Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

OK heres the story I'm coming up 16 years old, i live in england and Ive always wanted to join a police force of some kind. What i want to know is
How easy is it to gain citizenship to the USA
Whether my educational qualifications from here will be transferred to USA, you seem to have different qualifications.

Any help would be good and any more advice be very nice :/

it's not easy and usually time consuming. If you want to get it start to apply early as it may take years. Also, tell them I'll swap citizenships with you... maybe that'll speed things up.

Is it possible to be a citizen in 2 countries? and how much will it cost me to apply.

Is it possible to be a citizen in 2 countries? and how much will it cost me to apply.


We generally don't like to see it but it is allowed. You would have to look at the laws of your current country of citizenship to see what they say...
Try these sites:
http://www.insexperts.com/citizenship_11-2005.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

The best sight will be:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
as they are the people who do this stuff. Try the FAQ's.

We have a guy from Ireland on our department. His family moved here when he was a teenager and he was able to obtain his citizenship. Doing an enlistment in our military will speed up the process quite a bit too. Come join the military, when you get out, use the GI Bill for college and get a degree while you are waiting for citizenship.

Is it possible to be a citizen in 2 countries? and how much will it cost me to apply.
The U.S. doesn't recognize dual citizenship. Meaning, if you are a U.S. citizen in the eyes of the U.S. that is all you are. They won't recognize the foreign countries claims to you based upon you being a citizen of that country, if you hold U.S. citizenship.

OK heres the story I'm coming up 16 years old, i live in england and Ive always wanted to join a police force of some kind. What i want to know is
How easy is it to gain citizenship to the USA
Whether my educational qualifications from here will be transferred to USA, you seem to have different qualifications.

Any help would be good and any more advice be very nice :/
Before you are able to acquire U.S. citizenship, you'd first have to be allowed into the U.S. as an immigrant. There are far to many visas and categories for BIG to mention here. After entry you'll have to be granted a permanent residency, which falls into two categories, "IR" or "CR". If granted a CR (conditional residency) permanent residency, you be such for two years before you can acquire a IR permanent residency. That is of course if you haven't a) violated your status and/or b) filled your I-751 paperwork requesting the conditions be removed from your residency and you be granted a permanent residency. After that, after you have been a law abiding permanent resident for 5 years, you can apply for U.S. citizenship. Key word is "apply", it isn't given nor a forgone conclusion that it will be granted.

Thanks for the advice, I'm new to this.
I think what i need to know most is if I'm able to have 2 sets of citizenships for 2 countries. IE if i applied for citizenship in the US would my English citizenship expire because I have applied for another one?

Would it take me 5 years to apply for a citizenship and if so would i be able to apply to a police position in the US Pending my application for citizenship.

Thanks for the advice, I'm new to this.
I think what i need to know most is if I'm able to have 2 sets of citizenships for 2 countries. IE if i applied for citizenship in the US would my English citizenship expire because I have applied for another one?
That's something you'll have to ask your immigration people about.

Would it take me 5 years to apply for a citizenship and if so would i be able to apply to a police position in the US Pending my application for citizenship.
Once citizenship is granted, then you can apply. Though BIG has heard of a local jurisdiction hiring a permanent resident, though they are few and far between.

That's something you'll have to ask your immigration people about.



:confused: ?????
Citizenships DON'T EXPIRE!!!!! Visa's, I-94's, permits, etc expire but once you've earned a Citizenship there isn't an expiration date on it.:rolleyes:

:confused: ?????
Citizenships DON'T EXPIRE!!!!! Visa's, I-94's, permits, etc expire but once you've earned a Citizenship there isn't an expiration date on it.
He's using that English english. BIG took it to mean null and void in our version of the Queens language. He was referring to if his English citizenship would be considered null and void, by English authorities.

Don't have BIG come down to the bridge/tunnel and give you and english lesson, by dragging your *** to the nearest pub and discussing this over adult beverages.:D

He's using that English english. BIG took it to mean null and void in our version of the Queens language. He was referring to if his English citizenship would be considered null and void, by English authorities.

