Thursday, January 22, 2009

In the grand canyon at sundown...



So, is it strictly necessary for me to emigrate before I can apply to become an American?

8 comments:

Lirazel said...

Ummm... apparantly not. You'd have to join our military if you want to become a citizen without actually moving here, or marry a citizen currently living Abroad.

But thank you for the Pete Seeger clip. I'm proud to say that my parents supported him and others of his ilk during the blacklist period.

But nothing like this. Nothing like this.

Feel free to emigrate any time!

Andrew Stevens said...

Not quite true. While non-citizens can join the military, they must first come to the United States and be a legal permanent resident and the military cannot and will not assist in that immigration process. However, there are special expedited naturalization procedures for those who do serve in the military in a time of war or for their spouses for those who die while serving honorably for active duty military. There are also expedited naturalization procedures for people who marry U.S. citizens, but again, you don't just get citizenship by marrying a U.S. citizen. You still must emigrate to here, become a permanent legal resident, and live here for at least three years (it's five if you don't marry a U.S. citizen).

Short answer - it is strictly necessary for you to emigrate. The only exception would be if you are already a citizen through jus sanguinis or jus soli.

Stephen said...

*LOVE* the Dylan shout-out...

Stephen said...

"You need something to make it known
That it's you and no one else that owns
That spot that yer standing, that space that you're sitting
That the world ain't got you beat
That it ain't got you licked
It can't get you crazy no matter how many
Times you might get kicked
You need something special all right
You need something special to give you hope
But hope's just a word
That maybe you said or maybe you heard
On some windy corner 'round a wide-angled curve"

Definitely one of Dylan's very best.

NickPheas said...

The estimable Croz has the whole concert as mp3's on http://croz.fm/files/president_barack_obama.php

Robert Rodger said...

As an American, let me assure you that in our hearts you are American in spirit. I say this because you are all American in spirit, we just haven't assimiliated you all yet. But we'll get to it someday.

Robert Rodger said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrew Rilstone said...

:)

I am reminded of Mr. Salman Rushdie's entry in Pseud's Corner: "I declare myself a citizen of Sarajevo, although I have never been there..."