10 months to citizenship. I am going to do it.

[Krikit 1,163]

One of our friends was telling us about her SIL's situation. Her brother's wife is a foreign national and she is here as a PR. They were pursuing citizenship because her brother's health is failing and he wanted to ensure his wife is looked after. Apparently, after he dies, if she goes back to her home country to be with her family she cannot continue to receive a widow's pension as PR's who leave the country are no longer entitled. I find that kind of harsh.

Edited January 12, 2010 by Krikit

[Lona.C. 16]

I never thought i would change my citizenship but as time pass by and learning about german laws

well i lived in canada as a PR for almost 20 years never gave up my german citizenship ,

but I got curiouse and looked into what to do to be dual citizen and I couldnt belive it ,

the german Gov actualy want you to aply for some kinda cert

about a year before you aply for another citizenship and pay around 700 euros

to be able to keep the german citizenship,

and since i dont see a point in aplying and paying for something that I was born into

and should have the right to keep on my own choice reguardless if I take on another citizenship

just to have it on a piece of papper proving my citizenship to a country I know i will never return to live

( other then a short visit to my siblings )

yeah it was disapointing to see all the steps I would have to take to keep the german citizenship if i would like to be dual ,

well I came to the decission

if they like to be so ####### and have the power over something only you should have the final say so ,

then yes i think in a year or two I will drop the german citizenship and go for the US citizenship

[Necrotica 0]

My husband wants to pursue his citizenship when the time comes. He's said he's never really felt "at home" in Canada like he does here. Now that he's a truck driver, he wants dual citizenship more than ever since he wants to transport goods between Canada and the US. I will be very happy when he gets his citizenship because then I'm not bound by the Affidavit of Support anymore. That's been weighing on me very heavily.

[bowflex 0]

My wife and I will be filing for her citizenship process as soon as possible (just a few months ). I used to feel very strongly about this but the more I've thought about it the more I realize that it should strictly be the person/couple's business on what route they'll take. While I'd never agree with someone applying for citizenship if it's just to get out of further debt with USCIS in the future, if the person is living and contributing the right way and went through this horrible immigration process already, I say to each their own

Good luck to all!

[Team J and B 2]

I am the foreigner and when the time comes I will file for citizenship. I will still retain my Canadianness, just adding on a new American identity.

If it meant I could only keep one or the other, I'd need to think about it long and hard. But I can have both, so I will.

[trailmix 77]

Yes, citizenship means different things to different people. Perhaps some here are only getting U.S. citizenship out of convenience and not out of true love of the country - or whatever some Americans might deem worthy ideals. However it would seem most, if not all here, have nothing but good intentions toward taking U.S. citizenship.

But seriously, I don't see how any country can expect ALL new citizens to mean this:

I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.

I doubt most people could honestly say (if they love the country of their birth) that they renounce all allegiance to it. In fact, I personally don't understand why it is in the oath at all. Allegiance to the U.S. yes - renouncing allegiance to your home country - I just don't see the point.

They need a polling booth at the swearing in ceremony, as people leave the room they should anonymously answer the question - did you mean that or not?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Yes, citizenship means different things to different people. Perhaps some here are only getting U.S. citizenship out of convenience and not out of true love of the country - or whatever some Americans might deem worthy ideals. However it would seem most, if not all here, have nothing but good intentions toward taking U.S. citizenship.

But seriously, I don't see how any country can expect ALL new citizens to mean this:

I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.

I doubt most people could honestly say (if they love the country of their birth) that they renounce all allegiance to it. In fact, I personally don't understand why it is in the oath at all. Allegiance to the U.S. yes - renouncing allegiance to your home country - I just don't see the point.

They need a polling booth at the swearing in ceremony, as people leave the room they should anonymously answer the question - did you mean that or not?

If their response to that question is "No", then they should maintain their LPR status.

I don't agree with the portion about taking up arms, nobody should be forced to fight a war, no matter what. But the rest seems fairly reasonable. I think the nature of how each nation was formed has a bit to do with the oath of citizenship.

[Flames9_RN 358]

No problem about taking up arms--and not just because I'm an ex-milt arty guy--Just because Freedom isn't free. Millions of soldiers have given their lives for our freedom--off my soapbox,lol

[Emancipation 2]

I'm doing it for the step kids.. that is all.

The money (should there be any) in the event of something happening to my DH will not be taxed to death ( I've read that perm. residents are taxed at a higher rate).. and therefore once the bills are paid there will be more to give to the kids..

That's it.. My only reason.

Oh and to stick it to the man (aka USELESS- USCIS)

[Allie 5]

Yes, citizenship means different things to different people. Perhaps some here are only getting U.S. citizenship out of convenience and not out of true love of the country - or whatever some Americans might deem worthy ideals. However it would seem most, if not all here, have nothing but good intentions toward taking U.S. citizenship.