Don't have BIG come down to the bridge/tunnel and give you and english lesson, by dragging your *** to the nearest pub and discussing this over adult beverages.:D


I was just thinking to myself... "Didn't Big just get back from FLETC....He must have been sleeping during the 'Citizenships don't expire' class"
It all makes sense now! Let me know what day's you're on as duty agent and I'll find me some illegals or something so I can call you down here!

I was just thinking to myself... "Didn't Big just get back from FLETC....He must have been sleeping during the 'Citizenships don't expire' class"
It all makes sense now! Let me know what day's you're on as duty agent and I'll find me some illegals or something so I can call you down here!
FLETC didn't teach BIG any immigration he didn't already know. Remember, BIG was a Border Patrol Agent, before it was the popular thing to do. About 7000 agents ago.:D

Actually my group (Public Safety), is hoping to get off of the main duty, since we have our own, which lasts for 6 days in which we respond to local/county/state law enforcement requests for assistance.

FLETC didn't teach BIG any immigration he didn't already know. Remember, BIG was a Border Patrol Agent, before it was the popular thing to do. About 7000 agents ago.:D

Actually my group (Public Safety), is hoping to get off of the main duty, since we have our own, which lasts for 6 days in which we respond to local/county/state law enforcement requests for assistance.


Oh ya, I forgot you were a Green Puke back in the day! :D
I'd like to try the BP but I don't really want to put that much effort into it and I can use the excuse that my wife won't move to the Southern Border so I guess I'm stayin here! Although I did pass my BMI and 300 pre-school course so I should be going for Firearms Instructor sometime in November/December so I'm quite happy about that although we don't do the agents anymore so I wouldn't get to shoot the subguns, just the pistols and shotguns.

Oh ya, I forgot you were a Green Puke back in the day!
Was?! BIG is still bleeding behind this cold ICE exterior.:D

I'd like to try the BP but I don't really want to put that much effort into it and I can use the excuse that my wife won't move to the Southern Border so I guess I'm stayin here!
Don't worry Chewy, the thought of facing the BP academy has unnerved bigger and better than you.:p

Although I did pass my BMI and 300 pre-school course so I should be going for Firearms Instructor sometime in November/December so I'm quite happy about that although we don't do the agents anymore so I wouldn't get to shoot the subguns, just the pistols and shotguns.
Congrats, hope everything works out for you.

Don't worry Chewy, the thought of facing the BP academy has unnerved bigger and better than you.:p



:confused: I think you're confused... there isn't such a thing as bigger and better than me!!!

OK, am i able to apply for citizenship of the USA here? Or do i have to live over their for a certain period of time?

I have been on holiday there three times, a total of 8 weeks if thats any difference?

Before you are able to acquire U.S. citizenship, you'd first have to be allowed into the U.S. as an immigrant. There are far to many visas and categories for BIG to mention here. After entry you'll have to be granted a permanent residency, which falls into two categories, "IR" or "CR". If granted a CR (conditional residency) permanent residency, you be such for two years before you can acquire a IR permanent residency. That is of course if you haven't a) violated your status and/or b) filled your I-751 paperwork requesting the conditions be removed from your residency and you be granted a permanent residency. After that, after you have been a law abiding permanent resident for 5 years, you can apply for U.S. citizenship. Key word is "apply", it isn't given nor a forgone conclusion that it will be granted.


No; Big Sexy pretty well summed it up in his post about the process.

1st you have to get a Immigrant visa, actually move here, live in the US for X# of days, then if you've been a good boy while you were living here then you apply for US Citizenship, get interviewed by CIS, take a test etc. It takes several years, best for you and your family to visit an American Embassy there in England

Why do you want to become a police officer here in the US???? England has a fine police force without the trouble of immigrating to the US?

Change, But also i haven't actually put my finger on being a police officer yet. Might study as a doctor, i dont know I'm just working out my options.

OK, am i able to apply for citizenship of the USA here? Or do i have to live over their for a certain period of time?

I have been on holiday there three times, a total of 8 weeks if thats any difference?

Your best bet is to go to the U.S. Embassy there in London. They can answer any of your questions and give you the paperwork you’re going to need.