Puerto-Rico going independant like Palau and the Marshall islands.

[SoL. 0]

Dear Aussielad,

I wouldn't be worrying about the independence/statehood status of Puerto Rico at this moment. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I can also see that this current status (ELA) could last for the next 100 years.

While our current Governor is trying to clean the huge economic mess/blackhole that has been growing for years of bad administration, our people pay with the new sales tax and poor or non existent salary increases. But anyway, AussieLad, please don't stress! Just enjoy our beautiful Island, walking around El Viejo San Juan, visit the mountains and our stunning white sand beaches!!! That's paradise, right there for you!

Saludos y relax

edi :energetic:

[Ladylethal 12]

IF that ever happened, I believe we'd keep our citizenship, 'cus we adjusted status through marriage to a puerto rican but one can apply for citizenship after being a LPR without being married anymore. So I think that right would be ours not to be taken away.

Also, I believe that only puerto ricans born AFTER US revoked the citizenship would be affected and not having it, but those with citizenship prior to the new "law" would keep it. At least in brazilian law that would make sense.

Btw, I never came back to answer the question but yeah, I'm living in Toa Baja since October 15th.

EDIT: I had a question about AOS for those in PR who've gone through it. Documents in spanish. Did you get all of them translated? How was the interview here? Laid back or were people stiff like some americans at consulate level?

Edited December 7, 2006 by Luis&Laura

[Waiting and Waiting 0]

Regarding the AoS question....we went through it in PR as well as a second interview for removal of conditions. We did translate all spanish documents. We were told to make sure that all documents were translated. They did not have to be translated by an official interpreter. I translated them and signed as translater and there were no problems.

The interview process was very business-like. The interviewer was friendly but professional. He spoke more to my wife's daughter than to my wife and I, making sure she understood what was happening. The interview was in spanish. He left the room for a few minutes but we were aware that the interview was being recorded and made a rule before we went in that we would not speak to each other if he left the room.

After approval, he made sure to answer any questions we had regarding the next steps to take. The interview took about an hour.

[Aussielad 37]

wow...an hour for an interview?? lol thats alot, hope i dont have to go through that!

[Aussielad 37]

There are a couple other possibilities...the US Congress can unilaterally grant PR independence. No plebiscite. No appeal. (See the most recent report to the president on the status of PR).

In this case, anything could happen regarding citizenship. The current citizenship of PR's citizens is a legislated citizenship, not citizenship as natural-born. However, citizenship granted via naturalization is full-US citizenship. If PR were (in the unlikely case) to vote for or receive independence from the US, it is likely, but not guaranteed that current citizens could chose between US and PR citizenship, however, all future-borns would not automatically be granted citizenship. I can only theorize on this.

As for my personal POV, I have lived here full-time for 10 years and this current relationship will go on for another 100 years unless someone forces the issue. In a 2002 poll of 3000 people conducted by the leading newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, people were asked to select between statehood and independence. 36% chose independence. This is a significant number because it represent a sizable portion of the population of 4 million residents. It would take a tremendous effort to either increase or decrease this number. Multiple Orders of Magnitude. Neither side of the issue will ever achieve the type of quorum necessary to succeed by popular vote.

My suggestion is that Congress grant PR independence with a 10 year phase-in. Plebisites at 3, 6 and 9 years to choose either statehood or independence. If a quorum of a minimum of 90% for either option is achieved, then Congress will accept the will of the people. However, if less than 90% is the result, then independence is granted arbitrarily at the end of 10 years.

There is only one way to change the status quo, otherwise the island will continue with its current status forever and I am not certain that is the best option for PR.

i just wish they would sought it out because it does leave alot of people in jeapordy, and everyone is right, this issue could go on for another 100 years, who knows,....but i would *hope* as said before, that anyone born AFTER the date would be considered P.R. citizens and anyone BEFORE would retain their U.S. citizenship.

[Ladylethal 12]

I believe that would be the logical thing to be done, right? 'Cus otherwise imagine all the millions of puerto ricans living in US having to leave, be considered illegals or having to apply for permanent residence? It'd be a total mess.