Thread: CAL and Citizens
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Old 01-05-2007 | 09:39 AM
  #19  
Wingnutt
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Originally Posted by So Wonwee
Are you aware that you can serve in the military and NOT be a US citizen? There are over 60000 service members that are not citizens.

US law states that you must hold a resident alien card for 5 years prior to applying for citizenship. The law provides a few exemptions to the 5 year requirement. For example, if you are married to a citizen for three years, and your US spouse has been a US citizen for at least 3 years, the five year residency period is reduced to three years.

Legal alien residents contribute to the growth of the US economy and have every right to employment. They are taxed accordingly. Sometimes, alien residents contribute more because they appreciate what they have in the USA where many second generation and upwards Americans do not. Security clearances are the only potential hang up I see in the aviation industry. I have heard, and I may be incorrect, that a security clearance is required to handle mail.
Actually I did know that, however I do not know the exact number but if you say it is that high then I will assume you did your homework. I served with gentlemen who later became US Citizens and many others who followed during my 20+ years in the AF and I think that it is a great example of what people will and can do to become citizens. What I simply meant to convey was that while we have pilots who "are" citizens that can fill airline employment vacancies they should be considered above all else.

I have many associates who have come to America to better their lives by utilizing the very mechanisms that immigration allows for legally, and you are right that they do tend to appreciate it more when they become Naturalized Citizens (btw my wife is a naturalized citizen from EU) than some...certainly more so than the scum who steal citizenship by staying in America longer than their Visas allow or sneaking through our borders like rats in a sewer.

You are right. Come to America, come legally, participate, pay taxes, obey the laws and become a citizen.

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