2008 Woodie Awards
Citizenship not an easy process
Two immigrants share their story
By Kelly Ogiba
Last Updated:7:11 PM EST 12/3/08 Section: News
On Nov. 4 it seemed that only one question was being asked: "Did you vote?" People answering yes were proud to have exercised this right, while those who said no may have felt guilt for a few moments until remembering that in another four years they could. However, when asked this question Ines Herovic answered, "I wasn't allowed."
She was not able to because she is not an American citizen.
Herovic came to America when she was 13 years old, after fleeing from genocide and war in Bosnia. She had been born there, living in the city of Zenica.
When Serbian leader Slobodan Miloševi started instilling ideals revolving around ridding the country of all Muslims and Catholics, chaos broke out. Yugoslavia became divided into many different countries and the Serbians started pillaging and killing.
After witnessing horrific scenes and living in fear, Herovic and her family fled to Germany. Here, they waited three years before coming to America, with the help of a local church organization.
Now that she has been here for so long, she wants to become a citizen.
"Becoming an American citizen is very important to me," Herovic said. "People think that I'm lazy or don't care since I've been here for eight years and I'm still not one yet but they don't realize the process."
To become a United States citizen takes time, patience and money. A person must reside in the country for five years before they can even become eligible for naturalization, which is the official term of the process.
Herovic and her family received their green cards after five years of being in America, which grants them permanent residency and some of the rights of an American citizen. Immigrants who receive this card usually have the prospect of going though the naturalization process.
After filling out multiple applications a test must then be taken, which asks detailed information on the government and history of the country. This oral examination also costs $900.
She was not able to because she is not an American citizen.
Herovic came to America when she was 13 years old, after fleeing from genocide and war in Bosnia. She had been born there, living in the city of Zenica.
When Serbian leader Slobodan Miloševi started instilling ideals revolving around ridding the country of all Muslims and Catholics, chaos broke out. Yugoslavia became divided into many different countries and the Serbians started pillaging and killing.
After witnessing horrific scenes and living in fear, Herovic and her family fled to Germany. Here, they waited three years before coming to America, with the help of a local church organization.
Now that she has been here for so long, she wants to become a citizen.
"Becoming an American citizen is very important to me," Herovic said. "People think that I'm lazy or don't care since I've been here for eight years and I'm still not one yet but they don't realize the process."
To become a United States citizen takes time, patience and money. A person must reside in the country for five years before they can even become eligible for naturalization, which is the official term of the process.
Herovic and her family received their green cards after five years of being in America, which grants them permanent residency and some of the rights of an American citizen. Immigrants who receive this card usually have the prospect of going though the naturalization process.
After filling out multiple applications a test must then be taken, which asks detailed information on the government and history of the country. This oral examination also costs $900.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Max
posted 12/03/08 @ 5:56 PM EST
Kelly Ogiba - whoever your are, you are a degenerate
ida
posted 12/10/08 @ 7:50 PM EST
"She had been born there, living in the city of Zenica."
Zenica was totally controlled by the Muslims and Muslim forces during the war. The ethnic Serbs were killed and cleansed from Zenica right off the bat and then the Bosnian Croat inhabitants were chased from Zenica. (Continued…)
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