Wife took citizenship oath last Friday.

[GregfromGa]

She arrived Dec 7 2003. We'll apply for the blue passport today. Now I only have to start working on Mama getting a different visa other than tourist. God knows I dont want her here all the time but I would like it where she can go and come every few months.

[William3rd]

Your wife can now apply for her mother as an immediate relative and get her a green card. Then she can come and go as she pleases-with some restrictions over how much time she can remain abroad. . .

[jb]

William3rd,

Do you have any info on how long it would take to get Mom a green card?

[William3rd]

Its an IR case so it should be handled the same as a spousal visa. Texas Service Center (or CSC) to ?? I dont know where his wife is from.

I would guess a year or less.

[jb]

Thanks,  the reason I ask is that my wife is up for her citizenship now and we have an elder stepson who was, unfortunately, over 21 when we married.  We have kept him here in the USA by sponsoring him on student visas until we could file an I-130 on his behalf.  The boy now has two BS degrees and is now halfway through an MBA program at Texas A&M.  He's well on his way to being the most  educated member of the family.  It has been a just a tad expensive to keep him away from the FSU until he was old enough to avoid the Russian Army draft.  Hopefully this will change once he qualifies for a GC.

Thanks again for the information.

[William3rd]

Did she already file for him under the family second preference category as an adult child of LPR? She would file for him under the family first preference if she files for him as a USC. Or upgrade him if he is already in the queue under family second preference

He would not be IR under these circumstances you describe.

[jb]

Yes, she already filed as a LPR, but that queue seems to several years long, we will re-file once she has her USC.

[William3rd]

Were you approved yet? Instead of refiling, letter the CSC and send a copy of the NATZ certificate showing the higher status. You want to maintain the priority date.

[jb]

We filed in Texas,,, don't we have to send info through the TSC?

[Leslie]

Congratulations Greg!

It really is a significant mile stone.  My wife cannot truely believe she is British now.  (Though she is making a list of all the places she can travel to now...)

[Jumper]

Congrats Greg!

my wife has here permanent GC now after two years,,
but hasnt been that interested in US citizenship
So i hadnt yet looked into the time frames and conditions..
but I should -
as i think she will change her mind ,
and I should already be versed in how it works.

[Jazzyclassy]

Congratulations Greg!

It really is a significant mile stone.  My wife cannot truely believe she is British now.  (Though she is making a list of all the places she can travel to now...)

What do you mean British?that means she will need visa to go and visit her relatives in Russia or where she lived in Ukraine?

and she is not British she is Ukrainian or Russian and will always be, I just did not like how you tell it here , she became a citizen of the UK but not British . It is like there is such a machine of changing the nationalities on the genetics level , wanna be British here you go - pay this amount of money or do this, wanna be German -oh be my guest and  bla bla bla .........

[Mir]

Interesting point JC

Perhaps she is making two lists:

1. Countries she can travel to (most of the world etc.)
2. Countries she can't travel to (her own country etc.)

[Jazzyclassy]

No of course she can travel to Russia or Ukraine it is just she will need visa to go to her own country that seems very somehow extraordinary to me

I do not know if its possible to be like Uk citizen but at the same time have no visa to Russia? I guess it is only in my world:)) well one should sacrifice something instead ......

[Mir]

JC

I am sure there are ways to keep the Russian passport as well.

[Jazzyclassy]

Well I guess it is important for a man  that his wife takes a citizenship , if his wife wont be Uk citizen I mean  I think if she is with her husband she has to take this citizenship otherwise she will be a person without rights in the country she will probably live till the day she dies, I do not think it is possible to have double citizenship

Is it possible for my boy to have russian passport if I give him half of my shares from an apartment? How can he get russian passport what do we need to do , maybe somebody knows things about it. Is it actually possible for him to have Uk passport and russian one , or I am asking nonsense thing?

[Rags II]

The price of applying for citizenship here in the US is doubling come August 1! (In order hire 1500 more little old ladys with pink sneakers to bring a little more speed and efficiency to the USCIS.)

I'm sending in my wife's paperwork July 30th even though she will be in Ukraine for another six weeks. It's not like they'll be getting in touch with us before she gets back.

She swore up and down when we got married that she would never give up her citizenship to become an American (yes J/C you DO forgo your country of birth when you swear the Oath of Allegence) but the state of politics and the hassle of getting her ex's permission each time she leaves Ukraine with her daughter has changed her mind. The benefits of US citizenship far outweighs those of Ukraine and I will never have to deal with the hassles imposed by the USCIS again.

[Jumper]

JC-

Countries have various laws regarding dual citizenship,
and they change occassionally as well.

They also tend to mirror or reciprocate ,
 the other countries law.

for example-
A certain country lets fsat France,
 may allow dual citizenship,, to another country that also allows it,,
lets say Germany.
yet deny it to a citizen of a country (Ukraine) ,
 that also denies that to that same country. (france)
(confusing enough? lol)

This is NOT the laws for those countries , and only meant as an example.


The United States allows a Ukrainian citizen to keep thier
Ukranian citizenship status
and also be an American citizen- dual citizenship.

unfortunantly Ukraine ,doesnt recipricate thids,
will not allow dual citizenship , so you must give up Ukranian citizenship..

*shrugs*

[jb]

I can't say for sure, as I haven't researched it completely yet, however I believe it's not a problem for Russians to retain their Red passport after they get US citizenship.   We know several RWs here who have both the Blue and the Red,,, when they travel home for a visit they use the Russian passport to get into Russia, thus avoiding the visa hassle.  When they return to the USA they produce the Blue passport at passport control.

Don't know if it's strictly legal, but as far as I know it works.

[Jazzyclassy]

Yes I understand the thing about citizenship

maybe one day it could be possible to have like russian passport for my boy

[Mir]

JC

You can have UK citizenship and as far as UK is concerned thy are not bothered if you want to retain your Russian citizenship. They will simply ask you to check with Russian authorities and it is your responsibility to make sure you comply with Russian rules (which may say that you have to give up Russian citizenship if you want British one).
To qualify for citizenship is a process and it is not as simple as giving share in apartment. Certainly in most countries marriage to the citizen is a strong reason for getting a citizenship. Once you are married to your boyfriend he may be able to qualify for a Russian passport after he lives in Russia the required period for citizenship, the period varies from one country to another but is at least 3 years.

[Jazzyclassy]

Oh thank you Mir very useful info for me:)

[Rags II]

The oath of allegiance is:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that 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; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic..."

Thus there is no dual citizenship allowed for the US.

[Wayne B]

Rags, I thought that the U.S does recognize dual citizenship......I believe that the Ukraine only recognizes one ???

[Rags II]

In reading the first sentence of the oath of allegience to which you must swear to gain naturalized citizenship (posted above) I would say that dual citizenship would not be a possibility but then I'm not a lawyer type so take it FWIW.