Canada:
“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!”
After nearly 15 years of work permits and two green cards, I officially became an American citizen on July 3, 2019.
The timing was brutal. It came just two days after I unexpectedly lost my mom, and I was barely holding it together. My immigration lawyer explained the situation to the officer ahead of time, and she was incredibly kind and understanding—especially given that I looked like someone who hadn’t slept, eaten, or processed reality in days.
I had studied for months leading up to that day.
The civics portion of the naturalization process is an oral exam, face-to-face across a desk. You can be asked up to ten questions from a list of one hundred, and you need six correct answers to pass. I answered the first six correctly, and in that moment, something inside me finally exhaled.
The rest of the interview—about thirty minutes total—felt almost gentle by comparison.
It was a moment I had imagined for years. Not the room. Not the timing. But the idea of it. The quiet validation that all the paperwork, waiting, uncertainty, and persistence had led somewhere real.
I was sworn in via a recorded message, welcoming us to America. The words themselves mattered less than the fact that the journey was over—that I had crossed an invisible line I’d been walking toward for a long time.
That day held two truths at once: deep loss and deep gratitude. I didn’t celebrate the way I thought I would. But I left knowing something fundamental had changed.
I wasn’t just visiting or working or waiting anymore.
I belonged—and I carried my mom with me into that moment, whether I was ready or not.
It took a lot of work and patience, but I am so glad I stuck with it, as no one can take it away from me!
Miss you every day, Mom, and you were always right!
Live life to the fullest, if they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass!
Here are the advantages of holding dual citizenship between the United States and Canada:
1. Increased Travel Options: Dual citizens can travel freely between the United States and Canada without requiring a visa, and they can even live in either country without needing to worry about visas or other residency requirements.
2. Greater Employment Opportunities: Dual citizens are eligible for jobs in both countries, allowing them to take advantage of a wider range of job opportunities and salary possibilities.
3. Access to Better Social Benefits: Dual citizens may be eligible for certain social benefits in both countries, such as healthcare, education, and pensions, depending on the specific laws of each country.
4. Increased Economic Opportunities: As dual citizens, individuals can take advantage of the economic opportunities available in both countries, allowing them to invest, start businesses, and pursue other financial opportunities in either nation.
5. Competitive Tax Advantages: Dual citizens may be able to save money on taxes by taking advantage of different tax laws from both countries.
Here is how dual citizenship benefits travel for individuals between the United States and Canada:
Dual citizenship between the United States and Canada has many benefits for travelers. It allows individuals to travel between the two countries without needing to obtain a visa, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Dual citizens can also use their Canadian passports to access better deals on airfare and other travel services. Additionally, dual citizens can carry two passports between the two countries, allowing them to access different resources in either country. Finally, dual citizenship can also provide access to social and economic benefits such as health care in either country.
Here are the many benefits dual citizenship provides for travelers. It allows individuals to travel between the two countries without needing to obtain a visa, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Dual citizens can also use their Canadian passports to access better deals on airfare and other travel services. Additionally, dual citizens can carry two passports between the two countries, allowing them to access different resources in either country. Finally, dual citizenship can also provide access to social and economic benefits such as health care in either country.
There are many other benefits (<-click link) to being a dual citizen between Canada and the United States.
It’s a day I’ll never forget—for more reasons than I can count. Even now, I feel more American than Canadian, and that disappoints some people.
A lot of that comes down to opportunity. The United States gave me chances I never would have had back home—professionally, financially, and personally. I was able to build a life here that simply wouldn’t have existed otherwise, and I don’t take that lightly.
That said, I’m under no illusion. I’m fully aware of the negatives of living in the United States of America.
But two things can be true at once.
I’m grateful for the doors that opened here. I’m shaped by the years I spent earning my place. And I still carry where I came from with me—especially when it comes to my loyalty to Canada and its sports teams.
God bless the United States of America.
And God bless my Canadian sports teams.
LFG Team Canada and Edmonton Oilers!!
