Is it worth applying?

WouldBeCitizen

Registered Users (C)
With the following factors, I just keep wondering if it is worth spending all the money and time to get the citizenship. Please share your comments. Thanks a lot.

1. All computer jobs are moving to outside USA. Will finally every job is going to that country? I have no problem going back to desh but really do not like to go after all these years here (so far 11 and counting)

2. With the negative experience of people (though minor in %) I get tensed up that the interviewer may screw up my case

3. Fifteen years from now, where does $ stand against Rupee? Now that everyone goes to India for outsourcing, will it remain at high value or go down (then cost of outsourcing will be high forcing the Indian Govt to devalue the Re?)

4. Down the road in 15 years, I cannot imagine what job I will be eligible for except teaching !

All thoughts are making me sick ! Your ideas? Thanks a lot

Would (I be a) Citizen
 
I would develop expertise in at least one other field besides IT. Diversify! And teaching is not a bad job!!

If you have the luxury of seeing 15 years into the future, you can consider yourself blessed. With 10+ years of IT experience in the USA and its citizenship in hand, you can take advantage of that experience for a lucrative career in India and also retain the option of moving between the two countries; onsider that dual citizenship of US and India is a very probable in not distant future.
 
I think a small investment of $310 is not too much to ask for being
part of the greatest country on earth today, especially
considering India is offering dual citizenship. Get it, come here
live where you want. Atleast you have an option open.

I very very seriously doubt that India will overtake the US in terms
of quality of life , health and standard of living .....

Consider this, as a resident of the US, and assuming you are
making only $50,000 a year, you are still much much better of then 90% of the world's population!
 
Based on your post it is not worth living.:D All the jobs will be gone, in 15 years we'll all be teachers. The US dollar will be the weakest currency in the world.....

Anyway, what does all that have to do with whether or not to apply for US citizenship??????
 
Originally posted by GeorgeF
Based on your post it is not worth living.:D All the jobs will be gone, in 15 years we'll all be teachers. The US dollar will be the weakest currency in the world.....

Anyway, what does all that have to do with whether or not to apply for US citizenship??????

Pretty good question !:D

We all come here for more $$ (and in some case more freedom). But in general money is all that matters for all those who choose AmeriKa. So if the $$ gets to a low value, how does having citizenship help? I mean is it worth becoming a citizen?

At this outset I would like to ask all people, why do you want to become a citizen?

My answer is: to get a Govt job (and tell all those that I am eligbile for high level security clearance) and be able to vote and do something for the country that has done so much to me.

Your answer? TIA
 
Reason

Reason I applied was that I can get my spouse w/o much trouble. I don't think I can wait for 5 years as a GC holder :rolleyes:
 
PD,

Are you already married ? I am considering getting married too, and was wondering if u have explored all options (k1/k3/f1) etc
to bring a spouse over ?
 
I am already in Midwest :-(

One thing I enjoy here is, less traffic than the DC area where I lived for full five years. Rest of the "Quality of Life" is not that great. Everything here is more expensive than DC.

BUT tell you what, DC area physicians are a group of flat idiots. We went to them for five full years and they never told us what was wrong with us. In 6 months here we are knowing exactly what is going wrong with us ! They are just blood suckers but that is another point.

Aye, aye, will keep an eye on quality of life (and $ of course) :)
Thanks for the tip
 
WBC,

Talking of quality of life and petty doctors, have you forgotten
the plight of most medical institutions and docs in India ? In the US you still have to fight to make ends meet but atlest you
have your basics of roti-kapada-makan (foot/clothing/shelter) covered. You may be bleeding to death, and most ppl in India will just crowd around you and watch you die. Not to blame them but a life as much as it is here.

Quality of life is surely better in the US than in India. The biggest
trade off if you are in the private sector is "uncertainity" and having a lack of a strong cultural presence. I dont remember
the last Diwali I celebrated with my family and friends, or even
my birthday. It surely comes down to a compromise between what you want at that stage of life and what you are willing to sacrifice. By being a US Citizen you are like JoeF mentioned, being part of the greatest democracy in the world, in this era and also
if nothing else, an option to be part of this land (in your case with the dual citizenship coming thro).

