Legal immigration to USA about 27 years ago:
When I escaped from the other side of the Iron Curtin first 10 days I was put in quarantine (Austria). They had an interview with me and checked my background political story. I was granted temporary refugee status in Austria, but soon I had to chose a country to immigrate to, because Austria was closed down for refugees. The choices given to apply were in USA, Canada, South Africa or Australia. You could not apply for political refugee status in more than one country. USA was my choice because of the right to bear arms, and I thought that it would be the last bastion to stand against Communism.
The following had to be done:
1. Find an official sponsor or sponsor organization (i.e. Caritas), and upon acceptance sign the contract that we will pay back all expenses including air fair.
2. Make chest X-ray to be sure no pulmonary disease exist.
3. Blood test for venereal disease.
4. Fingerprints
5. Marketable skills.
6. No Communist membership.
7. Written declaration about my background, overall health, living close relatives, and why I chose America and what are my plans for the future.
8. Extended interview at the USA embassy in Vienna.
Fail at any of the above points meant no USA entry visa. It took about 11 months to get the approval. I found out that the delay happened because they had to process 10000 Chinese refugees who were in front of us.
Before leaving to USA we were bussed to a small town where we spent a few days for orientation about American culture, customs, etc. They were even teaching us the song titled New York, New York. Imagine people with different ethnicity from Eastern Bloc trying to sing in English. Well, we tried as best as we could.
Shortly after arrival to America I got the SS number and the Resident Alien card (Green Card). They said to everyone to avoid getting in conflict with the law because deportation will occur. Well, I was happy that I made it. After the Resident Alien card is issued you have to wait 5 years to have the right to apply for citizenship, which I did and obtained. Of course, you have to pass a written and oral exam about basic history, political structure, government, all in English to prove that you can read and write in English.
I wrote the above information to you in case someone in the future wants to know what is the difference between illegal alien invasion and legal immigration. If you assume by now that I am furious when I hear about amnesty you will guess it right. Also, every time I look at the ballots printed in different language I feel to scream out laud and want to forbid anyone to vote who can't read and write in English. What kind of citizenship exam did they take? Most likely the same happens with drivers license exams too. I took mine about 3 months in English after arrival to America. The preparation was a lot of work with extensive use of language dictionaries.
Thanks for that description of your experience and the process you went through to become an American.
My mother’s mother was a 1st generation American from the Slovak area. Her parents had come over to central Texas in the 1880s. Her husband, my grandfather, came to the United States from Austria in the late 1910s. He to came to Texas and met my grandmother.
He then went back to Europe during World War I and fought the Germans.
His only son, my Uncle Albert, fought Germany again in World War II, and was killed over Germany ion 1944 in a B-17.
The process to become an American citizen has been arduous for a reason. As Teddy Roosevelt said,
“We should insist that the immigrant who comes here does so in good faith and becomes a an American and assimilates himself to us. He shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else.
“But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American.
“There can be no divided allegiance here.
“We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.”
Great words from a great President.
Also, Idaho (and most of the intermountain west) maintains to this day the American ideal in the rural country and in the towns and cities.
People need not look for a small, isolated place to “bug out,” to. Idaho is such a place, as is Wyoming, Montana, western Colorado, Utah, northern Arizona, northern Nevada, and eastern Washington and Oregon.
Eastern Idaho around Idaho Falls is beautiful, higher in elevation, cooler summers and much colder winters. Western Idaho around Boise has more people (but still nothing compared to most urban areas), is wide open, warmer summers, and cold winters (but not as cold as eastern Idaho). Both have beautiful scenery. Either would be a wonderful place.
God bless you, and keep you and yours. Glad to have you with us as an American who understands the value of this land’s blessings, its liberty,. and its constitutional republic...and the culture and faith it has been founded and built upon.
It's an insult to all you did that Obambi and others would grant amnesty to those who didn't follow the rules.
Again, thank you for becoming an American citizen. I can't applaud you enough. You're a credit to yourself; to America's ideals; and to your heritage.