Comments on: SERIOUSLY!?! http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/ The life and times of a cross atlantic couple Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:25:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Cécy http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2496 Cécy Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:11:34 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2496 Wow, it's crazy to read this. I found out through TH that the US taxes you even if you live out of the country. I honestly did not know about it. I still have a full year before I can even apply for citizenship. We were actually talking about it with my husband last night and I told him it's not something I'm going to take lightly. To me becoming a citizen means embracing all that America stands for and I'm not sure I'm ready for it yet. I don't want to take the citizenship just because one doesn't have to apply for the green card and can vote (although voting is quite important for me). I have the chance to be French and as is I won't loose my citizenship because France recognizes dual citizenship with the US. It's not the case everywhere, some people can loose they citizenship if they take the american one from what I heard. If I had to choose between one or the other I would keep my birth citizenship because no matter how long I live in the US I will always be French in my heart. Hubby and I got married quickly because of immigration. I say it honestly, if it wasn't for that we would have waited until we were a bit more ready for it. But it was marriage or being separated for who knows how long again. So we got married and I don't regret it. Wow, it’s crazy to read this.
I found out through TH that the US taxes you even if you live out of the country. I honestly did not know about it.

I still have a full year before I can even apply for citizenship. We were actually talking about it with my husband last night and I told him it’s not something I’m going to take lightly.
To me becoming a citizen means embracing all that America stands for and I’m not sure I’m ready for it yet. I don’t want to take the citizenship just because one doesn’t have to apply for the green card and can vote (although voting is quite important for me).

I have the chance to be French and as is I won’t loose my citizenship because France recognizes dual citizenship with the US. It’s not the case everywhere, some people can loose they citizenship if they take the american one from what I heard.
If I had to choose between one or the other I would keep my birth citizenship because no matter how long I live in the US I will always be French in my heart.

Hubby and I got married quickly because of immigration. I say it honestly, if it wasn’t for that we would have waited until we were a bit more ready for it. But it was marriage or being separated for who knows how long again. So we got married and I don’t regret it.

]]> By: Karen http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2429 Karen Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:19:07 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2429 You must read Elizabeth Gilmore's new book, Committed. Not totally like your story- but I think you'll appreciate it!! You must read Elizabeth Gilmore’s new book, Committed. Not totally like your story- but I think you’ll appreciate it!!

]]> By: Christiana http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2428 Christiana Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:44:39 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2428 @Ellie, you're going to have live in Britain for awhile to snag that passport ;) @Josiah/Jenny - we may be up in april? I'll keep you posted! @liesal I really should give people the benefit of doubt - but it's just so infuriating. I think it's the tone of "why WOULDN'T he want to be a citizen!?" that bothers me the most. I think you're right on about the melting pot (and props to your dad!). @Ellie, you’re going to have live in Britain for awhile to snag that passport ;)

@Josiah/Jenny – we may be up in april? I’ll keep you posted!

@liesal I really should give people the benefit of doubt – but it’s just so infuriating. I think it’s the tone of “why WOULDN’T he want to be a citizen!?” that bothers me the most. I think you’re right on about the melting pot (and props to your dad!).

]]> By: Liesal http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2427 Liesal Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:18:38 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2427 Ugh! Americans are probably the most ethnocentric people that I know. My favorite ethnocentric line is "If you're in my country, then you need to speak my language!" My father has lived in this country since he was 19 (turning 54 this weekend) and he has never felt the need to become a citizen. I really feel sorry for these people because they are just ignorant of the entire world around them and probably don't have the social "shut up" factor. I'm probably naive, but I really think that people aren't trying to be rude when they ask questions about a spouse's status in the US(except for those anonymous internet douches), they probably just don't get it. I also think that people have forgotten how this country started. Unless someone's full blooded Native American, someone in your family came from another country too. I often have remind my ethnocentric husband that when his great-great-grandparents came over, they didn't speak a lick of English either. I think that is the cool thing about America-we're the melting pot of the world and we get to experience all kinds of different cultures. Ugh! Americans are probably the most ethnocentric people that I know. My favorite ethnocentric line is “If you’re in my country, then you need to speak my language!” My father has lived in this country since he was 19 (turning 54 this weekend) and he has never felt the need to become a citizen.

I really feel sorry for these people because they are just ignorant of the entire world around them and probably don’t have the social “shut up” factor. I’m probably naive, but I really think that people aren’t trying to be rude when they ask questions about a spouse’s status in the US(except for those anonymous internet douches), they probably just don’t get it.

