Last Friday, I became a US citizen. Yes, coincidentally, it was the same day that Donald Trump was sworn in as President – January 20th, 2017. I was one of the last people who became a citizen under President Obama’s tenure.
It was the culmination of over a decade of work, started by my parents when I was 17 years old, and finished by me.
A lot of work went into this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very doable – but you have to be willing to put the time in. There are countless meetings, forms, and bureaucratic hoops to jump through in order to get to this day. But if you put in the time, you won’t be disappointed.
In order to qualify for citizenship, I had to spend a majority of my time in the US. Dating a woman from Canada, I was constantly keeping track of my days away from the US. It was a challenge that I’m happy to say is over with. Now, I can choose to spend my time where I wish, and enjoy the benefits of being an American citizen.
Having dual citizenship has its perks, namely that I can work where I choose. I own a business that is based in the United States, but I love day to day life in Canada. It’s nice to be able to do both at the same time.
Here’s a photo of me at the ceremony. Definitely a good day for me.