It is easy to get complacent and not count your blessings. You and I are truly blessed to be in this land today. Just look around you in Iraq,India,Africa, where people are struggling just for the basics. Look some right wing nations, where people have no free speach etc. At the least, you have an option to choose where you want to live for the rest of your life. Atleast for this a US Citizenship is worth it if not for the chance to run for Governer
 
Soul searching..........

Everybody has their own reasons to apply for Citizenship. I have my own. So, I do not want to comment on your reasons.

However, one thing I must say: US is a great Democratic country. But, India is the biggest Democracy on this earth. All of us who are from India choose not to participate in the democratic process in India.

As far as quality of life is concerned, it is a relative term and it depends on our definition of "quality of life."
 
That has nothing to do with it

Quality of life has nothing to do whether or not to apply for US Citizenship. One can live here, make those dollars you mention here and have decent health care and many many benefits without being a US Citizen. Actually, not even a Green Card or any kind of visa is required in certain situations:)

You are missing the point - WouldBeCitizen - if those are the factors affecting your decision whether or not to become a US Citizen.

It's not a question whether or not to immigrate when it comes to Citizenship. Those are the questions one faces when trying to get a green card, or a visa or just packing the suitcase or a backpack and crossing the Rio Grande.

PhillyDude, I too can't wait to become a citizen so I can apply for my spouse.

Besides that I want to become a US Citizen because I feel this is my home. I already pay taxes and want to be a part of the decision process about where the money will go.

It's like dating and marriage. With a girlfriend (GreenCard) one gets to go out for dinner, have fun, have a soulmate, have sex. With marriage it's a one step further. Decision, commitment, responsibility and pride. That's what US Citizenship will mean to me. (If I will ever be called for an interview, of couse) :D

My $0.02
 
Re: That has nothing to do with it

Originally posted by GeorgeF
Quality of life has nothing to ...

Just thinking about this. Let us assume we retire in this country after getting citizenship. With all the old age related health problems etc, would not that be difficult to survive without good income? In that old age how would we be able to find a job that is good? After all even many basketball players who are millionaires suffer for $ in old age. Our savings and investments are not a lot and won't grow into mega millions anyway.

Of course the problem is there in India too but what about USA? Won't we be remaining single and aloof?

BTW I am planning to apply for citizenship of course and I am sure I have given the reasons in earlier posts. TIA
 
Many seniors settle outside the US after retirement. It may be
a good idea for some of us to do the same. But damn, how old are you ? I have atleast 35 years before I worry about retirement. If you are 50, then it may be a lot different, but apply nevertheless!
 
Originally posted by Rahul Kumar
Many seniors settle outside the US after retirement. It may be
a good idea for some of us to do the same. But damn, how old are you ? I have atleast 35 years before I worry about retirement. If you are 50, then it may be a lot different, but apply nevertheless!

You are planning to work till 65? I heard that the bosses usually ask people to go after 60 and if they do not go, they will be laid off with the slightest chance the bosses get. And hey this is the rule in Govt jobs. I heard that with the retired Govt. Employee of DC who managed 40 attornies in his office.

We can never say how long we can work because once you are over 50 - Well, I am not 50 and plan to work till my last breath is out, come what may :D - you will never know what health problem can come up one fine morning. Whoever thought that Vajpayeeji can work at 85(?) or Bill Clinton to retire at 50? Everything is unpredictable.

And when we retire what would our $s amount to? :-(
 
Re: Re: Bad news for Wouldbecitizen :D :D

Originally posted by WouldBeCitizen
Philly, you make me sick :o :o :o :o

Expected it to be 50 before the end of 2003 but it keeps playing hide and seek with me. :o :o

GeorgeF, are you from Desh? If not, you would not understand anything. So leave it there :rolleyes:

I have no idea where Desh is (or what Desh is).
I don't think I want to understand it anymore and I will take your advice and leave it there......
 
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