But seriously, I don't see how any country can expect ALL new citizens to mean this:

I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.

I doubt most people could honestly say (if they love the country of their birth) that they renounce all allegiance to it. In fact, I personally don't understand why it is in the oath at all. Allegiance to the U.S. yes - renouncing allegiance to your home country - I just don't see the point.

They need a polling booth at the swearing in ceremony, as people leave the room they should anonymously answer the question - did you mean that or not?

This is exactly where I'm having my problem in taking US Citizenship. I just cannot get by stating that I renounce and avoid allegiance and fidelity to Canada. It would be very easy for me to just go along knowing I don't really mean what I say but it would be a false oath.

I don't think I can let Canada out of my heart and renounce my birth Country under oath

My problem is in no way a knock against people who want and take out Citizenship. It's just something I can't seem to overcome.

[The_Dude 1,142]

This is exactly where I'm having my problem in taking US Citizenship. I just cannot get by stating that I renounce and avoid allegiance and fidelity to Canada. It would be very easy for me to just go along knowing I don't really mean what I say but it would be a false oath.

I don't think I can let Canada out of my heart and renounce my birth Country under oath

My problem is in no way a knock against people who want and take out Citizenship. It's just something I can't seem to overcome.

I don't think anyone would fault you for that.

[Arabella 4]

The other day I was at a birthday party and a woman there was sharing how she immigrated 2 years ago from Canada on a K1 Visa. I asked her if she is going to become a US citizen, and she said she would lose her Canadian retirement if she did that.

True?

[Allie 5]

The other day I was at a birthday party and a woman there was sharing how she immigrated 2 years ago from Canada on a K1 Visa. I asked her if she is going to become a US citizen, and she said she would lose her Canadian retirement if she did that.

True?

The Old Age Security pension is like a large pie divided into 40 equal portions. If you qualify for the "full pension," you are entitled to receive all 40 portions each month. If you qualify for a "partial pension," you will receive some, but not all, of the 40 portions each month. Whether you qualify for a full or partial pension depends on how long you've lived in Canada. See below for more details.

Full Pension

Normally, if you meet the conditions in either of the two categories below, you qualify for a full pension:

Category 1 -

You lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18.

Category 2 - You were 25 years of age or over on July 1, 1977, and;

resided in Canada, or;

had some prior residence in Canada after age 18, or;

were in possession of a valid Canadian Immigration Visa and

You resided in Canada for the 10 years immediatelyprior to the approval of your application.

If you have not lived in Canada for all of these last 10 years because you gave up residence here at some time, you may still qualify for a full pension if you meet both conditions below:

You lived in Canada for the year immediately before your application was approved.

Prior to these last 10 years, you lived in Canada after age 18 at least 3 times as long as the total of your absences during the last 10 years.

Partial Pension

[Allie 5]

The Old Age Security pension is like a large pie divided into 40 equal portions. If you qualify for the "full pension," you are entitled to receive all 40 portions each month. If you qualify for a "partial pension," you will receive some, but not all, of the 40 portions each month. Whether you qualify for a full or partial pension depends on how long you've lived in Canada. See below for more details.

Full Pension

Normally, if you meet the conditions in either of the two categories below, you qualify for a full pension:

Category 1 -

You lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18.

Category 2 - You were 25 years of age or over on July 1, 1977, and;

resided in Canada, or;

had some prior residence in Canada after age 18, or;

were in possession of a valid Canadian Immigration Visa and

You resided in Canada for the 10 years immediatelyprior to the approval of your application.

If you have not lived in Canada for all of these last 10 years because you gave up residence here at some time, you may still qualify for a full pension if you meet both conditions below:

You lived in Canada for the year immediately before your application was approved.

Prior to these last 10 years, you lived in Canada after age 18 at least 3 times as long as the total of your absences during the last 10 years.

Partial Pension

Partial Pension

If you don't qualify for the full pension and you meet the conditions in either of the situations below, you may qualify for a partial pension. Once a partial pension is approved, the number of portions of the "pie" that you will receive can never be increased. You will, however, qualify for any cost-of-living increases.

Consult the Old Age Security Payment Rates for current rate information.

7. How much is a partial pension?

For each complete year of residence in Canada after age 18, you earn 1 of the 40 portions available in the pension. In other words, if you lived in Canada for 10 years after age 18, you would qualify to receive 10 portions which is equal to one-quarter of the full pension.

[Allie 5]

Can I receive CPP payments outside Canada?

Yes, provided you meet all eligibility conditions, payments are made anywhere in the world.