Big Papa Zone

Lived here for 15 years now, and kept my UK mobile phone the whole time. And UK bank account. There’s something very reassuring about knowing that everything you need to restart your life in the UK (should you ever need to) is right there.

I chose citizenship (over staying a greencard holder) for several reasons:
- Desire to be able to vote
- Desire to "be done with it"; no more USCIS, ever, and it would be very difficult for them to kick me out now.
- Desire to be able to live where-ever I want, and return to the USA; while we have no plans to move back to Europe, I want that option to be open, especially once we retire. Being a US citizen means I won;t have to justify me being out of the country for more than 6 months, or fear loosing my greencard.
- Desire to have the same citizenship as my kids

I'm here! Jet lagged but alive! POE went fairly smooth in Vegas also

"Chocolate in Britain has a higher fat content...."
Something from here that's less fatty than something from there? me, that's a first isn't it?

This. THIS! Goose fat. Yes.

From chocolate, to yorkies, to roasties. Awesomesauce.
My Mum said she uses goose fat instead of olive oil to coat roasties at Christmas, not exactly healthy but her spuds are epic!

That's what we have KASH2011 for. ;-)

I imagine it is because they cannot verify it is you over the phone; it is for your own privacy and safety.

It's funny how so many of us see it in so many different ways. From my own perspective, I've been back in England for three weeks - and I can't ###### wait to get back to Uncle Sam. I only came home in the first place to try and save my marriage *FAIL* and now, when I've no reason to stick around anymore, I see the UK for what it is, certainly compared to the U.S - a tired, sick old man "on the bones of its @rse" as my old Mum would say.
Wages here (for an ordinary working guy) are little more than slave labour, and as for having any chance of getting on the property ladder?? Forget it!!!!!!! My Mum's very modest semi in Southampton (not London, not the beautiful West Country, SOUTHAMPTON) is worth 250,000 GBP - it's farcical. Conversely, an ordinary working man Stateside can find affordable areas in which buy a house, which, by UK standards, is a dream home. Perhaps it's different if you're an educated professional, but from an ordinary blue-collar guy's perspective? The US wins out hands down. And just as soon as I've sorted my train-wreck of a life out, I'm headed back out there - and I'm NEVER coming back.

OK, well I think my next question's fairly obvious!! PM me if you must.

I had, and successfully passed my interview on the 22nd September. I didn't get my oath letter until the 18th November - 57 days later. Point being, I really wouldn't be fretting about it after 18 days. Relax - it's coming.

Can't quite believe it - seems like yesterday I was waiting on NOA 2 in Blighty like so many of you are today. On the piss tonight!

I am so extra proud of you Daymo because I shared the whole journey with you here on VJ. So much happened to get to this point, that it is quite an accomplishment to reach the END of everything USCIS after almost seven years.
Thanks for posting. I have been thinking about you and excited all week knowing FINALLY you would be done this morning. Keep in touch.

Congratualtions fellow Missourian!!

I'm a US citizen. Job done!

No, you will NOT need a new green card first.
There are two different experiences I've read about
-At your interview they will ask you to sign a sworn statement saying that you lost your green card.
If you search the forums you'll find that several people passed their interviews after having lost their cards.
One such case was in the last couple of weeks.
-Some applicants filed a police report and took that with them to the interview. Here is such a case:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/304585-lost-green-card-for-naturalization-interview/
You'll see that this applicant was told he did not have to get a new green card.
You only need a new green card if the one you lost would have expired before you become a citizen.

Hahaha...how quickly you forget Mr. America (in 3 days). There have always been confused people on here.

You know what would be awesome? If people said "yeah, that sucks, I'm sorry you feel that way" when someone expresses her sadness, anger or frustration with the system instead of criticizing her and saying "oh yeah, look how bad I have it" or "your situation isn't as bad as you think."
You don't know. You just don't freakin' know how bad it can be in someone else's head.
If you can't handle empathy, at least try sympathy.
And for real, the timeline. It doesn't help anyone worth a damn.
Canadianmama, I hope everything works out for you soon, love.

Happy Thanksgiving to you. Ready for football now. Texas A&M vs LSU.

A lousy $680? To be done with USCIS forever? To quote The Who: "I'd call that a bargain............the best I ever had.."

May I compliment you on your excllent use of the word "tossers", Buckyball. I was unaware such phrases were commonplace in Germany!

Congratulations Damian P!!!! Awesome news!
Congratulations also to everyone else who finished their journey! And hopefully all the June filers will be done with their journey soon!

Finally!!!!! Got the text message/email notification that there'd been movement in my case today. Sure enough, the online status had changed to "your oath has been scheduled."
So, I still don't have the letter - but at least I know it's on its way!!!!!

A lousy $680? To be done with USCIS forever? To quote The Who: "I'd call that a bargain............the best I ever had.."

Absolutely worth it:
- Peace of mind of being done with immigration, even if I end up moving back to Ireland for a few years, I can come back anytime, they can't kick me out, they can't come to my house to check my laundry basket etc etc.
- Voting. I am interested in politics and I want to be able to vote in local and national elections.
- Jobs. Even for non-federal jobs, it is so much easier to get a job when you can say "I am a US citizen" on your resume, especially when most of your work experience is abroad.