Congratulations on your green card!  Where were you originally from?

We may move to the US for Dylan to do a medical fellowship in 5-8 years
from now, but I would not give up my Canadian citizenship even if we
stayed in the US long term....I would always be wanting to eventually
come home, I think.  I would have to really feel like the new country
was my *fixed home*, not just somewhere I happened to be living, to
change my citizenship.

--Fil

Actually, the only reason I really want citizenship is because once I
get that piece of paper in my hands, I can never be hassled by the
immigration people ever again! And we can come and go freely should we
choose, without worrying about re-entry permits and how long we've
been gone and whether it constitutes abandoning my status as a
greencard holder... The greencard gives one level of security from
harassment, but citizenship is much better because it's permanent.

I've always been very ambivalent about it. Imagine how it feels to
pledge allegiance to a country different from the one you grew up in.
It's gotta be hard!
I do plan on becoming a citizen, cuz I'm sick and tired of paying taxes
and not being able to vote! What ever happened to no taxation without
representation? :)

In my experience, it usually has something to do with level of loyalty and
committment to the new and the old country. As long as taking an oath to a
new country feels like a betrayal of the old, it won't (and shouldn't) be
done. That covers a *lot* of people in highly mobile professions or
married to those who move a lot. They're in a country to work or study or
to be with family who are working or studying there, and don't plan to
stay permanently (although some do end up doing so). Sometimes there are
legal reasons, depending on what the laws of the permanent and temporary
homes are. Or safety reasons, when the country of which one is a
non-citizen but legal immigrant is less safe than the original country,
and that original passport is a safety line.

Immigration and emigration is a fascinating phenomenom, and much more
complex than the usual assumptions about people moving to more
desireable countries and staying permanently would indicate. I've known
people who immigrated for purely financial reasons, always intending to
retire to their home country. In the end, some of them do return and some
don't, often, it seems, depending on what the next generation is doing and
where they are living. And some are fleeing such horrible situations they
never want to go back, and get citizenship ASAP.

Congratulations to Kat!

Thanks Lily! That's a very long way away still... but it's closer than
it was last week :)

In Mexico it's a bit different. By accepting another country's
citizenship, you do lose your mexican citizenship, but not your
nationality. Mexico legally makes the distinction between nationals and
citizens. A mexican national is someone born in Mexico or to at least
one mexican parent. This status allows you to travel freely in and out
of the country, buy property, get jobs, and a few other rights I don't
quite remember. Now, in order to be a citizen, you have to be a mexican
national, 18 years of age and have an honest way of living (I guess our
politicians are technically not citizens?). Citizenship allows you to
vote and be candidate for elections. I'm pretty sure that's the only
extra right you get with citizenship, so I don't mind losing mine when I
become a US citizen. I want to vote at home, and Austin is my home.

Congratulations Karen!  This is wonderful, we're so happy for you.
Charleen and the furry threesome.

That's right... if you marry a USC and apply for a greencard they give
you a conditional one if you've been married for less than two years,
just in case you were only in it for the card... and of course it lets
them charge another fat fee :(

They're legal aliens. ;o)

Congratulations, Karen! It's been a long road, but you're getting there.