Redneck-NOVA

Thanks for linking the I-130 guide. 

Does anyone have inputs on my other questions? Thanks in advance! 

Hello, 

I'm a naturalized US citizen and I'm thinking of filing for GC for my parents who are Russian citizens residing in Russia. I have a few questions: 

• Is there a guide that outlines key steps in the process and required documents at a high level (I reviewed the information on USCIS website and it's rather confusing, sends you between multiple pages, etc.)? 
• What are the current fees for this? 
• What is the current approximate processing time for this, from filing for I-130 through receipt of the visa? 
• Is it possible to do the embassy portion of the process in a third country (Russian embassy currently doesn't process any visas and there is no reopening date in the near future)? 
• What are the physical presence requirements to maintain the GC?  

Thanks! 

To offer a clarification of the differences between countries recognizing dual citizenship and the US. I have citizenship in my birth country Canada and as a Naturalized American. Canada recognizes and allows their citizens to have citizenship in other countries at the same time as they have Canadian citizenship. The US does not - they view everyone as a US citizen regardless of whether they are also citizens in another country or not. The US is not able to take away or revoke another country's citizenship, and while they could force everyone taking out US citizenship to take the steps to renounce citizenship in the countries where they are also citizens, they do not. They just don't recognize it. The most obvious way this manifests for me is that if I travel outside of the US I can use either my Canadian or American passport for travel but I MUST use my American passport for re-entry to the US. I can use either my American or Canadian passport to travel to Canada and it does not affect my status as a Canadian. Canada recognizes me as both a Canadian and an American citizen.

Each country sets the laws that govern the citizenship requirements for themselves. Other countries do not have the authority to change those citizenship laws. They can, however, refuse to recognize them in certain circumstances, which is basically what the US does for 'dual' citizens living within the US. As far as the US is concerned - they are all only Americans.

As for the Ukraine - I would definitely accept Gary and Alla's advice on the Ukraine's stance on Ukraine citizens taking out US citizenship.

Thank you, very good explanation.

+100

Why would they detain a U.S citizen in Germany? Makes no sense. He can travel to Germany at any time as a visitor. I don't get this thread. Who cares if the U.S. recognizes other citizenships or not. You do not lose U.S citizenship. Period. To make it simple: Your wife would travel to the Ukraine using her Ukranian citizenship and when she travels back, she uses her American passport.

If you don't get this thread then you should read it agin. They detained this particular US Citizen in Germany because he commited a crime under German law. Using fraudulent documents to enter Germany is a crime, very simple. And a person who is no longer a German citizen trying to use German passport is commiting fraud. That's why he got arrested. Makes perfect sense. If you rob someone in Germany, you will be arrested if caught. US citizen or not - doesn't matter. Well, using fraudulent documents is a serious crime, just like robbery. Makes sense now?

And you CAN loose your US citizenship. It's very hard and unlikely but you can.

And once again, DON'T give people wrong advices if you don't know what you are talking about. His wife WILL NOT have Ukrainian citizenship any longer, as soon as she becomes a US citizen. Not under US law (US law doesn't govern Ukrainian citizenship), but under Ukrainian law. And if she attempts to use her Ukrainian passport to enter Ukraine, she can be in some serious trouble. Please read the thread again - all information is already here.

You can renew your Russian passport here because Russia does no tprohibit dual citizenship with the United States. Ukraine does. Ukrainians wishing to keep both passports in violation of UKRAINIAN law, need to renew their Ukrainian passports in Ukraine and keep their mouths shut.

I know that and you are absolutely right and that is exactly what I said. Not arguing with you - as I said you got it 100% right - I'm arguing with some less knowledgeble people here who are trying to misinform others.

Im not exactly sure what the OP is looking for, but Im not sure hes getting his answers.

Im not dual, but Ill give you what I know.

I know a person who is dual Canadian/Polish. He carries both passports. From Poland, he is required by law to do x amount of years in the military. He must do this as he is a citizen. When he travels to Poland, he uses his Polish passport. When he travels anywhere else, he uses his Canadian Passport. He can give up his polish citizenship and he wont be required to put in his years into their military.

I also know alot of British/Canadian duals, and US/Canadian duals. When they go to the USA they use there American passport, when they come back to Canada, they enter back in on there Canadian.

Now, to my understanding, border guards dont like this, and I believe it is illigal to carry 2 passports. But when entering your own country ... ie: going to canada with canadian passport, they cannot deny you entry into your own county, and when going to the USA using the USA passport, again they cannot deny you entry into your own country.

When carrying dual citizenship, it is up to the citizen to reconise both countries laws. This is why USA doesnt like dual. It can be very confusing.

Are you reading what others posted above? Then why are you posting obviously incorrect things?

