Hi all,
There is a saying in my language which roughly translates as follows; "Not all the fingers in one's hand are equal". I came across this interesting article on Tanith Belbin, a Ice Dance participant at the ongoing winter olympic games in Torino. The article excerpt details her path to US citizenship which I think is quite interesting. Goes to show what lengths Uncle Sam will go through to get you if he really wants you - such as changing the law on your behalf. Enjoy!!!
solasoy
PD: Feb 4, 2005
Fingerprint: Mar 12, 2005
Interview: July 25, 2005
Oath: Feb 9, 2006
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A native of Canada, Belbin was ineligible to represent the U.S. at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games because she was not yet an American citizen, and early this season, it looked like she and Agosto would miss out on Torino as well. But on December 31, 2005, the day after President George W. Bush signed Appropriations Bill HR-3010 into law, Belbin became a U.S. citizen, eligible for the Olympic Games. An amendment attached to that bill allowed Belbin to take advantage of changes to immigration rules that have been implemented since she began her efforts to procure U.S. citizenship. Belbin hails from Kirkland, Que., but has lived in the United States since 1998, when she was 13. In Nov. 2000, she was approved for an EB-1 visa, which is given to individuals considered "aliens of extraordinary ability." She did not receive her green card until July 2002. That year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) changed the rules, allowing EB-1s to apply for their green card and visa at the same time. Had this policy been in effect when Belbin began the process, she would have been eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship by the end of 2005 (there is a mandatory waiting period of five years between the time a person obtains a green card and when he or she becomes eligible to apply for citizenship). Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich) introduced the amendment, which would allow the new rules to apply to those, like Belbin, who began their naturalization process before the July 2002. The bill passed on Dec. 21 and was signed by Bush on December 30. Belbin took her citizenship test and was sworn in on December 31, and is now a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
There is a saying in my language which roughly translates as follows; "Not all the fingers in one's hand are equal". I came across this interesting article on Tanith Belbin, a Ice Dance participant at the ongoing winter olympic games in Torino. The article excerpt details her path to US citizenship which I think is quite interesting. Goes to show what lengths Uncle Sam will go through to get you if he really wants you - such as changing the law on your behalf. Enjoy!!!
solasoy
PD: Feb 4, 2005
Fingerprint: Mar 12, 2005
Interview: July 25, 2005
Oath: Feb 9, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A native of Canada, Belbin was ineligible to represent the U.S. at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games because she was not yet an American citizen, and early this season, it looked like she and Agosto would miss out on Torino as well. But on December 31, 2005, the day after President George W. Bush signed Appropriations Bill HR-3010 into law, Belbin became a U.S. citizen, eligible for the Olympic Games. An amendment attached to that bill allowed Belbin to take advantage of changes to immigration rules that have been implemented since she began her efforts to procure U.S. citizenship. Belbin hails from Kirkland, Que., but has lived in the United States since 1998, when she was 13. In Nov. 2000, she was approved for an EB-1 visa, which is given to individuals considered "aliens of extraordinary ability." She did not receive her green card until July 2002. That year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) changed the rules, allowing EB-1s to apply for their green card and visa at the same time. Had this policy been in effect when Belbin began the process, she would have been eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship by the end of 2005 (there is a mandatory waiting period of five years between the time a person obtains a green card and when he or she becomes eligible to apply for citizenship). Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich) introduced the amendment, which would allow the new rules to apply to those, like Belbin, who began their naturalization process before the July 2002. The bill passed on Dec. 21 and was signed by Bush on December 30. Belbin took her citizenship test and was sworn in on December 31, and is now a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.
