Forms Glorious Forms....

Granted, it's been a while since I've had to be actively involved with the immigration process (the last foray was changing my "temporary resident" status to "permanent resident" status back in 2002), I think I can safely say that I've already experienced more than my fair share of forms....forms and more forms.

The application for citizenship is thankfully only one (from what I can tell, and hope) known as the N-400. I've been spending some time with my new friend N-400 over the last year, reading, re-reading and mentally preparing myself to fill it out.

Given my self-assigned submission due date of 2/16/12, N-400 and I are going to be spending a lot more time together over the next few weeks. If you're curious on what I'll be completing, take a gander;

N-400 Info

N-400 isn't the most intimidating of the forms I've completed over the years, but it is one of the more entertaining ones. Some of the highlights to N-400 include the requirement to list ALL trips over 24 hours that I have made since becoming a Permanent Resident (Section 7, Part C.), questions about my Affiliations (Section 10, Part B) - the questions about being a Communist or Nazi are good ones - and the Yes/No questions on "Good Moral Character" (Section 10, Part D).

I guess all of what is being asked in N-400 is good information to have, I mean you only want the best of the best as citizens, right? No communists, habitual drunkards or polygamists need apply.

What's the big deal?

First lesson - there are benefits to being a U.S. Citizen that pretty much form the foundation for why us immigrants decide to obtain it. Do you know what the USCIS list as being the Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens? No need to Google...here they are:


Rights of U.S. Citizens

Vote in Federal elections

Serve on a Jury

Bring family members to the United States

Obtain citizenship for children born abroad

Travel with a U.S. passport

Run for federal office

Become eligible for federal grants and scholarship

Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens

• Support and defend the Constitution





• Serve the country when required





• Participate in the democratic process





• Respect and obey federal, state and local laws





• Respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others





• Participate in your local community
  

Now you know!

Another benefit that wasn't mentioned....is namely around participation in social services. As citizens, programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Unemployment and even Welfare are available. Permanent residents pay into all of these programs - we pay the same payroll taxes and mandatory deductions - but are not eligible to claim any benefits.









Basically, if you are going to make your life in this country, being able to participate in the decision process (voting) and have access to social benefits (limited as they may be) are pretty compelling reasons to take the plunge. Admittedly, these are a couple of the reasons I'm choosing citizenship over remaining a permanent resident. After nearly 13 years, I think it's time to participate in the process a little more actively.





Second lesson - I'm not just granted automatic citizenship. I was asked this recently, and explained that being married to an American really only helps get residency status. The process of citizenship is basically the same for everyone.Unlike most who apply for U.S residency, I was guaranteed status by being married to a U.S. citizen. We still had to go through the residency application process - all the forms, the screenings etc. but I didn't have to go through a lottery or other initial step.









I'm eligible for citizenship now because I've;

• Been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years.

• Been a lawful permanent resident for at least 3 years and married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the last 3 years.

Source: USCIS Form N-400





So, now that I'm eligible (have been for about 7 years to be honest), I have to fill out the application form, undergo the screenings and tests and then be sworn in. According to USCIS's website recently, it'll be about a 4-6 month process and run me a cool $680.00 (ack!)

2012 is the year

No, it's not the year the world is going to end (well, hopefully), it's the year I'm going to become a U.S. Citizen. Ya, ya - I know what you're saying - "you've said this before...wasn't 2011 supposed to be the year?" Well, yes, that is correct - I have said this before, and yes, I had intended on getting it done in 2011....but stuff happens, or doesn't in this case.

2012 is different though - this is the year that I HAVE to do something. Much like the Mayan calendar's doomsday date for us (these correlations are what I get for watching History channel while I'm writing this) my green card's time is also up in December 2012. So, I my choices are to either become a citizen or renew the green card for another 10 years.

I've been approaching the necessary decision from a mostly rational stance - trying to decide what "makes the most sense" and which choice is most fiscally responsible...always comes down to the dollars, doesn't it? Citizenship looks like it will be the winner.

Why write a blog about it? Two reasons mainly; Firstly, I doubt that many of my friends, relatives or countrymen realize what exactly is involved in applying for and gaining citizenship and secondly I have to work through how I feel about the whole thing - will I still be me? What will becoming American mean to me? Will I not be Canadian anymore?

I hope to figure that stuff out over the next few months, and not lose my mind from willingly engaging in another immigration process.