Discussion
NNH said:
Davel said:
Haven't really thought about DN and not giving it serious consideration.
At 68, it's a bit late in life really
I'm a dual national. While living in the UK, I had to show the IRS each year that I'd paid more in UK tax than I would have owed in the USA, which wasn't too tricky or time-consuming. If you're ever looking at the possibility, feel free to send a PM.At 68, it's a bit late in life really
As for a Route 66 trip, it's much less interesting than it sounds until you're pretty close to the West Coast. In your shoes, I'd do a loop of either Lake Michigan or Lake Erie instead. I use riders-share.com and I was planning to rent this bike this summer for a Great Lakes till a family illness forced me to cancel.
For me, being dual national makes sense, as in a couple of years I will qualify for social security when I retire (not quite retiring yet though). But obviously you cant claim this if you arent a citizen. So makes sense there. But I am not sure that dual nationality is worth it here though - for a US passport it would make getting in and out easy, but since you havent paid into SS, you cant draw out. Though there might be some local state benefits if you were to be here for a while. Not sure though, but probably dependent on residency status.
As far as I am aware, being able to trace direct relation to a US citizen does give you the ability to petition for dual nationality, so there is an opening there. But it will cost money and I am pretty sure you could apply for a longer stay visa that would be cheaper, simpler and easier. That might be the better option, and given your status, I cant see the US refusing it.
And just on the routes - big fan of the great lakes. Superior has some great roads and being a UK passport holder, dont forget that you can get in and out of Canada easily. Plenty to see around the great lakes though and an amazing place. There is a massive difference between the wide open spaces and the big cities though. The difference can be jarring though - fun, but you can go from the madness of say Chicago to places where there is no one. But the one thing I would say, check any route out in advance - some of the open plain areas around there are devoid of pretty much anything. If you want to see scenery, much of Indiana isnt the ideal place. In the countryside, you can ride for hours on a pin straight road and just pass farms (same is true for much of South Dakota and other states). You'll realize why the Gold Wing is so popular here!
Davel said:
Thank you for this.
I went to the bike show recently and some of the tour guides there recommended flying to Las Vegas or LA and doing a tour through Death Valley etc
I'm not really a lover of big cities and your thoughts are great.
Cheers
It really depends what time of year you're doing it. I wouldn't take a bike through Death Valley in summer, but it's beautiful in spring and autumn. From Death Valley you can leave on the western side and take 395 north for as far as you've got time for, past Lake Mammoth, Mono Lake, the quiet Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park (check if it's closed by snow), or even all the way up to Lake Tahoe. For reference, Bishop to Mono to Yosemite (in and out for ~4 hours) to Lake Tahoe is a longish but beautiful day's ride.I went to the bike show recently and some of the tour guides there recommended flying to Las Vegas or LA and doing a tour through Death Valley etc
I'm not really a lover of big cities and your thoughts are great.
Cheers
An alternative route is to take the Pacific Coast Highway from (say) LA to (say) Portland. I did that last year and wrote it up here.
off_again said:
For me, being dual national makes sense, as in a couple of years I will qualify for social security when I retire (not quite retiring yet though). But obviously you cant claim this if you arent a citizen.
That’s incorrect. Permanent residents claim social security just like USC’s do. SS payments are based on what you pay in. Technically, the US does not recognize dual nationality. Part of the naturalization process is would-be US citizens recanting their loyalty to other nations. In reality it is unenforceable, but that is the 'official' stance. Like others here I have both US and UK passports, but if any US official were to ask me my country of citizenship, I wouldn't claim anything other than USA.
I suspect it has already been established by others who know more than I do, but based on the information given by the OP thus far, I suspect there is no basis for a US citizenship petition.
Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
I suspect it has already been established by others who know more than I do, but based on the information given by the OP thus far, I suspect there is no basis for a US citizenship petition.
Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
Matt Harper said:
I suspect it has already been established by others who know more than I do, but based on the information given by the OP thus far, I suspect there is no basis for a US citizenship petition.
Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
It looks like it's very tricky to establish citizenship by descent after the age of 18. The US embassy in the Netherlands published this which looks like it's up to date. There may be a basis for getting sponsorship by the OP's half-sister, but as others have said there isn't much point unless OP is actually planning to live in the USA.Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
NNH said:
Matt Harper said:
I suspect it has already been established by others who know more than I do, but based on the information given by the OP thus far, I suspect there is no basis for a US citizenship petition.
Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
It looks like it's very tricky to establish citizenship by descent after the age of 18. The US embassy in the Netherlands published this which looks like it's up to date. There may be a basis for getting sponsorship by the OP's half-sister, but as others have said there isn't much point unless OP is actually planning to live in the USA.Visiting family using VWP or a B2 is probably a far easier proposition.
