Obstacles Preventing Us From Closing the Distance

[Verojoon]

Ooooh, I see. That does complicate matters. That must make your situation incredibly difficult! I'm sorry you have so many other obstacles.

Though, I'm curious about something... I could be totally wrong about this. In fact, I probably am since I'm sure you two have looked into all this stuff, but I want to bring it up because I'm curious... I was under the impression that the US did not allow for dual citizenship? I know that people can get US residency and be legally allowed to live and work in the US for an indefinite amount of time with the ability to travel, but not citizenship exactly. I'm not sure if that means it would be taken away or not once a person decides to no longer reside there, but I imagined that to be a case since I thought the US distinguished a difference between residency and citizenship. Maybe I'm confused about something; it isn't as though I've looked at US immigration law, really.

Hmmm, as for his mother, once you guys close the distance, he could always sponsor her to come since she is his mother, no?

Yeah, the wait can be frustrating. I hope he is able to work it all out very soon!

I knew of people with dual citizenship, so I never looked into it, but you worried me for as bit. Here is what I found:

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship over another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship. Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.

So I guess it is looking more and more like we would have to be married!

Edited: I just re-read that, and I think I understood it wrong... it sounds like he doesn't have to give up his US citizenship for any reason....

[Lady Grimm]

Haha, thanks! I appreciate the thought. Yeah, I think one of the best things a person can do is take time off before pursuing post-secondary education. I have done that already, though, haha. I literally just started my first year of university last month... At the age of 20, lol. I ended up taking three years off between high school and university. :P

To be fair, I probably didn't do as much wild traveling as I could have. The time off was the time when my SO and I took the opportunity to finally meet, though! That was certainly something wonderful that came out of the whole thing. There was also the aforementioned European travels, New York City, and England a good number of times. So despite spending most of the time working, I certainly did get out there.

[Lady Grimm]

I knew of people with dual citizenship, so I never looked into it, but you worried me for as bit. Here is what I found:



So I guess it is looking more and more like we would have to be married!

Oh, bother!

I had desperately hoped that I was wrong -- well, I was in certain regards, but was more or less on the right track. I'm sorry to have thrown a wrench into your plans. It is better to know sooner rather than later, though, right? I mean, it isn't all bad. Giving up his US citizenship for Canadian citizenship won't necessarily stop him from visiting his family. It would, however, just make moving back to the US, if ever such a situation arose out of necessity for whatever reason, immensely difficult.

[SoFarAway]

It would, however, just make moving back to the US, if ever such a situation arose out of necessity for whatever reason, immensely difficult.

When I was about to marry my ex, I looked into the green card process and becoming a US citizen as well. So, I know from the US that I would have to give up German citizenship. The German consulate general would have given me a stamp in my american passport stating that I was a former citizen. It gives former Germans the permission to live their lives in Germany as usually if the person would decide to move back. the only difference is that I wouldn't be able to vote. Maybe there is something similar to your country

[Verojoon]

Oh, bother!

I had desperately hoped that I was wrong -- well, I was in certain regards, but was more or less on the right track. I'm sorry to have thrown a wrench into your plans. It is better to know sooner rather than later, though, right? I mean, it isn't all bad. Giving up his US citizenship for Canadian citizenship won't necessarily stop him from visiting his family. It would, however, just make moving back to the US, if ever such a situation arose out of necessity for whatever reason, immensely difficult.

Well even if I have to marry him in order for him to not lose his citizenship, we are thinking it may have to come to that anyways... And 3 years from now, it seems we should be able to make that decision easily enough...

When I was about to marry my ex, I looked into the green card process and becoming a US citizen as well. So, I know from the US that I would have to give up German citizenship. The German consulate general would have given me a stamp in my american passport stating that I was a former citizen. It gives former Germans the permission to live their lives in Germany as usually if the person would decide to move back. the only difference is that I wouldn't be able to vote. Maybe there is something similar to your country

Or maybe there is something like this he'll be able to do!

[Lady Grimm]

Well, its true. Who knows where you guys will be three years down the line. The time may just be 'right' to get married so the other issues won't even matter!

Yes, or hopefully something like SoFarAway said. Maybe something like that is a possibility, too! I don't know because I've only looked at UK/Canada stuff, and since Canada isn't a country with quite as a-hole laws as the US, dual citizenship isn't an issue. Just spend a lot of time on the government websites to see what your options are!