1) There is NO dual citizenship with the US. NONE. Just becasue you have another passport and another citizenship and US State Department doesn't care, does't make it dual citizenship

2) No, it is generally NOT illegal to carry multiple passports as long as they are legally issued to you.

3) It is however illegal in most countries (not in all, but for sure it is illegal in the US) for a citizen to enter on any other passport than the one issued by this country. They let you in the US on your US passport, even if you have the canadian one in the other hand, not because "they have no choice, it's your country", but because that is exactly how you are supposed to do it.

To sum it all up. US ALWAYS views any US citizen as ONLY a US citizen and doesn't recognize any other citizenships s/he may have. US also requires you to renounce your previous citizenships when becming a US citizen - read the text of Naturalization Oath. Hence, there is no dual citizenship.

However, since other countries' laws and procedures in regard to renouncing one's citizenship vary vastly, placing undue hardships on the person, up to sheer impossibility of doing that, State Department doesn't seek and punish those who didn't take any further steps to renounce their original citizenship. However, people who ACTIVELY SEEK retention or restoration of their original citizenship are already entering a grey zone. If wind changes and US State Dept decides to strictly enforce laws that are already on the books, these people might have their US citizenship revoked.

This is how US views it. How your other country (ies) of citizenship look at it, is a whole different question. Answers to this question vary from "don't give a sh!t, have as many citizenship as you want" to "just say a word of allegiance to another country and your birth citizenship is gone". As we just saw, Ukraine and Russia whos laws and heritage are largely similar and who used to be the same country 20 years ago, have a very different approach to this issue. Know the laws of the country if you hold it's passport - that's the best advice.

You have some misconceptions. You can ignore my reply as I am not a dual citizen or you can learn. Your choice.

The US does not recognze dual citizenship, nor dooes it forbid "dual" (or triple or quadruple) citizenship. Yes, you can keep your foreign citizenship as far as the US is concerned, they simply do not care.

Ukraine specifically DOES NOT allow dual citizenship. It is illegal. Ukraine requires that you surrender your Ukrainian citizenship to become a US citizen. Ukraine also has no way to enforce this and the US doesn't tell them. Although Alla is not a dual citizen yet, we know several people that "are". Or at least have two passports. When entering countries like Ukraine which do not require visas for US citizens, they typically use their US passport. When entering a country like Russia, they use the Ukrainian passport. They re-new their Ukrainian passporst IN UKRAINE while visiting Ukraine. They make no mention that they are US citizens also. They present their UNexpired Ukraine passport and Ukraine birth certificate. DO NOT allow your Ukraine passport to expire for ease of renewal. You can renew it UP TO two years before it expires, so you do no thave to specifically "time" a visit to renew the passport.

The main advantage of keeping both (and we intend to) is for ease of travel in Russia and former Soviet states it is a good idea and also because if anything ever happens to me, Alla can have a choice, stay here or return to Ukraine with no hassles whatsoever.

Ok, I'm a current "dual" citizen (or I should better say a citizen of 2 countries simultaneously) and I must say that "Gary and Alla" is right on all counts.

This is exactly the way US views your citizenship. US certianly DOES NOT recognize dual citizenship and only views a US citizen as a US citizen. In fact, technically, you are required to renouce your previous citzenships when becoming a US citizen, and you do so when you say your Naturalization Oath. The only reason that you are able to keep other citizenships is due to the fact that your other country of citizenship doesn't recognize your Oath as a renounciation of their citizenship (i.e. they have a different official procedure for that) and US State Department doesn't hold this inconsistancy against you.

It didn't always used to be like that. Back in 80s, people were threatened by US CBP agents that their US citizenship will be revoked if they keep using their other passport for travel and don't take proactive steps to renounce their previous citizenship. Evidently, it still happens every now and then, but becoming rare. So don't get all cocky about your "dual" citizenship - it's not really dual and the only reason you can keep both is because the law on the books is simply not enforced.

I cannot attest to Ukrainian law, but judging by "Gary and Alla" competency in everything else, I have no reason to doubt what they said. As for the Russian law, it treats "dual" citizenship in the same exact fashion as the US. It doesn't officialy recognize dual citizenship, but unlike Ukraine doesn't prohibit it either. They do however, much like the US, recognize the possibity of having more than one citizenship, hence the related question on Russian passport application and certain laws that prevent people from taking certain elected positions if they have more than one citizenship.

Russia, just like the US, views you ONLY as a Russian citizen, and therefore, will not issue you a Russian visa into your American passport and recognize your American citizenship in any way. However, since while both countries require you to use their respective passports to travel in and out of the country, while not prohibiting such practice, I do travel to and from Russia with both passports.

