You've Got Questions, I've Got Answers!

[anarchist_nomad]

In other news, we received a letter from the Home Office yesterday. cheshcat's application to become a British citizen has been approved! Huzzah!!

Here are a couple of Frequently Asked Questions (and their answers) that we have received from our dear friends:

• Q: Does this mean that she is a citizen now?
  A: No, not quite yet.
  
  
• Q: What does it mean then?
  A: It means that, as far as cheshcat is concerned, we are done filling out forms, dealing with the UK Border Agency, and paying exorbitant fees for visa applications.
  
  
• Q: So what else does she have to do to become a citizen?
  A: The final step in the process is for her to participate in a Citizenship Ceremony. After taking a formal affirmation of allegiance to the Crown and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom, she will shake hands with the Lord Lieutenant and receive her certificate of citizenship. Then, she will be a British citizen.
  
  
• Q: Sounds good -- when does this happen?
  A: Her Citizenship Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday December 6^th. That is less than five weeks away!
  
  
• Q: Will she lose her US-American citizenship?
  A: No. Contrary to widespread believe, the US does permit its citizens to hold multiple citizenships. After the Citizenship Ceremony takes place, my beloved cheshcat will be dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom.
  
  
• Q: What's the point? Why is she even bothering with all this, especially since you both have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom?
  A: Good question! Although we have both achieved permanent residency in the UK, there are still advantages to becoming a citizen. These include: (1) the right to vote, (2) the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union, (3) permanency -- indefinite leave to remain is revoked if you leave the UK for more than two years; citizenship is generally a permanent thing.
  
  
• Q: If becoming a British citizen is so great, why aren't you doing it, too, Nomad?
  A: The Home Office has some rather stringent requirements for becoming a British citizen. One is that you have a completely clean "criminal" record, which counts driving convictions. I had a driving offense back in 2009, so I am ineligible until it falls off of my record. It takes five years for minor offenses to be removed from one's record, so I plan to apply for my own British citizenship in 2014.
  
  
• Q: Now that at least one of you will be a shiny new Brit, are you still going to be coming back across the pond to visit all your lovely US friends?
  A: Of course! Next visit is planned for December and January -- can't wait to see many of you then, my dear friends!

Right, then. With those questions answered, I am off to do something uniquely British[*]... like change ringing on church bells!

---

[*] More specifically, this is an art that is uniquely English, not more generally British.

Comments

[samiitiger.livejournal.com]

Huzzah!

Congratulations to cheshcat! =D

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Huzzah, indeed! *big smiles*

[contrarywise]

Hooray and congratulations!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

My thoughts, exactly! :-D

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

What about your arrest at the protests years ago? Does that affect it at all, even though you weren't convicted?

I ask because I'm applying for an apartment in a "master plan community" that does an extensive background check before they'll allow you to move into their homes/apartments, so Im concerned about EVERYTHING now.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

It's a good question, hon. My arrest at the RNC protests in 2004 does not have any effect. Partially because it did not occur in the United Kingdom... but, more importantly, because the case was thrown out with no conviction since there wasn't a shred of evidence against me (and there was video evidence supporting my claim that I had broken no laws and the arrest itself was illegal)

I don't know much about your own current situation, but I would be happy to discuss with you if it will help. Probably better done in a, shall we say, less public forum. You know how to contact me, Cutie -- feel free to ping if you want to chat!

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

I actually DONT know how to contact you outside of here, haha. I dont have your email or anything else...

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Aha! Brokie-dokie, tis an easily solved problem.

I thought you had my e-mail address from the mailing list of the Sooper Sekrit Pagan Festival where we met last month. If not, however, just drop a line to my LJ username (at) livejournal (dot) com. It will forward to my actual e-mail address, and when I write back, you will have that, too!

From there, I can give you my Skype username for direct chatting. I can also ring the States free of charge, thanks to an excellent international calling plan on my landline.

Hope to talk to you soon, hon! *blows you an intercontinental kiss*

Three cheers for cheshcat!

[bloodsong1.livejournal.com]

Huzzah!

Huzzah!

Huzzah!

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

When are you going to be in the states. We'll be in England in Dec and again in January and I hope it's not at the same time as you are here.

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Tickets are not yet finalised, but the rough plan is this: Fly to the States on Wed December 26^th, and return to Merry Olde England on Sun January 6^th. I will then be here for about a week before jetting off to Japan again circa Monday January 14^th.

Does this fit in with your own travel schedules? I hope so, as it would be lovely to see you both again, hon! *crosses fingers* Had a most excellent time when you were last here, two years back.

Here's a thought: Any chance you could join us for our annual Yule ritual, which culminates in watching the dawn within the Stone circle at Stonehenge? This will be happening on Dec 20-21, and you would be quite welcome if you wanted to come along!

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

We miss you in January, so we'll have to figure out something for the first leg.

We're in England from 12/14-12/19 and then back again from 1/11-1/17

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

We won't quite miss in January! You are back on the eleventh and I don't jet off again until the fourteenth. Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing you your way out and back. We should definitely discuss! Yay!!

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

Wasn't sure if you'd be up to having people 3 days before you jet off to Japan.

Will be lovely to see you. :)

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

By the way: Have you ever seen British panto? It is a Christmas theatrical tradition here... and very difficult to describe. Comes from the Italian commedia dell'arte.

We have tickets to see Dick Whittington, this year's Oxford Playhouse panto, on Saturday December 15^th at 16:00. If you like, I can check to see if there are still tickets available. Otherwise, we can plan to do something fun in January, like we did two years ago.

Give it a think and let me know. Either way, am looking forward to seeing you again, hon! *big smiles*

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Aw! You, m'dear, are utterly adorable. I suspect that you already know this... but it bears repeating, anyway! *big smiles*

By the way, your dearly departed one was honoured yesterday in our annual Samhain circle. Just thought you might like to know. *big hugs*

Re: Three cheers for cheshcat!

[bloodsong1.livejournal.com]

"Adorable" is usually reserved for the Cuteness, but I'll appreciate the compliment!

You...honored...Wolf?

*sniffle*

*GLOMPS BOTH OF YOU*

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

::stands and sings 'God Save the Queen'::

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Awesome!

Ah, I miss you and J! Am sooooo sorry that our paths will not be crossing when you are next on this side of the pond!