Belfast to the U.S.

I left Belfast, and came to America. The economy wasn't getting any better and most of my family had already started their journey to America long ago. Jobless and almost homeless, the welfare line to long to wait in. I packed up my things and headed to the United States, despite the long dreadful process of becoming a citizen, I was determined to get out of this dreadful, no potential place. I might even be a citizen before the decade is over. With the complicated immigration laws, meeting eligibility requirements, saving money for legal and application fees, learning American civics and history, passing background checks, and, learning how to communicate properly, shouldn’t take that long. I believe the process is no more then 5 years but could take longer if there are a lot of applicants. Not to mention filling out the forms correctly with no mistakes. The wait is well worth the right to freedom. The educational and job opportunities that I will get to choose from to better my life.

The whole process of becoming a citizen of the United states is a lot of work: 10 page application, more documentation, two passport – style photos, questions pretty straight forward: name, address, country of origin, birthdates and employer. Some are pretty personal: Have you ever been a habitual drunkard or procured a prostitute? Have you ever been a member of the Communist party or a terrorist organization? Between March 23, 1933, and May 8, 1945, did you work for the Nazi government of Germany? The fees that you have to pay for every form you fill out and turn in add up to about $15,000 when all is said and done. After the first 10-page application is turned in and all is correct I received a letter to make an appointment to get fingerprinted, and background investigation done. Waited for another letter to make another appointment for the interview, oral English exam and a quiz of 10 questions about the US. Totally stressed out it’s now been 8 years and I...