The process is the following:

- Leaving the US - present both passports at check in and Russian passport at boarding

- Entering Russia - present Russian passport at the border

- Leaving Russia - present both passports at check in, Russian passport at the border and US passport at boarding

- Entering US - present US passport at the border

Did it once and haven't had any issues, even though it's slightly confusing.

Another thing is that since having 2 citizenships isn't prohibited, I can also legally renew my Russian passport in the US, through Russian embassy. The process is long (6 months+, compared to 1 month in Russia) and painful (you have to be physically present at the Embassy/Consulate - not a big deal for me, living 25 miles from Washington DC - but if you are in rural Montana, it might cost you time and money) , but it's possible. I even submit a copy of my US passport as a proof of my legal presence in the US to Russian embassy.

Done!

Oath Ceremony took about 2 hours and was pretty neatly organized despite some waiting time. Will write more later. Thanks to everyone for their support and help and best of luck to all those who are still on their way...

UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office

Alyssa84............07/02/09...07/06/09...07/29/09....08/13/09...09/18/09...09/28/09...Saint Paul, MN

abyss ..............07/21/09...07/30/09...08/17/09....08/24/09...10/27/09...11/04/09...Seattle, WA

big al .............07/21/09...07/28/09...08/19/09....09/17/09...10/27/09...11/18/09...Sacramento CA

Leviathan23.........07/22/09...07/31/09...08/17/09....09/02/09...11/09/09...12/16/09...Milwaukee, WI

Mooonika............07/23/09...07/28/09...08/29/09....09/06/09.. 11/10/09...12/09/09...Honolulu, HI

Philipsen...........07/24/09...07/28/09...08/19/09....09/05/09...10/21/09...--/--/--...Phoenix, AZ

Ohiobuck............07/31/09...08/03/09...08/26/09....09/03/09...10/15/09...--/--/--...Columbus, Ohio

ilto................08/04/09...08/17/09...09/01/09....09/12/09...10/29/09...--/--/--...Salt Lake City, UT

walls1010...........08/05/09...08/17/09...09/01/09....09/12/09...10/19/09...11/18/09...San Bernardino, CA

Giss................08/08/09...08/17/09...09/08/09....09/18/09...11/12/09...12/03/09...Los Angeles,CA

hussamk.............08/12/09...08/18/09...09/09/09....10/08/09...11/20/09...--/--/--...Sacramento, CA

Leah................08/17/09...08/21/09...09/24/09....11/05/09...12/10/09...--/--/--...Detroit, MI

fine&jadwin.........08/17/09...08/25/09...09/11/09....10/09/09...11/17/09...11/18/09...Sacramento, CA

elishav.............08/20/09...08/28/09...09/22/09....10/05/09...11/23/09...12/16/09...Sacramento, CA

pmkroger............08/20/09...08/25/09...09/18/09....10/07/09...11/02/09...12/03/09...San Bernardino, CA

lansbury............08/21/09...08/28/09...09/22/09....10/13/09...12/01/09...12/02/09...Portland, OR

runaway73...........08/24/09...09/03/09...09/30/09....10/09/09...11/12/09...12/11/09...San Jose, CA

Uday................08/26/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...10/26/09...11/04/09...Saint Paul, MN

USCIS Lockbox Texas

UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office

Fasi99..............07/06/09...07/10/09...08/04/09....08/17/09...09/30/09...--/--/--...Detroit, MI

ahastop.............07/06/09...07/09/09...08/01/09....10/28/09...11/30/09...--/--/--...Garden City, NY

java100us...........07/08/09...08/12/09...09/04/09....09/22/09...10/20/09...10/20/09...Baltimore, MD

Tsup2...............07/10/09...07/17/09...07/30/09....10/01/09...11/02/09...11/02/09...Denver, CO

Anya-D..............07/14/09...07/22/09...08/10/09....08/18/09...09/28/09...10/16/09...Raleigh, NC

MisterWorry.........07/15/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....08/20/09...09/28/09...10/29/09...Dallas, TX

Collie..............07/15/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....09/--/09...09/28/09...10/22/09...Dallas, TX

PrinceandPrincess...07/17/09...07/24/09...08/15/09....08/24/09...09/29/09...09/29/09...Dallas, TX

CanAmCharlotte......07/17/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....08/19/09...10/05/09...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC

Satyam..............07/17/09...07/23/09...08/12/09....09/04/09...10/13/09...10/15/09...New Orleans, LA

*Robert*............07/20/09...07/23/09...08/14/09....09/03/09...10/07/09...10/30/09...Orlando, FL

SSharma.............07/20/09...08/04/09...08/20/09....09/04/09...10/13/09...10/29/09...Dallas, TX

zombie2006..........07/21/09...07/30/09...08/13/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC

amana1..............07/22/09...09/27/09...08/18/09....09/05/09...10/14/09...--/--/--...Dover, DE

vtguy...............07/22/09...07/31/09...08/18/09....08/31/09...10/06/09...10/26/09...St Albans, VT

display name........07/22/09...08/03/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Puerto Rico

