The Paddock

We're glad to have them.

They must really love America if they've lived in Gainesville and still want to be US citizens.

They're from the Philippines. And yes, the correct and legal way is the only way we do things, although I do believe that the way all of this happens is way too long, cumbersome, and too expensive as well. And that is just with us doing our own paperwork, no lawyers were involved whatsoever. We all have college degrees, so we all can read, write, and comprehend what we read, so there was no need for a lawyer at all. But it is confusing, at times, and it takes way too long to happen. But we're through that all now.

Congrats to you and your kids Suncat

That has been my contention all along. The process is just too long, drawn out, burdensome and cumbersome. And also extremely expensive.
I am the son of a Sicilian immigrant. My Dad and my paternal grandparents told me it wasn't easy to become a U.S. citizen, although honestly, that was a long, long time ago when they went through the process.
I most certainly am not opposed to any foreigner coming here to work and with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen, and I fully understand why they would wish to do so. However, that said, I also understand fully well too why many choose not to go through the process and come here the way they do. It doesn't work exactly like it should, it takes way too long to happen, and the financial burden is tough to deal with on top of everything else that life in this country costs us at this time in history. Throw in the fact that we have certain politically motivated individuals who only see votes and do everything they possibly can to circumvent the process and our law to the advantage of these illegals, usurp our Constitution, and then impede that same law so that there are no/few consequences for breaking the law, and we have the mess we have now.
There is an answer: streamline the law, make it more affordable, but most importantly, obey the law and all of this smoothes out and it becomes much less of a problem. However, when you have career, professional politicians involved, all they're going to do is screw it up even more, which is exactly what we have now.
If you absolutely, positively want to get it fouled up, just get a Washington politician involved!

we have friends out here who tried to get their kids US passports (born in HCMC to American parents) from HCMC and ended up giving up and moving back recently and sorting it out from there! I want my kids to be born in the UK or US to avoid all the damned hassle!!!!

Really? I had heard thru the grapevine that there is, but did not know for sure. Sari Sari means "variety store" in Tagalog, the native Filipino language. And thanks for the info!

Suncat Soprano!