I also think that people have forgotten how this country started. Unless someone’s full blooded Native American, someone in your family came from another country too. I often have remind my ethnocentric husband that when his great-great-grandparents came over, they didn’t speak a lick of English either. I think that is the cool thing about America-we’re the melting pot of the world and we get to experience all kinds of different cultures.

]]> By: Geek in Heels http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2426 Geek in Heels Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:45:09 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2426 My husband has lived in the US for over a decade now, but still refuses to become a citizen. He jokes that it's because he doesn't want to get drafted, but I know that it's because he is still proud of the country of his origin and he honestly doesn't think that the benefits of being a citizen (as opposed to a permanent resident) are worth it. To hell with those people — seriously, some people really have nothing better to do than to try to spread their misery to others' lives. P.S. — I LOVE lmgtfy.com too! My husband has lived in the US for over a decade now, but still refuses to become a citizen. He jokes that it’s because he doesn’t want to get drafted, but I know that it’s because he is still proud of the country of his origin and he honestly doesn’t think that the benefits of being a citizen (as opposed to a permanent resident) are worth it.

To hell with those people — seriously, some people really have nothing better to do than to try to spread their misery to others’ lives.

P.S. — I LOVE lmgtfy.com too!

]]> By: Josiah http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2425 Josiah Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:16:56 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2425 hahaha i know who you’re talking about cos i just read her answer about having a friend to do this i’m pretty surprised at some of the questions too, people can be so ignorant on a unrelated note, when are you guys coming up? Will Nick be around in June? I’m going to have WorldCup parties on weekends so if you guys want to come watch some football and get wasted, let me know hahaha i know who you’re talking about cos i just read her answer about having a friend to do this

i’m pretty surprised at some of the questions too, people can be so ignorant

on a unrelated note, when are you guys coming up? Will Nick be around in June? I’m going to have WorldCup parties on weekends so if you guys want to come watch some football and get wasted, let me know

]]> By: Josiah http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2424 Josiah Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:16:31 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2424 hahaha i know who you're talking about cos i just read her answer about having a friend to do this :) i'm pretty surprised at some of the questions too, people can be so ignorant on a unrelated note, why are you guys coming up? Will Nick be around in June? I'm going to have WorldCup parties on weekends so if you guys want to come watch some football and get wasted, let me know hahaha i know who you’re talking about cos i just read her answer about having a friend to do this :)

i’m pretty surprised at some of the questions too, people can be so ignorant

on a unrelated note, why are you guys coming up? Will Nick be around in June? I’m going to have WorldCup parties on weekends so if you guys want to come watch some football and get wasted, let me know

]]> By: Ellie http://www.usmeetsuk.com/2010/02/seriously/#comment-2423 Ellie Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:10:40 +0000 http://www.usmeetsuk.com/?p=1986#comment-2423 I can't believe some of the questions she gets - people are /horrible/. That being said, Mark's a citizen now, but honestly, he got his citizenship after living here for nearly 20 years (in fact it may have been 20). And the only reason he did it was because he realized not being a citizen was limiting his job search (oh, and he started dating me and that made him want to start voting! I'm such a good influence!) As long as their are no concerns about your immigration and you don't need it for your job or whatever, I don't think it's really a concern. It never bothered me that Mark wasn't a citizen, other than he couldn't vote. On the other hand, since he didn't have any real intention of moving back to England, at some point, it made more sense for him to become a citizen. BTW, do we get British citizenship just for marrying them? I have no good reason for wanting it except to rub it in the faces of my friends who WISH they could be this cool. So I probably shouldn't bother :-p. I can’t believe some of the questions she gets – people are /horrible/. That being said, Mark’s a citizen now, but honestly, he got his citizenship after living here for nearly 20 years (in fact it may have been 20). And the only reason he did it was because he realized not being a citizen was limiting his job search (oh, and he started dating me and that made him want to start voting! I’m such a good influence!)
As long as their are no concerns about your immigration and you don’t need it for your job or whatever, I don’t think it’s really a concern. It never bothered me that Mark wasn’t a citizen, other than he couldn’t vote. On the other hand, since he didn’t have any real intention of moving back to England, at some point, it made more sense for him to become a citizen.
BTW, do we get British citizenship just for marrying them? I have no good reason for wanting it except to rub it in the faces of my friends who WISH they could be this cool. So I probably shouldn’t bother :-p.

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