Italian_in_NYC......07/27/09...08/01/09...08/20/09....09/22/09...11/10/09...11/13/09...New York, NY

Redneck-NOVA........07/28/09...07/29/09...08/21/09....09/14/09...10/15/09...12/10/09...Fairfax, VA

Koo.................07/28/09...08/01/09...08/18/09....10/01/09...11/12/09...--/--/--...Atlanta, GA

hrushka.............08/05/09...08/11/09...09/02/09....10/01/09...11/16/09...11/16/09...Atlanta, GA

Vj..................08/06/09...08/10/09...09/03/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Raleigh, NC

Bj..................08/06/09...08/11/09...09/09/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Raleigh, NC

Jesti...............08/10/09...08/13/09...09/04/09....09/21/09...11/06/09...12/17/09...San Antonio, TX

dasarp..............08/14/09...08/17/09...08/27/09....09/10/09...10/20/09...--/--/--...Dallas, Texas

Chris W.............08/17/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Portland,OR

Rebelheart..........08/20/09...08/24/09...10/09/09....11/03/09...12/07/09...02/--/10...Atlanta, GA ( waiting for requested Judicial Oath )

TheGMan.............08/20/09...08/25/09...09/17/09....10/03/09...11/10/09...01/11/10...Saint Albans, VT

Bilson4real.........08/21/09...08/26/09...10/01/09....11/05/09...12/07/09...12/18/09...Raleigh, NC

Raleigh2009.........08/26/09...09/03/09...09/22/09....11/06/09...12/07/09...12/18/09...Raleigh, NC

nayalamb............08/24/09...08/27/09...09/25/09....10/21/09...12/08/09...--/--/--...Philadelphia,PA

michaillah07........08/25/09...08/27/09...09/21/09....10/08/09...11/18/09...--/--/--...Jacksonville, FL

legolas.............08/28/09...09/03/09...09/24/09....10/08/09...11/17/09...12/11/09...Baltimore, MD

Mom2LilNoah.........08/28/09...09/02/09...10/06/09....11/02/09...12/08/09...--/--/--...Atlanta, GA

4keerthi............02/18/09...02/23/09...10/21/09....11/02/09...12/01/09...12/01/09...Atlanta,GA

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Thanks, I was afraid that I might have to make an info-pass appointment. The office is a 2 hour drive for me, which pretty much means an entire day wasted.

Don't waste your time on Infopass - they will tell you the same 120 days bullshit there. Contact your Senators and get them involved. That was the only way for me to break through the USCIS desinformation wall when I was in the same situation recently.

We may need draft if the president keeps sending troops around the world at the current speed and stamina.

It is better to spread it than putting the entire burden on a group of people who volunteered for several reasons.

In my opinion, being for draft is the definition of patriotism. If you are against draft you are unpatriotic.

Patriotism doesn't mean risking your life for the game government is playing. Defeding your country from invasion is one thing, fighting on a foreign soil for the interests of some corporation or government officials is another. While not willing to do the former may indicate lack of patriotism, not willing to the latter indicates...well, inteliigence, common sense and presence of basic instincs like self preservation.

Mandatory draft is an awful thing. On the other hand, professional military members, much like professional LEOs willingly picked a job to risk their life according to order of their superiors. Both military and LEOs also get a lot of benefits for that. Civilians, on the other hand, have no such obligation.

except that it means that after the ceremony you are still on the hook as a citizen if you leave the country, whereas an LPR can skip off

Not that a citizen can't skip off and live abroad during this time... You may be on the hook, but it's not like they will extradite you from a third country just to draft you.

Either way, I don't see draft happening unless it is a serious invasion on US soil (which I don't see happening either anytime soon). Yes, during Vietnam there was a draft for a useless war, but that's exactly one of the reasons why it wouldn't happen again. Anti war moods are strong enough now even with volantary draft, if any administration was ever to press for a mandatory one for a war on foreign soil...forget about it.

Not sure if I am amused or bugged about the post cards my boys had received when they turned 18 as natural born USC's.

We know your is name is, you live at so and so, you were born on a date so and so, worked out to be 18 years prior to them receiving their card, we know your SSN is, but if you fail to sign and return this card in ten days, you can get up to one year in prison and a $10,000.00.

That's pretty stiff...

Apparently selective service does not keep track of LPR, would think the USCIS would report them when they first received their green cards. There was just a small message to that effect they have to register that came with a brochure when you first receive your green cards.

