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Ice dancing champion Belbin becomes US citizen
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-01 09:54
Ice dancing champion Tanith Belbin can celebrate the new year as an American.
Belbin was sworn in at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office
in Detroit on Saturday morning, one day after US President Bush signed an
appropriations bill speeding up the naturalization process. Belbin is now
eligible to participate in the Turin Olympics, where she and partner Ben Agosto
will be favorites to win the United States' first Olympic ice dance medal.
"I have lived here for so long, and this was the last piece of the puzzle,"
Belbin said in a statement. "I really feel that I have found my place here. Some
of the greatest moments of my life were while I lived here, and now I feel
complete."
Born in Canada, the 21-year-old has lived in the Detroit area since 1998. Her
immigrant worker visa was approved in 2000, but she didn't receive her green
card until July 2002 because of immigration rules at the time. A five-year
waiting period typically follows, meaning she wouldn't have gained citizenship
until 2007.
Belbin has been able to compete for the United States in international
competitions including the world championships, where she and Agosto won a
silver medal in March. But only American citizens can be on the Olympic team.
Under the measure signed by Bush on Friday, Belbin and other people "of
extraordinary ability" are allowed to take advantage of changes in immigration
rules that speed up the process. Since 2002, individuals like Belbin have been
allowed to apply for a green card and visa at the same time, rather than waiting
18 to 24 months.
The new measure shortens the residency requirement from five to three years
between the receipt of the green card and the date of their eligibility for
naturalization. It applies to those who began their naturalization process
before July 2002.
The Olympic team will be chosen at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in
St. Louis, which begin January 10. Belbin and Agosto have won the last U.S. two
dance titles.
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