NNH said:
It really depends what time of year you're doing it. I wouldn't take a bike through Death Valley in summer, but it's beautiful in spring and autumn. From Death Valley you can leave on the western side and take 395 north for as far as you've got time for, past Lake Mammoth, Mono Lake, the quiet Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park (check if it's closed by snow), or even all the way up to Lake Tahoe. For reference, Bishop to Mono to Yosemite (in and out for ~4 hours) to Lake Tahoe is a longish but beautiful day's ride.
An alternative route is to take the Pacific Coast Highway from (say) LA to (say) Portland. I did that last year and wrote it up here.
Yeah, big no to Death Valley during the hot months - its brutal. Spring and Autumn are amazing and while it will be pretty deserted, there are plenty of things to see - though plan fuel stops carefully. Mono lake is bizarre and the Tioga pass through Yosemite is amazing. As NNH mentioned though, always check the weather - several of the passes over the Sierra Nevada mountains will close during winter, but the parks websites will have the details.An alternative route is to take the Pacific Coast Highway from (say) LA to (say) Portland. I did that last year and wrote it up here.
Bishop has an amazing bakers though, well worth a stop if you can and the other passes over the Sierra's are amazing and worth a ride. So many amazing roads.
off_again said:
NNH said:
It really depends what time of year you're doing it. I wouldn't take a bike through Death Valley in summer, but it's beautiful in spring and autumn. From Death Valley you can leave on the western side and take 395 north for as far as you've got time for, past Lake Mammoth, Mono Lake, the quiet Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park (check if it's closed by snow), or even all the way up to Lake Tahoe. For reference, Bishop to Mono to Yosemite (in and out for ~4 hours) to Lake Tahoe is a longish but beautiful day's ride.
An alternative route is to take the Pacific Coast Highway from (say) LA to (say) Portland. I did that last year and wrote it up here.
Yeah, big no to Death Valley during the hot months - its brutal. Spring and Autumn are amazing and while it will be pretty deserted, there are plenty of things to see - though plan fuel stops carefully. Mono lake is bizarre and the Tioga pass through Yosemite is amazing. As NNH mentioned though, always check the weather - several of the passes over the Sierra Nevada mountains will close during winter, but the parks websites will have the details.An alternative route is to take the Pacific Coast Highway from (say) LA to (say) Portland. I did that last year and wrote it up here.
Bishop has an amazing bakers though, well worth a stop if you can and the other passes over the Sierra's are amazing and worth a ride. So many amazing roads.
NNH said:
Schatt's Bakery, right? If you don't fancy the crowd at the bakery, you can take your picnic to the nice little park with a stream just the other side of the street. Also, there's a tribal casino with cheap gas on the way out of Bishop heading north on 395. Have we dragged this far enough off topic yet?
Thats the one! And yes, waaay off topic now. Last time I stopped there I met an English chap on his UK registered BMW R1200RT who was touring the US for 12 months. The miles he rode were astonishing! Davel said:
Well flight out booked for 24th April to Fort Wayne and we'll see how it goes.
I'm advised that early May is not the best time to hire a bike as some of the passes etc will still be icy.
Oh well....
You're flying into Fort Wayne? I never think of it as having an airport. I'm advised that early May is not the best time to hire a bike as some of the passes etc will still be icy.
Oh well....
I assume you're hiring a car, there's not a lot to do in Fort Wayne. Pity you're not coming at the of May, you could have taken in the Indy 500. Davel said:
Well flight out booked for 24th April to Fort Wayne and we'll see how it goes.
I'm advised that early May is not the best time to hire a bike as some of the passes etc will still be icy.
Oh well....
There aren't too many passes near Indiana. Fort Wayne is about 400 miles from Niagara Falls, depending whether you go round the Canadian or US side of Lake Erie. The weather should be reasonable for riding at that time of year, though with some rain or chill.I'm advised that early May is not the best time to hire a bike as some of the passes etc will still be icy.
Oh well....
I've made no plans yet and will probably get the shuttle bus or an Uber downtown from the airport.
My new sister is proposing to take me round a bit and others are offering to take me to Chicago and a few other things.
Her partner is a Hells Angel which might be interesting.
There's a family gathering with 50/60 people expected.....
So this could be fun and I do want to make the most of the visit.
My new sister is proposing to take me round a bit and others are offering to take me to Chicago and a few other things.
Her partner is a Hells Angel which might be interesting.
There's a family gathering with 50/60 people expected.....
So this could be fun and I do want to make the most of the visit.
Davel said:
I've made no plans yet and will probably get the shuttle bus or an Uber downtown from the airport.
My new sister is proposing to take me round a bit and others are offering to take me to Chicago and a few other things.
Her partner is a Hells Angel which might be interesting.
There's a family gathering with 50/60 people expected.....
So this could be fun and I do want to make the most of the visit.
Downtown Fort Wayne? Umm… ok. My new sister is proposing to take me round a bit and others are offering to take me to Chicago and a few other things.
Her partner is a Hells Angel which might be interesting.
There's a family gathering with 50/60 people expected.....
So this could be fun and I do want to make the most of the visit.
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