tizimatt.info

As I mentioned before, 2012 is a year of big anniversaries. One of them, is the 20 year anniversary of my arrival in San Diego, on September 9, 1992. It seems impossible it has been so long: soon I will have lived here longer than I have lived in Italy.

I do miss my family and friends, A LOT, and I do miss some things about Italy, such as l’aperetivo, well designed & affordable furniture, vacation time and socialized medicine — yes, I am a bleeding liberal, at least here in the States, since in Italy, I am considered more on the right…imagine that.

However, I never, not even once, regretted my decision, for as hard as it has been at times. I love San Diego and would not trade this city for anything. And I have always felt I belong to two countries (or maybe to none…but this is different story).

SPOILER ALERT: following is a bitter recap of the immigration path for a LEGAL alien. Feel free to skip it if you like.

During my past 20 years I had to deal with the “wonderful” immigration department on many, many occasions. I think I tried almost any available visas: tourist, prospective student, full time student, temporary worker, full time worker.

Despite 10 years in which I resided here legally, paying out of state tuition, being forced to get health insurance (funny how nobody talks about this health mandate, since it is for “foreigners”), paying taxes, getting social security income withheld (without being eligible for receiving any of it) and being a law abiding person, I was never eligible for residency automatically. I spare you how difficult it is to get residency through work, or even as an outstanding professional.

Only my marriage allowed me to become an official, legal alien with parole papers (meaning I can leave the country and come back while I waited for my card): who came up with these denigrating terms? I finally got my green card, which is not green at all, after submitting to a background check, a joint interview with Matt and a medical exam that made sure I did not have HIV, a condition which would have disqualified me. Well, after all this is understandable I really did not want to have anything to do with immigration again.

END OF BITTERNESS

It has been so long, the department changed its name: I still never remember the new one. I am obviously not the only one: INS is still really high in Google searches. No surprise: which is easier to remember?

from INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services)…

to USCIS.

However being a resident is still not a permanent condition and so, as the big anniversary approached, and with an important election looming, I figured it was a good idea to become a citizen. After all this time, I was actually surprised at how quickly and efficiently the process went.

I applied at the end of January, dropping a nice, fat check, and swearing not to be a Nazi, or a communist or a drunkard, or a drug dealer or an illegal immigrant smuggler, basically proving of being of sound moral character (seriously!). Within a couple of weeks I received a confirmation text and email. Amazing! What efficiency. After more fingerprinting, I prepared for the civic exam, which was ridiculously easy: you are given a booklet with 100 questions/answers and they will choose 10 to ask you. As long as you answer 6/10, can write and read a sentence in English you pass. By the way, anwwer this one: how many voting members does the House have in 2012?

Despite being very preoccupied by Matt’s health, the exam went well. It was ironic they asked me who the USA fought in WW2. My answer? Germany, Japan, and Italy, for a while, before we switched sides and joined USA. The inspector laughed, and while the answer was not in the book, I still passed. By the way, I am sure more than the many Americans could not answer the majority of these questions.

Test your knowledge with these online questions.

So the day finally came for the naturalization ceremony. Matt graciously agreed to come with me to witness the momentous event. I am sure he regretted the decision as soon as we saw the huge line sneaking around the building, as we arrived, at 7.40 am, 20 minutes early. Fortunately, though, the line moved faster than expected: in fact when we were all seated, we had to wait a good half an hour, till 10 am for the judge to appear. To make matters worse, Matt was “relegated” to the balcony, so he had to sit and wait: we should have brought a book. At least I had my smart phone.

We all received our info packet, which included the oath of allegiance and of course a small American flag.

After a few speakers dealing with the technical stuff, such as how to register to vote, and to get a passport, the judge finally arrived and we got started. We began with the flag presented by ROTC kids (no comment), then the American Anthem. Then, there was a video message from the President: I guess I am glad I waited, otherwise I would have had to sit through Bush’s message, and that would have totally ruined the moment.

Then Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego District Attorney (and mayor candidate) spoke, and finally the judge. She started with calling out all the nations represented in the room: there were 680 people from 75 different countries. I could not see any other Italian, but guess which country had the most representatives???

After that, she just gave a congratulatory speech and then we all recited the oath of allegiance. The whole ceremony was over in about 30 minutes. We then lined up some more, to get our certificate. And that was it.

20 years of waiting and it was all over. I guess it felt very anticlimactic. Nor I felt any different…and since I still have my Italian citizenship (both US and Italy support dual citizenship) I will still criticize both countries equally. (-:

Matt went back to work, and I went back home (I took the day off) and resumed my normal life. Since it was only a couple of days before memorial Day, Matt was able to find some very patriotic red, white and blue flowers, completed with the flag and he brought them home to celebrate me. What a sweetie!

So now I am a “real” American; next step: a US passport and registering to vote (nor that my vote matters in California).

Comments are off for this post