and .357 handgun.

lazs
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: ASTAC on July 01, 2005, 08:16:53 AM
Welcome aboard..Glad to have ya.
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Curval on July 01, 2005, 08:19:10 AM
Bad tax planning Seagoon.  ;)
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: megadud on July 01, 2005, 09:04:54 AM
get the hell out!!!!!

j/k welcome to the best damn country ever!@!

i'll allow you to be in it because you have been here longer then me. as long as you speak english.

BUT if you come up tome in the store and ask me where something is in a different language i'm just going to say buzz buzz buzz.
welcome SEAGOOON
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Swoop on July 01, 2005, 09:11:14 AM
Waaaah!

It's not ****in fair.  The hoops a Brit needs to jump through these days even to get a work permit in the US.........

If I wanted to move now (and I do cos this country is too full of foreigners) I'd need to secure a job first and prove that no other American is capable of doing that job.

So apparently Murican's can't drive taxi's or work in KFC.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Bodhi on July 01, 2005, 09:29:08 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Swoop
Waaaah!

It's not ****in fair.  The hoops a Brit needs to jump through these days even to get a work permit in the US.........

If I wanted to move now (and I do cos this country is too full of foreigners) I'd need to secure a job first and prove that no other American is capable of doing that job.

So apparently Murican's can't drive taxi's or work in KFC.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)


You ever tried being an American getting a job in the COmmonwealth?
Title: Finally Decided to Bite the Bullet...
Post by: Bodhi on July 01, 2005, 09:29:53 AM
Congrats Seagoon