Guess why I was in court this morning!

[1970Moparmann]

Congratulations Dirk. . .   

x2!

[Cooter]

Congrats Dino, now Iwon't see you hangin' out at Home Depot anymore....

[Paul G]

My grand parents on both sides immigrated here from Italy at the turn of the last century. My parents were first generation here. Makes me a second gen. I am very grateful for the courage and sacrifice my grandparents endured so my parents and further generations could live our lives here in the land of the free.

I firmly believe that people who have been born here generation after generation don't realize how hard it is to keep what we have. Those who have to become Americans on there own, like Dino has done, realize what it is to be an American. Freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Sounds corny but some people will never experience freedom in there lifetime. I heard story's first hand of how difficult life was in the "old country" as they would call it. We are the luckiest people on the planet, and don't realize how easily we could lose the freedoms that we have.



   

[cdr]

DINO,that is an awesome accomplishment!!!!!!!  i am grateful for people like you that did it the correct way,proud to call you my fellow American. 

[moparguy01]

Its about time you slacker. 

Congratulations Doc

[71ChallengeHer]

Congrats, Dino.          

[bull]

  Cool, we'll take you. Now if we could just get rid of a couple hundred thousand who just walked in thinking they own the place...

[Tilar]

Cool, we'll take you. Now if we could just get rid of a couple hundred thousand who just walked in thinking they own the place...

           

[BrianShaughnessy]

Congrats  !   

[skip68]

You're a Yankee now.    A real genuine 100% piece of Americana.     

[Fred]

Congrats on your citizenship. It's a pretty special feeling. 

[Dino]

Thanks again gang!   

And thank you for noticing I did this the way it's supposed to be done.  It activates a very special, and very twitchy, nerve when I see people sneak into the country and then demand citizenship.  It took me over 6 years to get here but it's the way it needs to be done. I have stacks of paperwork sitting here, you wouldn't believe your own eyes.  You want to be part of this great nation?  Follow the rules, I did.

It's good to be an American.   

Oh and for the record.  As busy as these folks are, I have nothing for praise for the men and women of Homeland Security who guided me through the entire process with patience and courtesy.  I thought it would be important to say this as we tend to focus on the negative things around us more than anything, failing to see the good that is there.

[b5blue]

  Hey I'm sure this was covered in you classes but I need to remind you, If you turn 70 or retire you MUST ether buy a condo or mobile in FLORIDA or at the very least spend WINTER here. From what I can see you must also ride around very slowly in the far left lane (The "Fast Lane") with your right blinker on, stop in traffic for no apparent reason, (At rush hour or peak traffic commute times preferably.) Find every possible opportunity to effect a "rolling road block" buy jumping up next to another slow car and matching speed forcing all traffic to pile up behind you and your wing man and sit in your car in front of stores entryways blocking everyone while your wife shops. Oh yea I almost forgot, if there are 2 couples in the car the men ride up front and the women in the backseat. I don't think it's law but many also drive with their left foot on the brake and the right on the gas, that way nobody will know if you are braking so keep that in mind if you want to "fit in" at that age.

[70moparman]

Welcome!  6 years in this country and you already have a 69 Charger... Ive been here for nearly 31 years and still dont have one!       Well, keep on rockin in the free world... 

[dyslexic teddybear]

Thanks again gang!   

And thank you for noticing I did this the way it's supposed to be done.  It activates a very special, and very twitchy, nerve when I see people sneak into the country and then demand citizenship.  It took me over 6 years to get here but it's the way it needs to be done. I have stacks of paperwork sitting here, you wouldn't believe your own eyes.  You want to be part of this great nation?  Follow the rules, I did.

It's good to be an American.   

Oh and for the record.  As busy as these folks are, I have nothing for praise for the men and women of Homeland Security who guided me through the entire process with patience and courtesy.  I thought it would be important to say this as we tend to focus on the negative things around us more than anything, failing to see the good that is there.

Well said.

Welcome

[Fred]

 Hey I'm sure this was covered in you classes but I need to remind you, If you turn 70 or retire you MUST ether buy a condo or mobile in FLORIDA or at the very least spend WINTER here. From what I can see you must also ride around very slowly in the far left lane (The "Fast Lane") with your right blinker on, stop in traffic for no apparent reason, (At rush hour or peak traffic commute times preferably.) Find every possible opportunity to effect a "rolling road block" buy jumping up next to another slow car and matching speed forcing all traffic to pile up behind you and your wing man and sit in your car in front of stores entryways blocking everyone while your wife shops. Oh yea I almost forgot, if there are 2 couples in the car the men ride up front and the women in the backseat. I don't think it's law but many also drive with their left foot on the brake and the right on the gas, that way nobody will know if you are braking so keep that in mind if you want to "fit in" at that age.

 That same rule applies here too.  So any retirees planning a trip down under will feel right at home.

[greenpigs]

No I didn't rob a bank.   

This morning, around 10:45, in the Detroit federal court room, I, along with 94 others, took the oath of allegiance and became a US citizen.  After over 6 years living in this country the end of the journey has finally arrived.   

Yes I did take the Charger out afterwards to roast the tires in a celebratory fashion!   

[bakerhillpins]

Congradulations Dirk    Welcome aboard 

Grab a pail and start bailing.   

[TUFCAT]

And thank you for noticing I did this the way it's supposed to be done.  It activates a very special, and very twitchy, nerve when I see people sneak into the country and then demand citizenship.  It took me over 6 years to get here but it's the way it needs to be done. I have stacks of paperwork sitting here, you wouldn't believe your own eyes.  You want to be part of this great nation?  Follow the rules, I did.

It's good to be an American.   

I wish everyone felt like you! You're already more American than a lots of people living here.

[Cooter]

Congradulations Dirk    Welcome aboard 

Grab a pail and start bailing.   

Amen.

[greenpigs]

I thought when you married a US citizen you became one, or did you and M not get married?

Just going off what a former boss from Cuba told me.

[Dino]

Thanks again everyone.  It's been a week but I'm still celebrating!   

Green, if you marry a US citizen, and yes M and I did get married, you receive a visa to stay in the country and an oppertunity to aplly for permanent resident, which I did.  At that time you can also apply for a work permit and that part sounds easy since you need to start paying taxes when you work but it took almost 8 months until I was able to finally get a job.  My permanent resident card, or green card, came in the mail about 2 years later and tons of paperwork, interviews and all that fun stuff.

When you have been married to a citizen for 3 years then you can aplly to become a citizen.

It's not a hard process but it is time consuming and can get stressful.  The amount of papers you need to submit to Homeland security is insane!

I'm glad this journey is over and I can finally vote!

[skip68]

Dino, where did you come from? 

[Dino]

Dino, where did you come from? 

Belgium

[resq302]

Dino, where did you come from? 

His mom.   I know I came from my mom.  How about you skip?