Why wouldn't you file for citizenship?

[Noname93 200]

2 hours ago, little immigrant said:

I got an exception for it and took a modified oath. 

Was that for religious reasons?

[CMJuilland 485]

It’s so interesting to read everybody’s take on this. Thank you all for sharing your stories. 

For me personally, I applied for naturalization as soon as I could (with the obligatory day or two for padding due to USCIS’s apparent inability to create accurate case dates). While I was born and raised in Switzerland and spent 34 years of my life there, I feel so much more at home here in the U.S. than I ever did anywhere in Europe. Even my parents say every time they visit how much more they see me fit in here as opposed to there, which must be weird for them. 

I’m in the lucky position of not having to worry about giving up any citizenship as neither the U.S. nor Switzerland care at all. However, while I’m technically a dual citizen and while the Swiss passport is at least on par with the U.S. one, I consider myself lucky and proud to be an American and only ever travel on my U.S. passport (even when I go to Switzerland).

Also and finally, contrary to a lot of other Europeans who naturalize, I stand by my declaration to “bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law”. This might be because Switzerland’s take on firearms differs quite significantly from other European countries. 

I’ll keep reading this thread; again, thanks everybody for sharing.

Edited January 24, 2023 by CMJuilland

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

My wife thought about whether to naturalize for quite some time before deciding.  I think the political tension in a certain part of the world swayed her decision to a degree. 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

Especially with Vlad's adventure in Ukraine making things difficult for Russians outside of Russia, my wife filed shortly after she was eligible (her interview is next month).

 

But I think I'm pretty much in the camp that if your home country allows dual citizenship and you intend to stay in the US indefinitely and/or want the right to come back to the US whenever you want, there really aren't many logical reasons not to.

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

56 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Based on? 

Some people were saying their reasoning for naturalizing was based on weaker passports when it comes to traveling. For us, it doesn't make a difference. My husband and I have both been allowed to enter any country we have traveled to (dozens--we are huge travelers). Any country he would need a visa for on his foreign passport, I would also need one as a USC. So we haven't. fortunately, had to worry about that. If he was from a country where traveling was prohibitive due to the passport, then it would factor into wanting to naturalize. 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

9 minutes ago, Sarah&Facundo said:

Some people were saying their reasoning for naturalizing was based on weaker passports when it comes to traveling. For us, it doesn't make a difference. My husband and I have both been allowed to enter any country we have traveled to (dozens--we are huge travelers). Any country he would need a visa for on his foreign passport, I would also need one as a USC. So we haven't. fortunately, had to worry about that. If he was from a country where traveling was prohibitive due to the passport, then it would factor into wanting to naturalize. 

Thanks for the info. You can compare here.

Compare Passports Power | Passport Index 2023

Edited January 24, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[TBoneTX 45,259]

Another reason to naturalize might be the ability to qualify for jobs that require U.S. citizenship, and possibly also security clearances (others can confirm or refute this).

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

10 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Another reason to naturalize might be the ability to qualify for jobs that require U.S. citizenship, and possibly also security clearances (others can confirm or refute this).

Yup. It's probably more of a thing in fields or areas with a lot of government or defense industry jobs, but even looking for entry level software QA jobs, Anastasia ran into some she couldn't apply to without US citizenship because security clearances would be required.

[African Zealot 1,455]

18 hours ago, Daphne . said:

My reason is that the US doesn’t feel like my home and I don’t feel any connection to it, so don’t feel like a citizen anyway.

My reasons might make no sense to other people, but I feel very strongly about them. 

I totally respect your opinion and position, however does this mean you’re basically just enduring living here for the past x years?

[African Zealot 1,455]

18 hours ago, Rearviewmirror said:

It makes me a bit sad that people don't value voting more.

Voting is a waste of time in my opinion. Just two sets of opportunists (foxes and wolves), either way citizens are screwed and will get eaten.

 

Once again strictly my opinion.

[African Zealot 1,455]

17 hours ago, OldUser said:

I consider planet Earth my home 😁 I regularly meet people people really struggling to comprehend it... 

I have the same philosophy. Diogenes of Sinope is famously supposed to have made the statement I am neither an Athenian nor a Greek, but a citizen of the world

 

In my heart I will always be a Ghanaian 🇬🇭 regardless of what passport I use etc although I have a lot of love for the USA 🇺🇸. In any case my accent and skin color ensures that I will never be considered fully American anyway.

Edited January 24, 2023 by African Zealot

[TBoneTX 45,259]

3 minutes ago, African Zealot said:

Voting is a waste of time in my opinion. Just two sets of opportunists (foxes and wolves), either way citizens are screwed and will get eaten.

A busload of Arkansas politicians was driving down a country road when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer's field.  The old farmer, seeing what happened, went over to investigate.  He then proceeded to dig a hole and bury the politicians.

 

Later that day, the local Sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus, and asked the old farmer, "Were they ALL dead?"

 

The farmer replied, "Well, some of them said they wasn't, but you know how them politicians lie."

 

[P055UM 281]

2 hours ago, yoda one for me said:

Brexit

In addition, this one little word is an excellent example of something ones takes for granted until it is gone. I’d like the minimise the risks of something similar happening to my ability to live in the US. 

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

5 hours ago, Stein said:

I was born a US citizen.  I've never been called.  "They" say that the jury duty pool isn't tied to voter registration records.  I've not registered to vote for almost 30 years.  I've never been called.  You decide based on those two points.

i get called in every state (city ) i lived in

even when i was attending college 

 

Owing a large tax bill to IRS could be  a good reason not to naturalize

or thinking there is a warrant out for your arrest (even not going to court for a simple traffic ticket can trigger a warrant)

not wanting your name or photo in news for the Oath ceremony as an ex is looking for u

 

But to add to this  "i have thought to get citizenship in Morocco as Adil's wife so i could own a summer home"  anyone going this way too?

[Moe428 129]

5 hours ago, Stein said:

I was born a US citizen.  I've never been called.  "They" say that the jury duty pool isn't tied to voter registration records.  I've not registered to vote for almost 30 years.  I've never been called.  You decide based on those two points.

You probably got lucky then.  Odds are an individual will get called at least once, and probably more than once throughout their life.