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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | My wife Violetta just got the letter today from Homeland Security Dept. of INS: she becomes a U.S. Citizen on April 24th at a ceremony in Abingdon, Virginia!
It's taken just under 7 years, a few thousand dollars, and hundreds of miles traveling from SW VA to travel wherever we were directed to go to complete the steps in the process...BUT SHE DID IT THE RIGHT AND LAWFUL WAY!
Needless to say, I am very proud of her! |
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Location: N.E. Pa | Congratulations! You should be proud! I'm guessing it must be an amazing feeling for her. |
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Location: Feeding Hills, MA | Congratulations, and welcome citizen! |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Hopefully I'm the first to congratulate your bride and you!
My Mom was from Latvia and escaped to Germany as the frontlines closed in on her home town. There in Germany she met my Dad near the end of the war. Ergo, me!
I can remember my Mom being so proud of becoming an American citizen. She and my Dad taught me that we bleed Red, White and Blue!
BTW, my Mom and I arrived into New York harbor on Columbus Day '49 and processed through Ellis Island the next day.
Again, I'm ever so proud of you and your bride!
OK, I wasn't the first to respond but I totally celebrate in your occasion! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I LOVE news like this! Congratulations! |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Congratulations Violetta!!!! |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Way to go V! |
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Location: ranson,wva | way to go mike.....glad to hear it......thats great great news |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Nice! Congrats! |
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| Nice! Congratulations. I remember how proud my parents were when they became citizens. |
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Location: Pennsylvania | Congratulations!!! most awesome news!! |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | It's taken just under 7 years, a few thousand dollars, and hundreds of miles traveling THAT is quite an accomplishment! Congratulations to your wife... and you. |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | ***Congratulations Violetta!***
Now that's a "family matter" to return home early about!!....... |
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Location: big island | great news, mike and violetta! i am happy for your family. |
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Location: Vernon CT | Congrats!!! M.M. you need to learn the song (If you don't allready know it) "I'm proud to be an American" and play it for her. The pride she and you must have right now must be overwhelming!!! |
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Location: GA USA | Very nice. Congrats to your family. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Wonderful news, Mike. Thanks for sharing your stories with me at Amelia. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Congratulations to both of you.
Dave |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | That's good news. But for anyone else doing this, you don't need to spend thousands, the forms are really simple and the lawyers, or other helpers, are crooks for charging what they do. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | That's good news. But for anyone else doing this, you don't need to spend thousands, the forms are really simple and the lawyers, or other helpers, are crooks for charging what they do Actually, you will and it does IF you do it correctly and lawfully!
The cost is for the entire process (which we did ourselves following the INS process step by step): from my filing for a fiancée visa in May 2001 to the final interview and U.S. knowledge test in February of this year, we followed every step (each step required the payment of a fee and the filing of new forms: together, they added up to over $2000 plus a $1000 fee for her to give up her Belarusian Citizenship plus our travel/hotel costs.) She had to have her fingerprints taken three different times during this process. There are no shortcuts and we did not use an Attorney: the process, forms, and fee schedule is readily available on line...and we took advantage of that and did it ourselves. Again, there are Government fee's for every step in the process (they get higher for every step) and there is no getting around that.
Keep in mind that there are those who try to circumvent the process and walk or swim across the borders...Eastern Europeans have it a bit harder: I can't recount one instance of someone swimming across the Atlantic or Pacific...This is not the path to real Citizenship (barring some bull*%#@ amnesty program which slaps everyone who does it the legal way in the face)
For us, there was only one option: to follow the law. We did that...sure; it cost money...but as Elvis always said: "That’s the C.D.B." (Cost of Doing Business)
Thanks for all the good wishes folks; Violetta is very appreciative! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I've got a few stories about people spending thousands, after trying something on the cheap by just getting the forms off the internet. As my father always said, "anything worth doing is worth doing right." Glad you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Mike. Congratulations. |
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Location: Stow, Ohio | Congrats Mike! |
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| Congratulations. Now THAT'S a blessing. |
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Location: Waterloo, IL | Congratulations! It is always great to see someone do it the right way and get full citizenship benefits from our great country.
Why do we have so many illegal immigrants in the immigrants in the first place? They recognize what so many legal citizens do not: This truly is a great place to live, full of opportunity for everyone here.
Thanks for doing it the right way, and enjoy our country! |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Congratulations. Now THAT'S a blessing.
:D ;) |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Congratulations Violetta, Mike. Great news!! |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Congratulations to your wife Mike! :)
It just seems like yesterday when I went through that path myself 16 years ago. I can still remember the gentleman who tested me in Buffalo, NY. He was so nice to the point that the proceedings felt like a lesson in American history, instead of an exam. Months after that, I took the oath in Rochester and became a Naturalized U.S. citizen. That was one of the proudest days of my life. :)
I'm having my own celebration of sorts in my own backyard with my wife, as April 4th marked the day I first stepped on American soil ... that was 21 years ago. :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Fantastic Gil: Thanks for your best wishes for my wife and congrats to you as well! Enjoy! |
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OT - Our Newest Citizen!