Citizenship question

R

rvalla

Registered Users (C)
Guys,
This is my scenario:
We got our GC in 2003 (my wife and I). We are due for applying citizenship by 2008. We are planning to go back and spend some years in india, after getting the dual citizenship.

The problem:
SO I don't feel like changing my citizenship; but as we all know staying out of this country means I will lose the GC ( without citizenship ).
So in future if we want to come back, and if I lose my GC status, can I get citizenship/GC through my wife, since she is citizen of USA?
If so how long it is taking to get citizenship or GC?

Please let me know
Thanks
Ravi
 
rvalla said:
So in future if we want to come back, and if I lose my GC status, can I get citizenship/GC through my wife, since she is citizen of USA?
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Hmm... How will your wife become US citizen living with you in India?

But, let say, if she stays behind in the US and naturalizes, then she can sponsor you for GC. Currently, it may take 6-12 months.
 
only after getting USC

Hello,
Thanks for the reply. Sorry for the cofusion - we want to go back only after getting citizenship and getting dual citizenship.

It seems if I get USC, I can apply for indian citizenship, if I want to, after 5 years. Which may be ok also.
 
rvalla said:
Sorry for the cofusion - we want to go back only after getting citizenship and getting dual citizenship.QUOTE]

Now you got me confused. As US citizen, you can live anywhere in the world as long as you wish. Considering this, what is your question?
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Well, if we change citizenship we cannot vote in india or buy agriculture lands or hold public office; so I am speculating whether it is easy to get the USC on a need basis, like follow wife's USC and return back to US in future, if needed!
 
rvalla said:
Well, if we change citizenship we cannot vote in india or buy agriculture lands or hold public office; so I am speculating whether it is easy to get the USC on a need basis, like follow wife's USC and return back to US in future, if needed!
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Let me ask you a simple question. Why are you applying for citizenship in the US when you want to go back to India to vote and buy property ? Doesn't make any sense to me. I thought people like you and me come here to the US to live.
 
rex1960 said:
Let me ask you a simple question. Why are you applying for citizenship in the US when you want to go back to India to vote and buy property ? Doesn't make any sense to me. I thought people like you and me come here to the US to live.
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It's the old eat your cake and have it too, scenario.
 
For me america is like a casino; you come here to make money and get out when you feel its enough! You don't live in a casino!
Dual citizenship is like a PASS into this country; no need of a visa or green card. I have a lot of relatives and friends in india and the living style is great nowadays - lot of opportunities, cars, cell phone, nice roads, great weather - so for me it doesn't matter if I don't live in this country. Ofcouse this is a great country - you cannot compare any other country with this one.
 
rvalla said:
For me america is like a casino; you come here to make money and get out when you feel its enough! You don't live in a casino!
Dual citizenship is like a PASS into this country; no need of a visa or green card. I have a lot of relatives and friends in india and the living style is great nowadays - lot of opportunities, cars, cell phone, nice roads, great weather - so for me it doesn't matter if I don't live in this country. Ofcouse this is a great country - you cannot compare any other country with this one.
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Make sure you tell that to the immigration officer at the interview :D :D :D

Or, better, lie under Oath and swear that you love America and this the place where you like to live and raise your kids :rolleyes:
 
rvalla said:
For me america is like a casino; you come here to make money and get out when you feel its enough! You don't live in a casino!
Dual citizenship is like a PASS into this country; no need of a visa or green card. I have a lot of relatives and friends in india and the living style is great nowadays - lot of opportunities, cars, cell phone, nice roads, great weather - so for me it doesn't matter if I don't live in this country. Ofcouse this is a great country - you cannot compare any other country with this one.
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sure.. why are you still in US?

or people are taking advanage of the dual citizenship?

anyhow...
 
rvalla said:
For me america is like a casino; you come here to make money and get out when you feel its enough! You don't live in a casino!
Dual citizenship is like a PASS into this country; no need of a visa or green card. I have a lot of relatives and friends in india and the living style is great nowadays - lot of opportunities, cars, cell phone, nice roads, great weather - so for me it doesn't matter if I don't live in this country. Ofcouse this is a great country - you cannot compare any other country with this one.
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whatever you say, bro :rolleyes:

so, this is what you're going to lie:

"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; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
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Way to go
 
rvalla said:
For me america is like a casino; you come here to make money and get out when you feel its enough! You don't live in a casino!
Dual citizenship is like a PASS into this country; no need of a visa or green card. I have a lot of relatives and friends in india and the living style is great nowadays - lot of opportunities, cars, cell phone, nice roads, great weather - so for me it doesn't matter if I don't live in this country. Ofcouse this is a great country - you cannot compare any other country with this one.
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This is a real opportunistic statement. You probably came to US when the market in India wasn't doing so good so that you can make some money. Now that market in India is doing very good you want to go back and make money there but at the same time keep your options open so in case the market crashes in India you can come back to US again to make more money. If you love to vote so much in India and buy property then you shouldn't have come here in first place.

I don't see anything wrong in coming here to have a better life style and help your relatives financially back in home country etc. This country is built on hard work of immigrants from so many countries, but just don't agree with your comment.
 
