Took almost 7 years after marriage but wife now a US citizen!

[Bruce]

A long and miserable road through the immigration process (K-1 visa) but persistence did pay off.   Best of luck to all in our boat.   Interview advice - just read the booklet immigration gives your wife.   All questions were from that and were easy.  

[vwrw]

Congratulation to you both!

I will be eligible to apply for citizenship this summer . Turbo advises me not to postpone this, and I generally  agree, yet I think it would not hurt to conduct a cost and benefit analysis. I was going to do this analysis upon my return home from Russia. But I would be glad to learn now what pros and cons of becoming a US citizen you considered?   

[SFandEE]

Great! That's a big happening.

[Gylden]

Congratulation to you both!

I will be eligible to apply for citizenship this summer . Turbo advises me not to postpone this, and I generally  agree, yet I think it would not hurt to conduct a cost and benefit analysis. I was going to do this analysis upon my return home from Russia. But I would be glad to learn now what pros and cons of becoming a US citizen you considered?   

I think this would make an interesting subject for a thread of it's own.

[tfcrew]

pros and cons of becoming a US citizen 

A 'pro'? ...getting rid of the immigration grind is certainly one.
The jumping through hoops and paying to play is over.

[Bruce]

Pros:   1.  Can get a federal position (work) if desired.   No State educational hassles, though wife had green card when in US schools.  
          2.  Can vote
          3.   As previous poster mentioned do not have to worry about the ever increasing immigration fees.
          4.    Can get on the federal dole if need be - I hope not.   Can bring in your relatives to the USA - I hope not.
           5.   Easier to travel just about anywhere in the world with a usa passport.


Cons:

         1.    Travel to Russia is theoretically harder and more expensive - though it seems most Russian citizens who became American citizens somehow use both passports for travel.
         2.   If parents pass harder to obtain posessions etc. at least theoretically for her.

[Maxx2]

Congratulations Bruce! I am glad to hear you have made it. All these years together certainly proves something positive about both of you.
 
I seem to remember talking with you way way back. Probably 2004. From Iowa right? I remember you saying to me that I being a business man from the Midwest probably put me in naive class when it came to the wiles of a Russian woman. Too trusting ect. I agree.

Good luck with everything.

Maxx

[Bruce]

That was another Bruce from Iowa.   I am the one from New Jersey.   Other Bruce is a nice individual from what I remember.   Yes, am the one that mentioned to you to be very careful with Russian / Ukrainian women.   In general Americans are too nice and trusting and if not on their guard with Russian / Ukrainian women will be taken to the cleaners..........