Comments on: Naturalizations Way Up Before Elections http://sweetness-light.com/archive/naturalizations-way-up-before-elections Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:34:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: palwalrus http://sweetness-light.com/archive/naturalizations-way-up-before-elections#comment-121796 palwalrus Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:36:55 +0000 http://sweetness-light.com/archive/naturalizations-way-up-before-elections#comment-121796 I think you are missing the point here. People who apply for naturalization have already had green cards for at least five years before applying to be naturalized and only when they are citizens can they vote. I have been in the US for over fourteen years and wanted desperately to vote this election, I applied over three years ago and because of a clerical error that UCIS made my application was turned down and I had to reapply, so I will not be able to vote, so I know how this works. The reason that you can see a surge in naturalizations before an election is to try and get people to start the process to become citizens and vote. In real terms apart from the ability to vote and get a job in the government there are very few advantages to applying and the fees are high. Immigration is only the first step, and while they are related they are not the same issue. I think you are missing the point here. People who apply for naturalization have already had green cards for at least five years before applying to be naturalized and only when they are citizens can they vote. I have been in the US for over fourteen years and wanted desperately to vote this election, I applied over three years ago and because of a clerical error that UCIS made my application was turned down and I had to reapply, so I will not be able to vote, so I know how this works.

The reason that you can see a surge in naturalizations before an election is to try and get people to start the process to become citizens and vote. In real terms apart from the ability to vote and get a job in the government there are very few advantages to applying and the fees are high. Immigration is only the first step, and while they are related they are not the same issue.

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