Deer,
Well said! Like they say DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER! I am just trying to do what I am allowed to do. In the sense I am not doing illigal, India and US agreed on dual citizenship not me. I am just, may be, one of millons, who is using this feature!

Even though this is not the place to discuss in this direction, I would say one last thing: There are very few companies doing better that doing business only in this country! I mean create products locally and sell locally.

Only companies that are making profit are the those that are diversified internationally. I am just trying to join that club!
 
JoeF,
India introduced dual citizenship very recently. It is called OCI( Overseas Citizen of India). Under this arrangement a person of, say USC, with indian origin can can do everything except : voting, holding public offices, buying agriculture lands!

A person with OCI can reapply for citizenship of india after five years of OCI and staying atleast one year in india!
 
JoeF said:
So it is not real Indian citizenship. Being a citizen means to be able to vote, hold public office, etc.
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OCI is not a true dual citizenship. You would still be a citizen of USA (or any other country) ONLY. You will loose your indian citizenship the moment you get US citizenship. OCI provides you certain benefits such as lifelong visa, stay in India for unlimited time, purchase of real estate etc.


rvalla said:
Deer,
Well said! Like they say DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER! I am just trying to do what I am allowed to do. In the sense I am not doing illigal, India and US agreed on dual citizenship not me. I am just, may be, one of millons, who is using this feature!

Even though this is not the place to discuss in this direction, I would say one last thing: There are very few companies doing better that doing business only in this country! I mean create products locally and sell locally.

Only companies that are making profit are the those that are diversified internationally. I am just trying to join that club!
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Well, I am not arguing the benefits of globalization. Yes, globalization seems to be the right thing for the businesses to do now. If you want to be part of the globalization and join the club, you could have very well done it by staying in India as well.

As long as someone comes here on H-1 visa (to make money or whatever) and goes back, it makes sense as H-1 is a temporary work visa and one is supposed to go back once the duration is over. In this scenario the person makes his money and goes back home, USA gets a temporary worker when they needed so everyone is happy.

But the issue is when you apply for green card and by doing so you are taking it away from someone who genuinely wants to come to US and make it a home, you promise the US govt that you want to make it a home etc. etc. but all along you have been thinking of abandoning the ship the moment you get the opportunity.

Then you also want to get the US citizenship. You get the oath of allegiance to USA, promise to bear arms etc for USA and leave the country to make money somewhere else.

Yes, legally there is nothing wrong in doing all this, but morally the intention just doesn't seem right.
 
rvalla said:
JoeF,
India introduced dual citizenship very recently. It is called OCI( Overseas Citizen of India). Under this arrangement a person of, say USC, with indian origin can can do everything except : voting, holding public offices, buying agriculture lands!

A person with OCI can reapply for citizenship of india after five years of OCI and staying atleast one year in india!
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Your logic makes absolutley no sense. You are ALREADY an Indian citizen. Why go through the trouble of getting US citizenship and then applying for Indian citizenship after 5 years?? You will probably have to give up the US citizenship at that time! If you are gambling that India will change its laws to recognize full dual citizenship (which OCI is not) you may have a long time to wait.
 
Deer said:
But the issue is when you apply for green card and by doing so you are taking it away from someone who genuinely wants to come to US and make it a home, you promise the US govt that you want to make it a home etc. etc. but all along you have been thinking of abandoning the ship the moment you get the opportunity.

Then you also want to get the US citizenship. You get the oath of allegiance to USA, promise to bear arms etc for USA and leave the country to make money somewhere else.

Yes, legally there is nothing wrong in doing all this, but morally the intention just doesn't seem right.
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I believe there are a lot of American citizen who do that.
Even though I have no intention whatsoever at this point in time to leave this country, if the "great opportunity" present itself, I'll consider it.
Is nothing wrong or illegal with being an American citizen and go and live elsewhere.

BUT: the PREINTENTION I find it morally wrong, and bottom line people with such intention shouldn't be granted citizenship.
Like I said in my previous post, tell the IO at the interview your intention and you can rest assured that you'll be denied.
In fact some IO ask specifically: "Why do you want to become an American citizen?"

I'm pretty sure if the OP is going to be asked that question the answer will be: "Because I love America"...without any comment about the "Casino" part :rolleyes:

This is sad and this is one of the reasons why IO are sometimes tough and suspicious at the interview.

 
That's exactly my question was: If I don't go for the citizenship and we decided to come back to US for good, how long it takes to get GC/USC through spouse?

I think discussion went bit emotional for lot of you guys. Glad that I rised some Blood pressure around! Hey nothing personal! Peace!
 
rvalla said:
That's exactly my question was: If I don't go for the citizenship and we decided to come back to US for good, how long it takes to get GC/USC through spouse?

I think discussion went bit emotional for lot of you guys. Glad that I rised some Blood pressure around! Hey nothing personal! Peace!
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We're just discussing here. Nothing personal. If you were the only one who thinks like that...but, unfortunately there are millions who see this country just as cow to be milked.

Fortunately, in your case, you don't belong to that category who says: "I love America"...and then get lessons to fly commercial planes :eek: :eek:
 
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