Actually USCIS does register you with the selective service...sometimes. I got my GC in October 2006 (was 24 at the time) and I revcieved my SS registration card in mail in the end of November. I never registered myself because I had no clue I had to. So in a way I'm thankful to USCIS (or whoever else did that) for doing it for me.

Has me wondering if the USCIS keeps track of anything, like giving you a warning your green card is going to expire, or demanding a copy of that green card or USC certificate in case yours is lost or stolen.

I never recieved any reminder to file I-751, but I read about the people who did on this forum. I assume that much like with other USCIS stuff it'#######-or-miss.

Read that the greatest number of illegals here are due to overstayed I-94's, not everyone crosses the dessert, so apparently they are not keeping track of that either. But they do ask you on your application if you had ever overstayed your I-94, is that because they don't know?

Really a screwed up agency like most of our other governmental agencies.

That is very true...

Really don't have to sweat it period, if you are a female. Only males have to register.

It's interesting than no one filed some kind of discrimination lawsuit about that... I guess you only ###### about equal rights when it benefits you, not the other way around..

I think everyone is missing a very important fact here and that is Russia will not allow dual citizenship. My wife checked into this a while back just to be prepared for our future children.

It's possible for the child to obtain Russian citizenship but the American father has to renounce the child's U.S. citizenship on his behalf. Not a smart thing to do.

Typical mistake. Both Russia and the US don't RECOGNIZE dual citizenship, but they don't BAN it. Meaning that US will only treat you as a US citizen and Russia will only treat you as a Russian citizen, but other than that there is nothing on the books prohibiting having 2 citizenships.

Actually, even above is not enitrely correct since US WILL ask you about other citizenships you have on most background check forms and decising on whether to grant you security clearance might be influenced by this depending on circumstances.

Russia, in it's turn, will not allow you to run for any high office in the country if you have any other citizenships other then Russian. If I remember correctly, this law was passed in 90s when many Russian Jews would go to Israel, get citizenship (very easy, you basically become a citizen of Israel once you step your foot on Israel's soil, as long as you can prove Jewish descent), then come back to Russia as a dual citizen, get elected into one position or another and start stealing money or whatever else was there to steal, and when it gets too hot for them they would go back to Israel without any fear of prosecution.

hi, everyone.

thank you for your help.

Can anyone give me some information on how to contact a senator? I had my citizenchip interview on Oct 14 and I'm still waiting for the oath letter,when I called this number 1800 375 5283 my file in the interview process, and I must wait 90 days to check again when i told her that i already had my interview.

I need to travel outside USA now, is it safe ?

thanks

Wow, you have it worse than me. I had my interview on October 15th and my Oath is coming up next week - 2 months after the interview. Don't waste your time calling the USCIS disinformation line - they will just read you your online status that never changes after "your case has been sent to local office for stadard interview" and if you get through to an actual human being (not the talking parrot that can read off the website - what a crappy job, by the way) aka 2nd level IO, he/she will tell you that you need to allow 120 days after the interview to inquire about the oath. Infopass will be just as useless.

It's all bullshit. While 120 days wait is what law actually says, the reality now is much faster. So if you had no issues on the intreview and were recommended for approval and have been waiting for that long, chances are your case is misplaced.

The only way to push it through is to write to your Senator. Be polite, but show that you are pissed off. Even if Senator simply inquires about your case, they cannot give them same bullshit response they would give you - they will have to find it and give him an actual status. It might be all it takes to get an Oath date scheduled. When our Senator did that, he came back to us within a week with an Oath date. The letter itself came in another week .

Good luck!

That's a twisted statement. I always thought that honoring any oath is a proper thing to do if you took this oath volounterely and in good faith. The real problem is that the country decayed to the point when no one takes any oaths seriously and even elected officials all the way to the oval office do not honor the oath of office. What happened to "defend and protect the Constitution...against all enemies - foregn and domestic"!?!?!?

I am sorry you don't agree. By your statement the country was decaying before the ink was dry on the Declaration of Independance. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..." The enslavement of African-Americans, the decimation of entire Native American populations etc. took place under a government that declared itself using these words.

Horrible horrible things have been done in the name of issuing unconditional allegiance. Classical organizational theory has sent millions of people efficiently to slaughter and all they were doing was upholding "oaths" to their government and superiors. NO THANK YOU!

By the way, don't assume you know my political stance on anything. Frankly, I could care less about gun control. Have guns, don't have guns. It's all gravy. Just don't force me to use them against the person you pre-ordained the enemy.

Actually, I'm not a big fan of oaths like that myself and I certainly don't want to blindly follow government. I was simply saying that "honoring the oath you took in good faith" is a right and honest thing to do. The fact that oaths sometimes make you say retarded things is a whole different story.

Yikes, I didn't realize this kind of question was going to be asked for my future husband. He's from the UK and like a majority of his country, thinks gun control is extremely important and that Americans are too gun-happy.

