美语三级跳 Go English：023A 移民入籍: 初级课程

 

023A 移民入籍: 初级课程

Amir已经在美国生活了几年，在考虑入籍成为美国公民。他找朋友Susan, 打听入籍的手续。

Professor: That's right, Winnie. Becoming an American citizen takes a lot of work.

嗯，我也听说要入籍，成为citizen - 公民，要作一番准备工作。希望Susan能给Amir一些好的建议。

Susan: Hi Amir, how are you? I haven't seen you lately.

Amir: Hi Susan. I've been very busy lately applying to become a US citizen. It's a lot of work!

Susan: Wow, it must be very complicated. Is everything going smoothly¹?

Amir: Yeah, but there is so much paperwork to do.

"Paperwork"，就是“文书工作”，也就是填表格、写文件、做档案等事情。Amir说，在申请入籍的时候，要做很多paperwok， professor, 在表达这个意思的时候，应该说do paperwork还是 fill out paperwork 呢？

Professor: You can use either verb, Winnie. They mean the same thing.

原来如此。对了，Susan 问 Amir "is everything going smoothly?"，就是问“一切进展顺利么？” 对不对？

Professor: Exactly. For example, you could say that "Class didn't go smoothly because I did not do my homework the night before."

Susan: Why have you decided² to become a US citizen?

Amir: My wife is American, and we chose to settle here in America.

Susan: Are you going to give up your Iranian citizenship³?

Amir: Yes. It's too bad that Iran doesn't recognize dual⁴ citizenship.

原来，Amir的太太是美国人，所以他们决定"settle here in America" - 在美国定居。

Professor: Amir also says that he has to give up his Iranian citizenship because Iran doesn't recognize dual citizenship.

Dual, d-u-a-l, dual 是“双重”的意思。所以dual citizenship就是有双重国籍。Amir不得不放弃他的伊朗国籍，因为伊朗不承认双重国籍。

Susan: What is your immigration status right now?

Amir: Right now I am a permanent resident with a green card.

Susan: I see. How long will it take to become a citizen?

Amir: I'm not sure. Right now I am still finding all the documents I need. I will probably file my application next month.

Susan问Amir现在的immigration status - 移民身份，Amir说，他有green card - 绿卡，是permanent resident--美国永久居民。

Professor: That's right. How long will it take for Amir to become a citizen?

他也不知道。他说，目前他还在准备申请入籍所需的documents - 文档材料。不过，我听说，移民申请有时很慢，要等很久才能从政府那里得到答复。

Professor: Yes, it can take a long time. And when is he going to file his application?

Amir说，他可能下个月就会file his application - 提交他的申请材料。

Susan: You know, Amir, applying for citizenship is very complicated. You should talk to an immigration lawyer.

Amir: I don't know. That would probably cost a lot of money.

Susan: Yes, but if there are problems processing your application, the lawyer can help you.

Amir: Yeah, you're right. I don't want to take any chances. I'll talk to an immigration lawyer.

Susan建议Amir雇一个immigration lawyer - 移民律师，这样，如果申请过程中出现问题，律师可以帮他解决。对了，Professor, Amir说 he "doesn't want to take any chances",这是什么意思?

Professor: Winnie, when you take a chance, you do something dangerous or risky⁵.

我明白了，take a chance就是“冒险”的意思。 Amir虽然有点心疼律师费，但不想take any chances - 拿自己的申请冒险。希望everything will go smoothly，Amir能尽快入籍。

Professor: Let's listen next time to see what happens!

 

这次的美语三级跳就播送到这里。

1 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

4 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

5 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。