Becoming an American

Sat, 03 Jul 1999 16:00:00 +0000

This Fourth of July will be the fifth I have celebrated as an American citizen. This year, as in years past, as I sit around the barbecue to celebrate this country's independence, I will no doubt entertain a few more people with the true story of the bizarre civic procedures I followed in order to become a citizen.

I was a Canadian (and am still considered one in Canada, where dual citizenship applies). I paid my taxes, held a steady job and was generally considered a nice person. I had moved to California in 1978. After residing here as a legal alien for 15 years, I wanted to vote. I wasn't moving back to Canada anytime soon, so I figured I should become a bona fide American, with all the related privileges (like jury duty).

In the process of applying for citizenship, I was asked by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to swear on three forms, on three occasions and in three locations, that I wasn't a communist. I also checked boxes swearing that I was not a Nazi, prostitute, torturer, habitual drunkard or illegal gambler, among other occupations.

Salon.com > Dianne Jacob

Becoming an American