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I just became a US citizen today
I took the Oath to become an American citizen today, after having lived in the U.S. since I was a little girl. I'm glad to have finally done this, but I'm wondering on what to do next.
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Congratulations!
Have you registered to vote? That's the only thing I can think of right now.
Thanks!
Not yet, I had to go to work. (still at work)
Can you register to vote online if you're in Texas?
Hello fellow Texan!
https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/
Here's the link for registering to vote in Texas. I don't believe they have an online option yet. Or at least I don't see one on this web page. You can get the application online but it still requires mailing to the Registrar
Unfortunately looks like that option isn’t available in Texas. Check out this link for the steps. Looks like you have to mail it in 30 days before the election. Anecdotally, you can often get these forms at the local library which makes it convenient to pick up, fill out, and mail all while out and without having to print stuff.
I didn't know I could do this at a library; how long will it be until I get a response from them?
Passport? There probably isn't any hurry right now, but it takes time to get one.
I wanted to do that, but I heard they're not letting anyone apply for one unless it's a life or death emergency. :/
Since I'm a first time applicant though, could a special case be made for me?
I mean, might as well apply, at the very least you'll have all the paperwork ready. The worst that happens is they say "no, come back later".
Don't they take your documents though? I don't feel entirely comfortable giving away my documents if they're just gonna hold on to them and tell me no.
Update: the website says that passport applications are still being allowed, but to expect significant delays due to Covid-19. I scheduled an appointment at the post office, so hopefully everything should go according to plan.
Congratulations!
First thing to do? Register to vote, provided you're old enough. Even as a lifelong citizen that first vote felt great. Though, do mail-in on for obvious reasons.
I am definitely old enough at the ripe old age of 23.
Is it not possible to register online to vote?
Okay, thanks for the link.
I meant mail-in ballot, you should be able to register online, for sure.
Aside from the passport and ability to vote, you've been here since a kid, so you know what they say.. if you talk like an American, and walk like an American, you probably are an American.
That said, there are a couple of classic Americanisms you probably haven't tried.
In a few years, you should definitely travel. It's not that customs and immigration become pleasant when you have a passport, but they are significantly less unpleasant.
Ha, as funny as number 1 is, I don't think I could ever actually that out loud, I'm not giving up on this place just cause of one controversial president.
I'm not mentally impaired (at least, not that I know of) so number 2 wouldn't work for me.
In regards to number 3, I typically just resort to passive-aggresive comments and side eye.
Have you celebrated yet? I don't mean a party: like, a glass of the Good Stuff™ (whatever it is you consider Good Stuff™), just as a somatic note that something good has happened.
That said: congratulations!!
I have not yet. The Oath Ceremony was actually pretty quick and afterwards I went home and then went to work.
But I did take the little flag with me to my job! Kept it in my apron pocket (damn thing fell out a couple of times) as a sort of mini celebration.
Congratulations!!! I was born a US citizen, but I might be going through this with my mom soon, we're looking at getting her naturalized. The only two things I can think of to do next, as the other commenters said, is to get your legally entitled passport (if you can afford it), and register to exercise your right to vote! :)
Thank you!
I really want to apply for a passport, but I heard they're only letting you if you have a life or death situation (which I do not).
Sry, not from the US: why are they not giving out passports unless its a life and death situation?
From what I read, it's a logistics thing. Most people aren't traveling internationally except for essential business or emergencies. The significantly reduced demand coupled with the risk of people gathering at work meant most related department employees were sent home and things are operating just enough to handle the necessary cases. Therefore, any non-essential passport applications and renewals will be significantly delayed based on current processing capacity and prioritization.
Seems they'll be reopening the department(s) in phases. The recommendation I've seen is to submit now rather than wait until things are fully reopened, where there's likely to be a giant wave of submissions.
(Forgot about Covid and thought it was a longer thing)
Still, what happens if you wish to leave the country? Doesn't that mean that the US is in practice locking its citizens in? Or is that normal, like that leaving is not considered an automatic protected right?
If you wish to leave and have a valid passport, then the only restrictions I believe are finding a flight and being allowed in by or to transit through the foreign country. Citizens are not automatically issued passports and passports are not automatically renewed. Traveling between states with in the US is completely free and open.
If you don't have a passport, or yours is expiring, then you need to get one in order to travel internationally. If you have an "emergency" or other need to travel abroad soon, you'll get priority in the current processing of applications. If you don't have a qualifying need to travel soon, you wait in the queue to get handled as fast as the processing capacity allows.
Pre-pandemic, the time between application submission and receiving your passport could be anywhere between a few weeks (or less with special expedition) and a few months depending on how long the queue is. The US population is almost 330 million; the number of new and renewal applications at a given time from a fraction of that can be huge. Right before and during peak vacation travel times, the queue will be longer. Mine, if I recall, was pretty quick because I did it off-peak. As long as your paperwork is in order and you pay the fee, you should get it eventually.
I don't see having to wait your turn in a queue due to processing capacity as equivalent to locking people in.
Ah its different here.
There's been a small bug going around :P
Oh so its just for now? Assumed it was a bigger thing since from what I've heard getting passports in the US is sorta non-trivial.
Congratulations, zara!
I'm with @ThatFanficGuy and think that the most important next step is that you should celebrate!
As a new American citizen how should I celebrate?
That's a tough question to answer right now given the circumstances regarding quarantining. When my brother-in-law became a citizen we threw a party for him with a bunch of Tex-Mex food, which is one of his favorite parts of American culture (mine too!). I'd say go with whatever will be both fun and safe for you and anyone you're choosing to celebrate with. Even if it's nothing big, this is a great moment for you to treat yourself!
Cool, but what exactly happened for you to take so long to do that if you've been in the US for most of your life?
That's just how immigration to the U.S. works, my man. Takes a lot of time and a lot of money. (applying to become a citizen cost me about $750)
To be honest, my parents and the immigration lawyer did pretty much all the work so I don't know much about the paperwork. But once I was approved to be a permanent resident (at 18) the process became a lot easier; at that point it was a lot more streamlined, basically "show up at this place with this paper and these documents and then we'll sign it and you'll be on your way".
I'm soooo grateful for my parents and their lawyer doing the brunt work. I've heard of people waiting over 15-20 years!
Welcome to the shit show! And like others have mentioned, get your vote on!