[SoFarAway]

Canada isn't a country

Barney Stinson couldn't have said that better... and that is as much as I got out of your response as well LOL

[Lady Grimm]

LOL!

Hardy-har-har! Canada is always the butt of every joke...

That's okay. Everyone just makes fun because they're jealous of awesome Canada. :P

[Tooki]

From what I gathered from reading the US policy on dual-citizenship, if you decide to naturalise then you lose US citizenship if the other country forces you to renounce your citizenship. The USA won't disallow you from being a dual citizen though.

And Canada is just the northern-hemisphere brother of Australia.

We enjoy being better than our big parent England!

[Verojoon]

From what I gathered from reading the US policy on dual-citizenship, if you decide to naturalise then you lose US citizenship if the other country forces you to renounce your citizenship. The USA won't disallow you from being a dual citizen though.

Yes, this is what it is sounding to me the more I read into it... though the laws aren't completely clear, I think the ambiguities would only come into play if one were in trouble with the law... and even then, the constitution seems to be in favor of keeping both citizenship in those cases, unless, of course, one was to be convicted of treason, or something like that! Canada doesn't force you to renounce citizenship. I guess this explains all my friends who are dual citizen... though in reality, my SO would become citizen of 3 countries, as Iran doesn't allow you to relinquish citizenship very easily (if at all). Though they also don't recognize dal citizenship, so if he went back home, he would be recognized as only an Iranian citizen... which can be dangerous...

[Lady Grimm]

From what I gathered from reading the US policy on dual-citizenship, if you decide to naturalise then you lose US citizenship if the other country forces you to renounce your citizenship. The USA won't disallow you from being a dual citizen though.

And Canada is just the northern-hemisphere brother of Australia.

We enjoy being better than our big parent England!

Yes! Someone who understands!

...

Though, I can't hate on England too much. My SO would disapprove. :P

[EnglishMan]

Yes! Someone who understands!

...

Though, I can't hate on England too much. My SO would disapprove. :P

Not hating on England and you're not English? Ok, you are definitely cut out to live over here .

Unfortunately with a lot of LDR and visa stories ive read, it seems marriage is by far the most realistic resolution (not that marriage is a bad thing, I just mean it kinda puts pressure on you marrying. Something I'll be ok with but I can understand why others would be more reluctant). It's not the only option, as people have said working holiday visas, work abroad schemes, you say about university coming up which opens to door for a possible year abroad at a University in the UK.. some of your options there.

I understand it would be preferable for him to come over, and im in the same position as he is (just graduated and looking into ways I could spend an extended period in America, if not be able to permanently move yet) and it is kinda overwhelming, they dont really make your options too clear and when you do understand them, they seem pretty difficult to obtain! Helps if you have a ton of money and the ability to set yourself up with a job.

So yeah, we're kinda in the same boat as you two (albeit you've been going for a lot longer than us!). If he wants to come on his own merit, then immigration is becoming harder so that'll prove much more difficult i'd imagine. Countries (in the west at least, not sure about elsewhere), are mostly just looking for people who will fill holes in their workforce, so he needs to have skills that are short in Canada or possess something that Canada could use. Fortunately countries are sensible enough to keep it reasonable for legitimate marriages to succeed.

Personally, we're looking at me being able to secure some kind of work abroad post near her and then hopefully the following year or two she could spend one of her College years here. That way, it's possible to live together for a couple of years without either having actually moved, and that would tie us through her college and we could make more permanent moves after her college when she's more flexible to do so. Could be an option to work with?

[Lady Grimm]

Not hating on England and you're not English? Ok, you are definitely cut out to live over here .

Unfortunately with a lot of LDR and visa stories ive read, it seems marriage is by far the most realistic resolution (not that marriage is a bad thing, I just mean it kinda puts pressure on you marrying. Something I'll be ok with but I can understand why others would be more reluctant). It's not the only option, as people have said working holiday visas, work abroad schemes, you say about university coming up which opens to door for a possible year abroad at a University in the UK.. some of your options there.

I understand it would be preferable for him to come over, and im in the same position as he is (just graduated and looking into ways I could spend an extended period in America, if not be able to permanently move yet) and it is kinda overwhelming, they dont really make your options too clear and when you do understand them, they seem pretty difficult to obtain! Helps if you have a ton of money and the ability to set yourself up with a job.