I'm inclined to agree, especially with a Constitution that has amendments for a reason...

Now, I come from a strong military family and my dad is a colonel, so I very much support our troops, especially as they put their lives in danger for our country. It's more about Congress that I wouldn't agree with who have the power to involve the U.S. in wars, but I guess there's no stopping them except for voting them out.

*sigh*

Gun control in the UK is only an issue if you want to own one legally, illegally not a problem.

I prefer the US system. Gives you a chance.

Please stop jacking threads. This is not about gun control. Your off-topic snide comments to people are all over this board. There are plenty of places on the internet for what you are looking for. People have politely asked you to stop, so please stop.

Actually, she mentioned gun control first. As NickD pointed out, the Oath statement about bearing arms has absolutely nothing to do with the 2nd Amendment. But when you start talking about morals of bearing arms, these 2 subjects mix and I was partially guilty in taking this thread somewhat offtopic by making comments about Right to bear arms. However, it was Justine+David who mentioned gun control first, so don't scream at Boiler just because you disagree with his statement and agree with hers. We see enough of this tactic in congress and media, it's really not cool

I wasn't making any kind of statement regarding his opinions, only that they be given context to immigration issues. She was voicing concern about the oath and giving it context to her future husband in Britain, he was making a comment about gun control laws.

Boiler made another comment on a forum about someone discussing the demise of their international marriage with "Just sounds like another latin marriage". Talk about kicking someone while they are down. It's ####### like that I take an issue with. Visajourney is one of a kind site about marriage immigration issues and I hope it stays that way.

That's not true. Read the thread again - she was in fact the first one who mentioned gun control and he just replied. As for what he did or didn't post before - I don't know about it so I cannot judge either way.

I dont fit into any stereotype easily ..

I'm also not as straight forward as I might seem... Here is my take

I am against capital punishment coz I think a life in prison is X times worse

I used to think so too, but not anymore. Several reasons why:

1) Yes, it would seem to anyone that life in prison is much worse than quick death, but human phychology plays funny games with persons mind when such person is put in what seems to be a dead end situation. They found hope and live day by day hoping to get an appeal, a parole, a pardon or simply escape. Logically they realize that none of that is likely to happen, but in their mind it's their light in the end of the tunnel. They have nothing to lose too, so they are more likely to go to any extremes to escape.

2) Keeping a person in jail costs A LOT of money. Why a criminal who killed or raped someone gets free room and board, free healthcare, free library, free activities all on tax payers dime? That's just unfair. Imagine a person in his 20s is locked up for life and he ends up living until he is 70 for example. 50 years of free life paid on our dime for killing an innocent person? I don't think it's fair at all.

3) Even if the case is crystal clear and there is no possiblity of parole or appeal, there is always a chance to escape. Some people that commit certain crimes should NO chance to see the light of day again, by any means. Put them down and get it over is.

I have a pistol and a concealed carry permit and AR-15 assault rifle (US version of Kalashnikov) but I am PRO tight gun control/required training /locked up guns etc

Define what you mean by tight gun control in this matter. I hang out around many gun web boards and sometimes I see such reckless cowboy attitudes there, that I'd actually agree with both training requirments, mandatory safes at homes, and mental health evaluations similar to those law enforcement officers have to clear. The only problem I see here is that gun rights erode one thing at a time and anti-gunners wouldn't stop no matter how much they get, in fact they will want more and more. This is an eternal struggle between gun right groups and anti-gun groups in this country and I don't think compromise is possible so both sides have to take extreme positions.

You saw what happened in your home country - first came licensing, then registraion, then partial bans, then confiscations. I don't want to see it go down that way here. I wish there was a compromise like everyone should get training, mental evaluation and get issued a license; but after that no more attempts to ban guns or confiscate them...but unfortunately examples around the world shows that's it's not possible. Plus, as I mentioned before, I just don't trust the government.

Also, it seems to me that you are being hypocritical on the issue. You admit that you have a CCP, probably pack heat in public and own what anti-gunners call an assault weapon. Seems like a pretty extreme selection of what anti-gunners wet their beds over. I know some hunters and skeet shooters who own a bolt action rifle or an over-and-under shotgun and say that they are against handguns or concealed carry or assault weapons. That I can understand. But seems to me that you are a different case. Seems that you trust yourself with having all this serious weaponry, but don't trust others. While I do understand where you coming from, it seems like a little bit of elitism to me...

I am very anti illegal immigrant/amnesty - but pro universal health care

I'm also very much against illegals. As for the health care... I agree that the idea is good and in theory I'd support it, but in reality I think that it will simply bankrupt the economy even further, at least right now. I don't buy the argument how the proposed reform gonna cut costs either, it's just not feasible.

