Finally naturalized!

Yesterday was a cold and wintry day and was also Juliette’s turn to be sworn in to become a citizen of the United States; she was part of a group of 199 individuals from 50 nations who became new Americans in a ceremony held monthly at the U.S. District Court of Utah. It takes at least five year of permanent residence and endless paperwork and interviews before one can become a U.S. citizen. This process is not inexpensive; it’s now $675 and used to be just $60 when we were naturalized in 1990. All naturalization applicants must demonstrate good moral character, attachment, and favorable disposition toward their new country. Asian and European immigrants have the highest naturalization rates, while Mexican immigrants have one of the lowest. I don’t have the figures for last year, but in 2006, Mexicans made up the largest single block of naturalized citizens with 12 percent while immigrants from Asia represented 25 percent. That year, more than 700,000 permanent residents became US citizens. Juliette, just like the rest of her U.S. family has dual citizenship and this alone is a very complicated subject. This status has only been allowed in France since 1973; rules in that country are applied a bit differently from the U.S.; children born there to tourists or short term visitors do not acquire French citizenship by birth, residency must be proven. At any rate, let’s welcome Juju amongst the great American family and just in time for electing a new and – let’s hope – a much better president!