So yeah, we're kinda in the same boat as you two (albeit you've been going for a lot longer than us!). If he wants to come on his own merit, then immigration is becoming harder so that'll prove much more difficult i'd imagine. Countries (in the west at least, not sure about elsewhere), are mostly just looking for people who will fill holes in their workforce, so he needs to have skills that are short in Canada or possess something that Canada could use. Fortunately countries are sensible enough to keep it reasonable for legitimate marriages to succeed.

Personally, we're looking at me being able to secure some kind of work abroad post near her and then hopefully the following year or two she could spend one of her College years here. That way, it's possible to live together for a couple of years without either having actually moved, and that would tie us through her college and we could make more permanent moves after her college when she's more flexible to do so. Could be an option to work with?

Hahaha! I appreciate your approval in my desire to move to your glorious country! <3 :P

Yeah, the more we look into the realities of all this, marriage is seeming like the option that will help us close the distance in a reasonable period of time. Like I said, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I suppose it is a combination of him being quite proud -- wanting to do this on his own merit -- and us both still being fairly young. It is tough. I think we'll definitely look into holiday visas and/or a year abroad for myself. I looked into it a bit on my uni's website earlier. It will certainly be a challenge since none of eligible unis are even remotely close to him. If it wasn't for the fact that I am way too terrified to drive on the wrong side of the road (lol), that wouldn't be a problem, but it just might prove to be. I'll look into it more. Apparently I can put in a request to choose a uni outside of the pre-authorized ones, but that is a complicated and not guaranteed process. Still, we're seeing that there are more options... And if none of them work, well, cue the wedding march! Ha!

Ah, yeah, very similar positions. I'd offer advice or help, but I don't know much about the American immigration. I know what you mean about overwhelming, though. The websites just go on and on with different rules, guidelines, types of visas, but they barely give any concrete information. It all feels a little up-in-the-air to the point where you almost have to just fill out the form that seems the most suitable and hope that you didn't waste all sorts of time and money doing the wrong thing. Eligibility also becomes pretty vague so you're never really 100% sure whether you qualify under a specific type. They could make things so much clearer, but they just won't. And the requirements are insane. On the Canadian site, there is a little eligibility 'quiz' that tells you whether you qualify. When I did it the first time exactly the way it applied to my SO, he was not eligible. I tried it probably 15 more times, changing answers to see how it would affect the results... In the end, the ONLY answers that made him eligible is 3 (or 5) years of work experience, a job offer, and over $300,000 in the bank. That won't happen any time soon. -sigh-

As for countries looking to fill holes, I don't believe my SO will fall under that category. Canada -- particularly where I am -- isn't exactly lacking people to fill positions in the technology industry. It is growing like crazy, so I would like to hope that it is possible, but it certainly wasn't on the government website that talked about on the in demand, desirable professions/industries page.

Yeah, your current plan is the best one for us, too... Ugh, why does this have to be so hard?

[squeeker]

Hi there, I just wanted to comment because I'm in a similar position as you all, immigration is so difficult and often marriage seems the only way if you don't have tons of money or a really good skill that's in demand.. my boyfriend and I came to the conclusion that we'd have to get proper degrees to have any hope of getting good jobs to raise enough funds to finally close the distance.. so we're looking at a good few more years of long distance. And going to university costs a lot. I would have loved to attend university in the UK but have the problem of insane international student fees! I wanted to do the youth mobility visa you have to have a few thousand dollars at least for that as well. I think our options were always going to be getting degrees because we have big dreams as well. Even marriage costs money, and starting a family and having our own house and land.. all of our dreams cost money. I just hope we will be able to afford visits at least once a year still.. and complete our university degrees as fast as possible.. I find that although it's frustrating not being able to close the distance right now, having a plan even if it's a few years away, makes it a lot easier too.

Good luck to all you in your future plans.

[Lady Grimm]

Thanks, Squeeker!

Yeah, it is really all about having a plan. Even when you have one, though, it is tough. Sometimes things mess up plans, and sometimes these plans just take so long. MY SO and I have been in an LDR for a long time. We're just ready to close the distance.

And good luck to you, too! You seem to have it all worked out.