I am for just defensive wars - but against foolhardy adventures for commercial gain

Would I bear arms for the US ? Yes if the North Koreans were flooding ashore in Seattle. BUT - protect the Afghan heroin poppy fields to please our 'allies' who own them ? Nope.

Apart from that ... the absence of anything bad happening after the Vietnam defeat tells me the reasons for the war were bogus and we could have had cheap shirts 15 years earlier.

Say yes but think hard and be true to yourself would be my answer.. jeez it's great being old and exempt

You whippersnappers have it hard.

Here I agree with every word.

Interesting take on this one - if you're born American you aren't required to swear an oath to bear arms in defence of the country and yet a foreign-born American has to? Seems like discrimination to me. I could understand being asked to swear an allegiance of priority to America over your former domicile, or to relinquish American citizenship and return to your birth country if you couldn't, but allowing a native to opt out while forcing a naturalised citizen seems somewhat unfair.

Yes I thought the only difference between me and a natural born American would be being President but I suspect there is more.

Up to July this year a Washington State Green Card holder could not buy a firearm without a special alien license which was withheld anyway. Only citizens. Now they can and I did on day 1. Nice little CZ .22 target rifle like I had in the UK.

It was changed by the court under the 14th amendment - discrimination.

The law reflected the time when black people could not be citizens and therefore could not have a firearm. The US is moving forward on all fronts - but it will take time.

It's interesting they did that in Washington state - i didn't know. Here in VA it wasn't an issue - you have to present your green card and 3 consecutive months of proof of residence with the same address (bank statements or so) in addition to DL and second form of ID that citizens need, but then you are all good to go. Can easily get a CHP too, and don't even need to show GC there, just attest that you are a citizen or permanent resident.

CZ is a good toy too - well priced and great quality!

I'm not an anarchist, I understand that government is a necessity and it can be useful at times, but I don't trust it and act on my best concience too.

I would swear but with my own definitions in my mind and judging the situation as it unfolds.

If a tyrannical Wasilla based govt takes over in the US I won't bear arms against it ('it' being the combined US armed forces) - I will grab a cheap ticket Seattle-Heathrow one way. Actually I might fly business class.

This dual citizenship thing (Europe/USA) looks better and better

Tyrannical government is in the WH NOW. Bush was bad, real bad, but the "messiah" beats the ###### out of anyone. I'd take Wasilla anytime...

If the constitution was legally amended to exclude all hand gun ownership, would people uphold the amended constitution and hand in their guns ?

I bet some would pick and chose which parts of the constitution (as amended) to uphold.

No offense, but this is a dumb statement. There are always people who don't like some laws, complain about them, or outright ignore them. It's illegal right now for felons to posess handguns or any other guns, but it doesn't seem to stop them does it? Plus, playing "what if" game doesn't prove anything. As of now, the Constitution says what it says and Heller decision last year cleared up the possible interpretations too.

No offense taken - I am married and therefore used to it.

But the post is one big 'what if'.

'What if ' you were called upon to take part in a war which you didn't think was for the defense of the USA and where hundreds of thousands of innocents would die ? - could one sign up for an oath to do that ?

I am pointing out the blank cheque (check) that many are willing to hand to the government when it comes to going to war, but they would take back that check when the government asks for something that takes away from their lives.

Either you trust the government with it's gun control AND wars, or you exercise your discretion when it comes to supporting either of these. In that case we are picking and choosing and I see nothing wrong with that. Handing our lives to the govt in an unreserved manner belongs to the past and that is what oaths seek to do.

Hitler was very keen on oaths as the mind and discretion of the oath taker is switched off and they submit to higher authority who remind them of their oath :

example: >>>

Jungvolk Oath (taken by ten-year-old boys on first entering the Hitler Youth)

"In the presence of this blood banner which represents our Führer, I swear to devote all my energies and my strength to the saviour of our country, Adolf Hitler. I am willing and ready to give up my life for him, so help me God."

I think that swearing to act within one's own concience and with only the finest motives at all times would be a much more admirable thing for a citizen of any country to do.

I would still do the swearing thing though and then act with my own concience which takes precedence.

I don't trust the government with anything, period. I dealt with USCIS for 4 years now, how can I be so stupid to trust government after this?

Seriously, I don't. Not a singe government in the world. None of them have my best interests in mind. Government is a necessary thing and everyone has to deal with them and it's better to find most painless ways to do so, but hell no I don't trust it. Not with wars, not with gun control, not with healthcare, not with social security, no, no, no. That's one of the reasons I oppose gun control too. I don't trust that police will be there when and where I need it, so having a gun gives me a chance should SHTF.

In perfect world only people who are sane, honest, responsible and qualified would have access to weapons, but world ain't perfect. And if you trust government with gun control, they will do what they did both in your home country and in mine - being unable to do anything about criminals, they just disarm the law abiding and tell the sheeple that now it's safe.

