fberriman.com

Americanized

I became a US Citizen today.

I'm still British. It turns out that it's actually relatively difficult to lose your British status - you actually have to apply to give it up. "Dual-citizen" is one of those weird international legal grey zones, but at least it's understood and known to be a thing in both countries. Here's hoping I remember which passport to use when.

It's not a popular time to become American, not that being British (with all the colonial baggage that comes with it) is really that much better. The leadership in both countries is somewhat up the creek without a paddle at this point, but at least now I can actually vote (and yes, I am voting in tomorrow's UK General Election).

Plus, now Alex and I share a nationality and that security feels good. It's the end of a long administrative process we started in 2013 to ensure that we could always stay together.

I recognise the immense privilege I have to obtain a second nationality in another first world democratic country. You don't generally get the choice in your first nationality, and getting the opportunity for a second is basically winning some kind of life lottery.