There's a new U.S. "citizenship test" and it focuses on the concept of democracy.
Any non-citizen submitting a U.S. citizenship application on or after October 1, 2008 will have to answer questions such as:
"What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?"
"What does the Constitution do?"
Anyone who wants to apply for naturalization will have to answer 10 of a possible 100 questions. To pass, they must correctly answer at least six. We're told that CIS bureaucrats revamped the test to emphasize American democracy concepts, rather than just facts about history and government.
What Does Your Citizenship Really Mean?
It's not something most of us think about much, but let's examine the elements of citizenship and also what your passport really means. (Less than 30% of Americans have passports, a fairly low number.)
Citizenship can be loosely defined as the legal relationship between you and the sovereign nation in which you live. That status is defined by the law of each nation, conferring or limiting your duties and rights.
Usually, you acquire your citizenship just by being born in a specific nation, or from your parent(s) citizenship. Only through the formal process of citizenship acquisition, called naturalization, can you legally acquire the right to a second or alternative citizenship.
Second Passports: Your Travel Contingency Plan
The English political philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-97) observed in another time: "Early and provident fear is the mother of safety." His words of caution are still good advice for world travelers today.
Safety means travel using a national passport that keeps the bearer as far away as possible from controversy. This can be difficult if you carry a U.S. passport. Travel in the Middle East, the Balkans, parts of Russia or Asia using a U.S. passport may mean you're a target for terrorism.
But there are even more attractive reasons to obtain a second passport. Holding a passport from any of the 27 European Union nations gives you the valuable right to live, work and do business in every one of those EU nations.
You can secure a second passport based on your ancestry, particularly if your parents or grandparents were born in nations such as Ireland, Italy, Poland or even the United Kingdom. If you can afford it, you can also secure a second citizenship at a price from the Dominican Republic.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to give up your current U.S. passport if you do acquire a second passport. U.S. law supports your right as an American to enjoy dual citizenship.
Why Passports Are Now Traveling in Two Different Directions
Today, the world's passport requirements are moving in opposite directions. Some are becoming more liberal and others more rigorous.
With the advent of the European Union, national borders of 27 nations have fallen. Over 400 million people within the EU are able to travel freely without having to show individual national passports.
On the other hand, the 9/11 attacks have caused the U.S. government - and many other nations - to tighten formerly easy visa rules for foreign visitors. Eventually most visitors to America will be forced to have digital, biometric passports with detailed personal and physical information readable by computers. The EU and the UK are adopting similar passport standards.
Another restrictive development is the denial of passports for a host of civil and other wrongs. In the U.S. any parent in arrears for US$2500 or more in child support loses his or her passport. Then too, the U.S. government keeps a computerized record of every exit and entry a U.S. passport holder makes, together with the nations visited.
In an unsettled world, acquiring a second citizenship is a wise decision. It's an investment in your future. Your second citizenship will last a lifetime, and that protective shield can be extended to your spouse and children as well.
Please contact us at BankerTrust@gmail.com where we can assist you in obtaining a second passport from the Dominican Republic.
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