I'm not an anarchist, I understand that government is a necessity and it can be useful at times, but I don't trust it and act on my best concience too.

As far as I know, voting itself is NOT a deportable offense. What is in fact a serious offense that may cause deportation, is claiming to be a US Citizen while you are not.

See INA 237(a)(6)(A) "IN GENERAL- Any alien who has voted in violation of any Federal, State, or local constitutional provision, statute, ordinance, or regulation is deportable."

It's ALSO true that falsely claiming citizenship makes one deportable (see INA 237(a)(3)(D)).

You don't have to disclose it on the form since you are not asked this question. The only questions on the form are whether you voted in any election and whether you registered to vote in any election. If you all you did is sign a petition, you can answer "No" to both of this questions and stop there. There is no question like "have you ever signed a petition to support a candidate claiming to be a registered voter."

See part 10, question A1. It asks if you've ever claimed to be a US citizen in writing or in any other way.

I stand corrected on voting statement.

But as far as the questions on the form are concerned, I'd disagree. Claiming to be a citizen is claming to be a citizen. Signing a petition that mentioned nothing about being a citizen is NOT claming to be one. The fact that petition is only open to registered voters who in turn must be citizens doesn't necessarily mean that by signing it you claimed to be a citizen. In the worst case, you signed a petition that you had no right to sign, but it doesn't mean that you claimed to be a citizen, unless petition clearly stated "sign only if you are a Citizen" and even then it's a grey zone.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating doing it and it's clearly better to stay away from such actions. All I'm saying is that it's not as criminal as you make it sound. IMHO and IANAL, YMMV

voulanteerely?

What's your point? As of now, there is no draft in the US, so all people who are in the war zone, joined military voulanteerely. If you join the military, you have to be prepared to fight - that what armies do. If you just would like to run around shooting guns and get basic training in a safe environment, you can always go to Blackwater or any similar organization and pay them top bucks for private training.

"Voulanteerely" is not a word. That was my point.

Voluntary is and Blackwater has a strong advantage of NOT having to follow rules of engagement like the lowest paid guy, now guy or gal, on the totem pole. That doesn't make sense either, even when we had the draft, that guy on the bottom of the totem pole received the lowest pay. Hell, we were well aware, that we were cheaper to the government dead than alive. And even a lot more expensive to them if wounded.

The real crime was the millions of dollars CEO's were making as defense contracts, Ross Perot, even tried to run for president. Guys that were exempt from the draft had daddies rich enough to send them to college, Clinton and that Bush kid fell in that class. John Wayne and Ronald Reagan beat wartime service by making patriotic movies. Surprised John Wayne didn't run for president, but that other guy did. Other of my classmates in high school beat the draft by getting their girlfriends pregnant in high school followed by a shotgun wedding. Really didn't pay to be a clean cut kid.

What really fried my butt is when shopping with my wife, found clothes made in Viet Nam not to mention China that is a first class butt fryer, we saved them during WW II so they joined up with the Soviets right after, still a communist country, but we are pouring in our bucks like crazy, but getting killed in Iraq and Afghanistan so they can have a democracy. So why aren't we doing that in China? China was our biggest enemy during the so called South Korean conflict, can't call that a war as only congress can declare that. So we helped South Korea only to lose a practically all of our ship building industry that left many Wisconsin cities go broke.

Are our leaders insane? Or are they complete traitors to this country? I feel that latter is true. Would be happy to debate anyone of them on this issue. But they are very good at ignoring my letters.

I absolutely agree with you. It's very sad...

voulanteerely?

What's your point? As of now, there is no draft in the US, so all people who are in the war zone, joined military voulanteerely. If you join the military, you have to be prepared to fight - that what armies do. If you just would like to run around shooting guns and get basic training in a safe environment, you can always go to Blackwater or any similar organization and pay them top bucks for private training.

"Voulanteerely" is not a word. That was my point.

Ok, you got me. I made a mistake. I learned English in Russian high school, starting at age 10 and it's not my native language. I think that considering the fact that I only lived in the US for less than 4 years, my English is pretty decent and if I made a mistake so be it. You still got my point, didn't you?

If the constitution was legally amended to exclude all hand gun ownership, would people uphold the amended constitution and hand in their guns ?

I bet some would pick and chose which parts of the constitution (as amended) to uphold.

No offense, but this is a dumb statement. There are always people who don't like some laws, complain about them, or outright ignore them. It's illegal right now for felons to posess handguns or any other guns, but it doesn't seem to stop them does it? Plus, playing "what if" game doesn't prove anything. As of now, the Constitution says what it says and Heller decision last year cleared up the possible interpretations too.