Just curious- spouse not wanting to be a citizen

[RFQ 110]

Is there anyone who is coming here on account of their spouse that just has no interest in becoming a citizen?(I'm sure there is, lol, with all these members) Does your spouse give a specific reason, or do you have a specific reason? Petitioners or beneficiaries can answer.

Or for those that have come here already, did you or your spouse change your mind one way or another about the subject?

Edited September 8, 2012 by RFQ

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I will not apply for citizenship.

Norway does not allow dual citizenship (very few exceptions, which I won't bother going into, but safe to say I do not and will not ever qualify), so by gaining American citizenship I would have to give up my Norwegian one. No thanks. I love my country. I don't have the similar attachment to America. I like living here just fine, I LOVE vacationing here, but I'll never be, nor would I want to be, American (however you want to define "American"). I have my green card for a single reason, and that is my husband.

Edited September 8, 2012 by LlamaInvasion

[NinaD 6]

I probably won't become a citizen. Not because I don't like America, but because I love being a Canadian. I love my country. Even though I will live and work in the USA I don't really feel the need to be a citizen. I know it means that I can't vote, but for now anyway, it doesn't concern me. The only reason I would become a citizen is if they told me that I could not receive my social security payment when I retire. As of now though, you do not have to be a citizen to draw your social security.

I am moving to the USA to be with my husband and share my life with him. I am not moving to the USA because I want to live there or am seeking a better alternative to where I am now. In fact, if he wanted to live in Canada I would be happy for him to emigrate here, it isn't about the country, it is about being together.

I might feel differently if I were emigrating to the USA from a poor/war-torn or governmentally unstable country though...

Edited September 8, 2012 by NinaD

[Lalo & Susana 50]

They asked my father this when he renewed his green card. My father has been here for over 30 years and he said I am a Chilean citizen I was born there and that is my country. Chile doesn't allow dual citizenship unless someone was born in another country to Chilean parents (like me) are allowed dual citizenship. He then told the immigration officer that is and when Chile allows him to be a dual citizen he would proudly become a dual citizen with USA. They were very respectful and understood his position. My father since he is close to retirement age also mentioned that when he retires he would like to go live in Chile.

My fiance is also thinking of just being a permanent residence and not becoming a US citizen since he will lose his Chilean citizenship and when we are retirement age we would like to do the same thing as my parents.

Hope this helps. Good luck

[heyray 2]

I don't think it is strange at all. I am confused about whether or not I will become a US citizen when I am able to. I have seen posts and internet pages spouting on about how great it is to be a citizen, but I don't really see to many advantages to it myself. In fact one of the citizenship questions is "Name one benefit to being a citizen of the United States?" and the response is "Obtain federal government jobs; travel with a U.S. passport; petition for close relatives to come to the U.S. to live". To me the main benefit would be to be able to obtain federal government employment - because you know that is usually a well looked after employee.

If my wife was able to move to Australia with her kids we would have chosen that option rather then me coming to the US. I know it may sound like I am America bashing here, and I guess I am a bit, but don't get me wrong I am happy here with my wife. I just don't see it as important to become a citizen just to get a US passport. And I have seen how long the wait is to petition for family to come live here (the wait for my visa journey so far is long enough). If I could become the President then maybe I would think more seriously about it though. HAHAHAHAHA

[RFQ 110]

For me I did not find it all that odd really... I mean, I am a USC and if I had to swear to uphold another country before mine, I couldn't honestly swear to any such thing. My husband also is willing to come to the US, but to him, he is an Egyptian and that takes precedence over any duties and loyalty to the US, no matter how enjoyable it is (or isn't) here. So far we don't even have a green card in hand, lol, so we'll see where the future takes us.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I never thought about coming to America before I met my husband. I never thought about America in any other way than it just being another country.. so gaining citizenship was never a reason for me being here. If Australia made me choose I would choose Australian, but as neither country makes me choose and dual is permitted, I will be going for citizenship when the time comes up (next year). My two main reasons are:

1. obviously my husband is American and I would like to live with him without having to be worried about immigration (not that I'm "worried" per se but I would like it to not be anything I think about); and

2. We are hoping to have kids one day and they will be dual, I would like to make sure I am able to live wherever they are living (which is why obtaining Aussie citizenship/residency for Tony is in the plans).

There are a few people on here that were very much "never USC" and are now applying for it, or thinking about it.

[NY_BX 397]

For me I did not find it all that odd really... I mean, I am a USC and if I had to swear to uphold another country before mine, I couldn't honestly swear to any such thing. My husband also is willing to come to the US, but to him, he is an Egyptian and that takes precedence over any duties and loyalty to the US, no matter how enjoyable it is (or isn't) here. So far we don't even have a green card in hand, lol, so we'll see where the future takes us.

My husband has made it abundantly clear the end of the road will be citizenship. For many legal reasons, including the affidavit of support, he wants to complete the process. He believes citizenship doesn't define his ancestry or ethnicity nor it negates it.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I think it is just an individual preference. My wife is on the fence. She wouldn't mind having an American passport for travel. Right now she needs a visa for lots of places I can go, and vice versa. Giving up Ukrainian citizenship will really screw up her property rights, and have negative tax implications in Ukraine though. We aren't sure what to do.

[RFQ 110]

There are a few people on here that were very much "never USC" and are now applying for it, or thinking about it.

I was kind of curious to hear from those^ types too.

Mostly I was just musing and figured it an interesting topic to pass the time, yknow. I have to review the oath that one is required to take to be a US citizen. For some reason I think the oath is what made my husband reconsider becoming a dual citizen (God willing we get a green card for him in the first place)

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I was kind of curious to hear from those^ types too.

Mostly I was just musing and figured it an interesting topic to pass the time, yknow. I have to review the oath that one is required to take to be a US citizen. For some reason I think the oath is what made my husband reconsider becoming a dual citizen (God willing we get a green card for him in the first place)

Yep. That line about "I hereby renounce.." is what throws a lot of people. I had issues with it too because I was worried that I was lying and I've decided that I'm not lying because in the US I WOULD be American (Australian American, but American) and would of course follow the laws of America and support and defend (verbally quite a bit recently) America as a place to live.

[mamaSue 38]

My reason for becoming a USC is freedom to travel. As a UKC, I have to jump through hoops if I want to stay out of the US for longer than a year.

We love to travel.... we stay out of the US for 3 months at a time... might want to do longer trips. the UK allows dual citizenship, so that really isn't an issue.

I've been a LPR for over 5 years....could have applied after 3, but wasn't in a hurry. I've got 2 different English friends in Massachusetts and Texas that have lived here happily as LPR's for over 30 years.

My application's been in from early July.... just playing the waiting game now.

[katchoo12 8]

I don't feel the need to become a US citizen either. I am a french canadian and very proud of it !! I just happened to fall in love with a USC and no citizenship will ever change that !

[bayojona3231 4]

To me, it is an individual decision. There are advantages in being an American citizen. I have been a proud citizen of this great country for over 18 years. Some countries allow dual citizenship and some don't. In my case, my country does.Everyone has to decide on waht is in their best interest when the time comes. Good luck.

[AmyWrites 593]

My husband says if he's allowed dual citizenship, he'll take the US's one, if not, keep the Russian one. Although frankly he's only been here some weeks so maybe he'll change his midn.